PALO VERDE VALLeY TIMES, Wednesday, July 19, 2017 A3

Opinion John Blackburn 72

passed away May 25,
Obituaries
John Blackburn
- May 25, 2017
March 21, 1945

A Day in the Life 2017. Born March 21,

1945 to Wesley
Blackburn, and Viola

My visit to the City of Angels

Fryer in Fort Towson
Oklahoma. In 1965 John
and Wanda Lou McGuire
became husband and
wife in Coolidge, Arizona.
After moving to Pomona,
California in 1966 John
became a father to his

T
daughter Sherry. Work
his weekend, my life went Times Reporter During our time in the City of was scarce so John
from over the top boring to Cathyleen Rice Angels, we rode bikes, went on worked on farms and
off the charts amazing! later John and Wanda bought a wreaking yard and after
celebrity home tours, shopped till that worked at a Chicken farm in Live Oak, California.
On Thursday, my best it got too hot, ate at restaurants
friend flew out from Charlotte, and a quiet couples spa day by They moved to the Blythe area approximately 1971, His
featured on Food Network, visited son John Blackburn Jr. was born that same year. John
N.C., just to see me, oh, and I guess the pool, we quickly dressed and and Wanda raised their two children in Ehrenberg,
museums, hiked to the Hollywood Arizona while working at Barnes and Berger as a
to find out what California is re- ate a fabulous dinner downtown,
sign and took over 100 pictures Mechanic and later at TLR Farms where he retired.
ally like. before driving to Los Angeles for
Hitting the road early Saturday nightlife. together. John is survived by his son John Blackburn Jr., daughter
Although I wish our time there Sherry Williford , daughter-in-law Kim Blackburn, son-in-
morning, we arrived in Palm Staying just two miles away law Charles Willford, three grandchildren John
Springs, where we hiked the trails from Venice Beach, life in L.A. didnt have to end so soon, as I Blackburn lll AKA JJ. Blackburn, Christopher Miller Erika
headed back to Blythe, all I could Rascon, and her husband Miguel Rascon, Isaak, Eli,
of the Tahquitz Canyon and swam was all we imagined and more. and Larainna Rascon, sisters, Nancy Smith, and
for hours on end underneath the From all the TV shows and mov- think about was putting LA traffic husband Ralph, Edna Queen, and niece Debbie Clark,
behind me, and making it back to and numerous other nephews and nieces. John will be
waterfall. ies that made it appealing, actually missed by all who loved and new him.
Enjoying brunch afterward being there was worthwhile. the small desert town I call home.
Memorial services will be held at the Zion Church at 7th
street and Chancelorway, Blythe California. July 15,
2017. 10:00 AM. A Celebration of life will be held at the
The Mighty Pen Ehrenberg Community Center, and Park, Saturday July
15, 2017 after the services, at 4:00p.m. Location
Comber Blvd. and Parker-Poston Hwy. For more
Information please call: Chuck at 928-273- 5507 Kim at
928-706-2288
Please sign the guestbook at
www.legacy.com/obituaries/paloverdevalleytimes

Bill J. Bunch
June 14, 1931- June 18, 2017
Bill J. Bunch was born
June 14, 1931, in
Berryville, AR to his
parents Joe & Ruth
Bunch. Bill was the
eldest of six siblings.
Due to health reasons,
as a teenager, Bill
moved to Sanger, CA,
to live with his paternal
aunt and uncle. Bill
then met the love of his
life and wife of 62 years
Mae Fern Luther, and
they married
02/10/1951. Fern went
to heaven in 06/2013,
however, they were reunited Fathers Day, 6/18/17,
when Bills Heavenly Father welcomed him his faithful
servant home.
Bill and Fern moved from Reedley, CA, to Blythe, CA in
1974 (where they lived until 1979), when he was
presented the opportunity of full-time permanent
employment with the State of California Department of
Agriculture. His prior employment consisted of seasonal
Guest Column employment with the State, field work, gasoline delivery
truck driver, ranch foreman, owner/operator of Richfield
Service Stations in Orange Cove and Reedley, CA, as

Will real patriots please stand?

well as assembly work for New Holland. Depending on
the season and work available, the entire family joined
together to harvest oranges, peaches, tray grapes,
prune and tie grapevines, etc. Bills work ethic was
impeccable, and he stressed this value with this
children.

