Los Angeles Times - Obituaries

Cecil Smith dies at 92; Times TV critic advocated literate, high-quality shows

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Veteran entertainment writer and editor whose newspaper career spanned the 1940s to the '80s was known for witty, elegant writing.

Cecil Smith, a former longtime Los Angeles Times television critic who covered the TV and entertainment scene for The Times from the 1950s to the 1980s, has died. He was 92.

Gale Storm memorial service set

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:56:00 -0700

The service for the star of 1950s situation comedies 'My Little Margie' and 'The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna' will take place Saturday in Dana Point.

A memorial service for actress Gale Storm, star of the 1950s situation comedies "My Little Margie" and "The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna," will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Shores Church, 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Monarch Beach in Dana Point. Storm died June 27 at age 87.

PASSINGS

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Wiles Hallock, former Pac-10 commissioner, dies at 91; Paul Hemphill, writer who focused on the Deep South, dies at 73; Amin al-Hafez, two-month prime minister of Lebanon, dies at 83

Wiles Hallock

Joe Bowman dies at 84; sharpshooter was known as 'Master of Triggernometry'

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Bowman shared his marksmanship skills with Hollywood stars and law enforcement officers. He was also a gifted magician and trick roper, performing at rodeos and gun shows.

Joe Bowman, a nationally known Texas sharpshooter who could blast an aspirin to powder at 30 paces and split a playing card edgewise at 20, has died. He was 84.

PASSINGS

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Harry J. Gray, retired chief executive of United Technologies, dies at 89; Ric Hardman, screenwriter, dies at 84; Waldo McBurney, deemed America's oldest worker, dies at 106

Harry J. Gray

Samuel M. Genensky dies at 81; mathematician invented tools for the near-blind

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Samuel M. Genensky, a former Rand Corp. mathematician and inventor whose near-blindness led him to help others cope with limited eyesight and become more self-sufficient, died June 26 at his Santa Monica home. He was 81.

Marine Lance Cpl. Ray A. Spencer II, 20, Ridgecrest; died in a 'nonhostile incident' in Iraq

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

He died a few days into his second tour in April after shooting himself in the chest, according to a Marine Corps investigation.

When Marine Lance Cpl. Ray A. Spencer II and his future wife were first getting to know each other, they found a mutual interest in history.

Tom Wilkes dies at 69; Grammy Award-winning art director and album cover designer

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Wilkes designed album covers for the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Janis Joplin and other legendary musicians.

Tom Wilkes, a Grammy Award-winning art director and album cover designer whose work included albums for the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Neil Young and other music legends, has died. He was 69.

George Shor Jr. dies at 86; Scripps geophysicist studied the ocean floor

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Shor's work helped lay the foundation for the theory of tectonic plates and continental drift.

George G. Shor Jr., the Scripps geophysicist whose study of the ocean floor helped lay the foundation for the theory of tectonic plates and continental drift, died July 3 at his home in La Jolla from complications following a series of strokes. He was 86.

Charles Eastman dies at 79; playwright and screenwriter

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

His film credits include 'The All-American Boy' and 'Little Fauss and Big Halsy.'

Charles Eastman, a playwright and screenwriter whose credits included the 1970s films "The All-American Boy" and "Little Fauss and Big Halsy," has died. He was 79.