Obituaries
DeWayne Spickler
Former Los Gatos resident DeWayne "Spick" Spickler died on July 17, at age 76.
Spickler was born on Aug. 14, 1923, in Lansing, Kan. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in Europe and the South Pacific. After the war, he joined the U.S. Air Force, in which he served for 21 years. After his 1964 retirement from the military, he built a career in high-tech manufacturing in the Silicon Valley with Sylvania, Oximetrix and Braegen Corporation.
In November of 1972, Spickler married his wife, Marjorie. Six years later, they moved to Grants Pass, Ore., where they have lived ever since. He established IMI in White City and also owned and operated Schneeman Electronics with his wife in Grants Pass. He was also involved in many civic groups, including the Rotary and the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Survivors include wife Marjorie Spickler of Grants Pass; daughter Nancy Wild of Grants Pass, son Steve Spickler of Camarillo; stepchildren Gary, Grant, Greg and Gail Tressel; seven grandchildren; two brothers and 10 nieces and nephews.
Memorial services have been held.
Thomas Wheeler
Thomas Oren Wheeler, a Los Gatos resident for the past 50 years, died July 20 at Good Samaritan Hospital of congestive heart failure. He was 86.
Born April 1, 1914, in Greensburg, Kan., Wheeler and his twin brother were the last two children in a family of eight boys and five girls. His twin died in the 1918 influenza epidemic.
After graduating from high school in 1932, Wheeler worked for a time on dam construction projects on the Colorado River. He was most proud of participating in the construction of Boulder Dam, which was later renamed Hoover Dam. He subsequently worked as a carpenter for four decades and was a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners for 59 years. He was affiliated with Local 405 in San Jose.
Wheeler was preceded in death by his first wife, Geneva, in 1985. Survivors include wife Helen Wheeler of Los Gatos; daughter Sharon Wheeler Hjerpe of Los Gatos; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park.
Donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat St., Americus, Ga., 31709.
Hugh Davies
Hugh William Davies of Los Gatos died on July 9, at the age of 96.
Born on July 5, 1904, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Davies grew up in Seattle, Wash. He was the former owner of Gilroy Home Furnishings and Los Gatos Home Furnishings, and was a 50-year member of the American Society for Metals.
Davis was a life member of Shriner's Children's Hospital in San Francisco, a 50-year member of Keith Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons in Gilroy, a member of the Los Gatos chapter of Eastern Star and a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Gilroy.
Survivors include wife of 66 years Blanche Davies of Los Gatos, daughters and sons-in-law Gwendolyn and Arthur Pinkston and Victoria and Robert Leck; daughter Patricia Boettcher; and grandchildren Maxwell and Deborah Pinkston, and Braden and Courtney Leck.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1150 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 7-A, San Jose, 95128.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
