West Slope Obituaries

Roxie Carl Ungaro

Roxie Carl Ungaro, died on Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Paonia Care & Rehabilitation Center in Paonia, Colorado. He was 95 years of age.

Roxie was born in Ceanna, Italy on July 16, 1912 to Lawrence and Amelia (Tenore) Ungaro. As an infant, he traveled with his mother to the United States to Boston. Eventually moving to Somerset, Colorado. He spent his childhood and attended school in Somerset and Paonia. Roxie began work in the coal mine with his dad at the age of 17 in June 1929 until October 1943 when in joined the U.S. Army.

Roxie honorably served his country with the U. S. Army during WWII as an interpreter and scout patrol in Italy from October 1943 through January 1946.

Shortly after his service, Roxie met the love of his life Fern V. Holdredge in Paonia, Colorado. Roxie married Fern on April 30, 1949 in Grand Junction. They celebrated over fifty-three years of love and marriage together before Fern’s passing on December 1, 2002.

Roxie went back in the coal mine in January 1949 and worked in the coal mining industry until he retired at age 62 from U.S. Steal Corporation.

Roxie was a member of the the American Legion Post #97, Hotchkiss Elks Lodge Post #1807, and the United Mine Workers of America #6714. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, dancing, and watching the Colorado Rockies.

Roxie is survived by one brother, Tommy Ungaro; and four sisters: Ann Todd and Rose Payne both of Paonia, CO, and Madeline Pierce and Mary Ungaro both of Grand Junction, CO. Roxie is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Roxie was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Fern Ungaro; three brothers: Tony Ungaro ,Louis Ungaro and Lawrence Ungaro; and one sister, Phyllis Collette.

Margil Jean Wright,

Margil Jean Wright, died on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the Delta County Memorial Hospital. She was seventy-seven years of age.

On October 25, 1930, Margil Jean was born the daughter of Eugene Grier and Margil Williams in Hotchkiss, Colorado. She spent her childhood in Paonia, and graduated high school in Patterson, California.

Margil was a loving mother to her three children. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, spending time outdoors, and she loved to go fishing. More importantly, she loved children and she was known throughout the North Fork Community as “Grandma”.

Margil is survived by her children: Zane Wright, Donna Wright, and Shonna Wright all of Paonia, CO; and one brother, Martin Grier and his wife Hertha of Paonia, CO. Margil is further survived by three grandchildren: Joby Wright, Amber Wright, and Jessie Wright; two great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Margil was preceded in death by her parents; and her first husband, Johnny Johnson.

Roland (Ron) Townsend Adams

Roland (Ron) Townsend Adams passed away May 16, 2008 after a two year battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Roland Townsend Adams was born to Margaret & Wilbur Adams June 1st, 1939 in a farmhouse just east of Paonia, CO. He spent his childhood and most of his school years in Walsh, CO. For his senior year he attended Friends Haviland Academy, Haviland, KS where he met his future wife, Betty Jo Allison. Ron & Betty Jo were married June 6th 1958 and to this union two sons were born, Lynn DeVon and Marvin Eugene.

Ron spent most of his working career in the educational and agricultural areas. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1968 and taught business classes at Montrose High School for several years. He enjoyed teaching young people to become responsible citizens, however his main interest was in the agricultural field. He was innovative in his approach to agriculture as shown by being the first farmer in the Montrose area to install a gated pipe underground distribution system for his irrigation water. 1974 he built and operated a totally confined hog operation and introduced pig racing at the Montrose County Fair in 1980. His farming continued into Delta county where he raised registered and certified grass seed. He spent 11 years in the Albuquerque, NM where he raised ostriches. Roland retired in 2002 after the untimely death of his wife, Betty Jo and returned to the Montrose area.

Ron was very active in the churches he attended. In 1979 he started working with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in Cimarron, CO and worked at the YWAM store at El Rancho Cimarron in 1994. He and Betty attended YWAM Crossroads Discipleship Training School in 1989. His love of the Lord was always evident in his everyday life.

Ron remarried in 2003 to Mary Brummitt. In their retirement years Ron & Mary enjoyed building a new house in Eckert, CO and their traveling was highlighted by a driving trip to Alaska. Ron continued his interest in farming by restoring antique tractors. He loved to camp, hunt, fish and had a great love for the outdoors.

Roland is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Adams; his mother Margaret Adams, Twin Falls, ID; his two sons and their wives; Lynn & JoAnn Adams, Littleton, CO, Marvin & Kris Adams of Kent, WA, Also surviving is a sister and her husband, Neva & Jay Spivey, three brothers and wives; Dan & Jan, Cheney, WA, Wayne, Glendale, AZ, and Robert & Vicki, Twin Falls, ID. His extended family include Joe & Donna Brummitt, Olathe, CO, Tim & Cindy Cannell, Paonia, CO, and Jim & Jeannie Brummitt, Longview, WA., Cyril & Anita Daly, Montrose, CO. Seventeen Grandchildren and four Great Grandchildren completes his surviving family. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Jo Adams, his father, JW Adams and an infant granddaughter, Rachel Adams.