I
will support
and defend the
Constitution of
the United States
against all enemies,
foreign and domesticI
will faithfully discharge
the duties of the office.
Words spoken by every
member of Congress as
part of an oath we fully
expect them to uphold.
Elected officials also have
copies of their partys
platforms and duties.
When congressional lead-
ers fail to uphold their
sworn oath, their party
platform, and their du-
ties, they fail all Ameri-
cans. As constituents,
we may need to consider
firing the public servants
who fail to execute their
duties.
The duties of elected of-
ficials include consulting
and accommodating the
will of the People. They
cannot represent every
single person, but they
can accommodate most of
their constituents. Cur-
rently, Health Care is the
monster on the Hill. Loy-
alists are working in the
best interests of donors,
big money pharma and
special interest groups
while ignoring the needs
of Americans. They hide
in private meetings to
create and revise legisla-
tion that will impact all
of us. The results are
dubbed wealth care
rather than health care.
Duties of the elected
include educating their
constituents through
Guest Columnist
Dennese Lilley-Edgerton
outreach. Many have
Town Hall meetings to do
just that. Loyalists dont
feel they need to meet
with their employers,
hear their concerns, and
represent and accom-
modate their needs. They
ignore protestors outside
their offices, they ignore
emails and phone mes-
sages, and letters and
postcards are filed away
in the garbage bins.
Loyalists willfully
neglect their duties to
country. Patriots must
push back when ignored.
We believe the Consti-
tution . . .[is] our endur-
ing covenant say both
the Patriot and the Loyal-
ist. Both sides swear to
defend our constitution
without exception. How-
ever, First Amendment
rights are under attack,
and Loyalists ignore the
assault on our freedoms.
The media is shut out or
shut down when it comes
to press conferences and
access to leadership.
Peaceful protestors are
attacked and states are
trying to make protesting
illegal (North Dakota,
Georgia, Iowa). Religious
freedoms are under at-
tack.
Loyalists are threat-
ening the separation of
Church and State. While
Loyalists attempt to dam-
age Democracy, Patriots
are fighting back.
Recent requests by
the voter fraud com-
mission were met with
resistance by 44 Secretar-
ies of State, who acted as
Patriotic Public Servants
to protect voter informa-
tion. Loyalists sit by and
do nothing to curb the
attempts to further rig
elections. Reports show
the commissions true in-
tent is to create new laws
making it more difficult
for Americans to vote.
The information, accord-
ing to Politico, would also
allow for voter profiling.
Congress swore to
protect us against all
enemies. Rather than
combat the threat Russia
poses to our Democracy
and protect our elec-
tions, Loyalists deflect
and distract us from the
dangers. Loyalists allow
leaders to trash our
time-honored intelli-
gence organizations who
work diligently to find
the truth about Russian
interference. Many in
Washington balk at what
is happening, calling it
a nothing burger or
using their ridiculous
kettle logic: Didnt do it.
Did do it but not a crime.
Its a crime but its okay.
And lets not forget the
whataboutisms when
trying to defend the
White House.
We need Patriots stand-
ing up for what is right.
We dont need Loyalists
looking for personal
gain. We need Patriots,
because they fight for
Americans, country, and
constitution. A Loyalist
is blinded by power and
greed, so they ignore, or
attempt to defend, the
unfortunate activities
in D.C. Patriots support
necessary investigations,
but Loyalists do not see
probable cause. Patri-
ots supported a special
prosecutor; Loyalists
spoke against it. Patriots
support an independent
commission; Loyalists
trash the idea.
It is unpatriotic to
support leaders who fail
in their duties to stand
by country, citizens, and
constitution.
Its a slap in the face
to every American who
served this country,
sacrificing life or limb to
protect our freedoms. Its
a gut shot when leader-
ship trashes United
States government intel-
ligence agencies who
sacrifice to find the truth.
The willingness to defend
the integrity of our
Democracy should never
be a partisan principle.
We all need to be Patriots
who vote Loyalists out
of office. In the mean-
time, protest loudly! It is
cially, the excessive
our right as Americans
to be heard and truly
represented by the public
servants we voted into
office.
Dennese Lilley-Edgerton is a Blythe
resident, award winning instructor, and
has dedicated herself to education
through the written and spoken word.
Bill and Ferns union was blessed with five children
Billy, Gene, Cheryl, and twins Bryan and Brenda (who
attended 8th grade, as well as graduated high school in
Blythe). Bill is survived by his children, as well as many
grandchildren (including Kody and Karys Downes of
Blythe), great-grandchildren, extended family, and
cherished friends.
Bill was a Godly gentle giant of a man who practiced
what he preached. He was empathetic, kind, had
immense integrity, and was devoted to the Lord and to
raising his children with Christian values. He was a
faithful member of the Blythe Church of the Nazarene
and had fond memories of friendships made, church
picnics, campouts at Corn Springs and, especially,
proudly witnessing his daughter, Cheryl, serve as Youth
Pastor one summer while on break from Point Loma
Nazarene College.
Bill often said, Im as common as an old shoe,
however, in reality, he was an extraordinary man of
great character and quality who will forever be a
priceless treasure to his survivors. Thank you, Dad, for
your sacrifices, guidance, un-waivering faith, and
support. We love and miss you so.till we meet again
in heaven.
Please sign the guestbook at
www.legacy.com/obituaries/paloverdevalleytimes
Letter to the Editor
On our K-Marts growth, and in the long
closure term will not serve
It would seem to make
those well who suffer
more sense, to make ev-
from this condition.
ery effort, to stimulate We, the little folk in
the local economy, if
Blythe, love and need
you have any form of
business in our small our local K-Mart, and
town of Blythe. Seems I think those who may
the person, or persons be able to make sure it
that own the K-mart remains open, should
building dont think do so rapidly.
that way. Greed, espe- Just saying...
Harold Ray
type, tends to stifle
Blythe resident
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