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66 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2019 | Friends we will miss Charles T. Gehrken, "Tom," lost his five year battle with cancer on September 23, 2019. He was at his Sun Lakes home surrounded by family and friends. He was born on September 7, 1945 in Kansas City, Mo. to Charles and Miriam Gehrken and spent his early years growing up in Douglas and Bisbee, AZ. He loved telling stories of how he played cowboys and Indians on the streets of Tombstone, and of riding in the armored car when his father, a banker, made the money pickups before Tombstone had a real working bank. Tom's family moved to California in 1954, when he was nine and his sister, Gail, was four. After a few home tries, the Gehrkens settled in Upland, CA where Tom graduated from Upland High in 1963. He joined the Air Force on Nov. 16, 1965 and was stationed at Travis Air Force Base where he participated with the 60th Military Airlift Wing in the largest and longest aerial troop deployment in history for that time. The deployment known as Operation Eagle Thrust for the 101st Airborne Division of MAC, Military Airlift Command carried more than 10,000 troops and 5,000 tons of equipment in C141 Starlifters and C133 Cargomasters. He continued at Travis Air Force Base for his enlistment, working in aircraft support and supply, mainly for NORS, "Not Operational Ready Supply." They were responsible for insuring grounded aircraft in the Pacific were repaired and flying again in four hours. Tom was honorably discharged on Feb 20, 1969 with the rank of sergeant. He attended Chaffey College and Cal Poly, Pomona and earned a B.A. in business. Later, working at Sunkist, Ontario in the early 70s, he met and married his first wife, Charlene Severson and in 1977, they had a daughter, Erika Gehrken. In 1975, Tom began working for the City of Riverside where he later met and married his second wife, Linda Hampton in 1986. With her, he inherited four more children, Vanessa (Chris Bonnevie) Whitfield, McCoy Whitfield (Lisa McGuire), Heather (Nicholas Gray) Gonzales and Jared Gonzales. To date, Tom and Linda also have nine grandchildren, Christopher, Amanda (Nate Ogden) and Stevie Bonnevie, McCoy Whitfield IV, Mackenzie Lane, Mathias Spohn, Braidon Gray, Dane Bicondova Gehrken, and Jaydon Carlson. Tom worked for the City of Riverside from 1975 until he retired in 2011. He was Business Tax Supervisor from 1990 until he retired. After living in Calimesa, CA for nearly 17 years, Tom and Linda built their dream house and moved into Sun Lakes in 2001. Even though he continued working until 2011, Tom enjoyed the many activities of the wonderful community. There was always a party to go to on Birdie Dr, so many in fact that the neighborhood group became known as the "Birdie Bunch." After he retired in 2011, he discovered bus trips and went everywhere with Sun Lakes recreation department. He enjoyed so many activities, but, the great love of his life, outside of Linda and his children, were his dogs. He moved in with two greyhounds and ended with two tiny Chinese Cresteds. Benny rode on his arm so much, people remarked they didn't know he had legs. Tom enjoyed life and was loved by many. He is missed. Joseph James Griffin, born September 27, 1936, in Chicago, IL to Joseph and Rose Griffin, passed on October 1. Joe was preceded in death by his wife Beverly Griffin. He is survived by three children, Patricia Michelle, Michael Patrick, and Joseph John; and two sisters, Gloria and Roseann, one granddaughter Ashley, one grandson Christian and one great- grandson Everett as well as several nieces and nephews. Joe retired from the International Bartenders Union and has enjoyed his retirement years at Sun Lakes. Joe loved golf, bowling and dining out, and was a member of the Paisano Club and the Dinner Dance Club.

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