Obituaries for the week of 11/6/18

Irene (Peewee) Hirata Lindsey

March 27,1939 to October 12, 2018

Irene (Peewee) Hirata Lindsey was born in Elko, Nevada on March 27,1939. Her father, Gunso worked on the railroad. Soon after her birth, Gunso moved Peewee and her brother, Kooshie, to Flanigan, Nevada where he had been transferred for his job. When Peewee was about 3 years of age she went to live with “Mister” and Maudie Heller, along with their daughter, Bonnie.

The Hellers owned and operated the Fish Springs Ranch, located close to the town of Flanigan. Her father had to make that difficult decision because he felt unable to care for his young daughter by himself. She told many stories about growing up on the ranch in the desert with her “sister” Bonnie, spending many hours playing in the rocks and sagebrush.

When old enough for school, Peewee attended elementary school in Flanigan and upon graduation was transported by car to Wendel, California where she boarded the school bus to attend Lassen High School in Susanville.

Upon graduation from high school with the class of 1958, Peewee began working at Lassen Memorial Hospital, eventually earning her licensed vocational nursing license while on the job. During her nursing career, Peewee became well respected by her peers for her hard work ethic and excellent patient care. Her strong moral principles were always apparent both in her conduct in her own home and on the job. She spent the final years of her nursing career working at the skilled nursing facility in the old hospital.

With the progression of her failing eyesight and the closure of the skilled nursing facility in 2003, Peewee retired after about 44 years of continuous service to the hospital and the community.

In 1960 Peewee married Walter Lindsey. The couple was blessed with the birth of their two sons, Charles and Kevin. Their married years were filled with the responsibilities of working and raising a family. Her family was always aware of the importance of her weekly hair appointment. She never ever missed a hair appointment. Never! Peewee was always very concerned with birthday and holiday celebrations, making sure everyone was well fed and proper gifts were provided for all. She always began her Christmas shopping early, sometimes in January.

In her retirement years, Peewee’s eyesight began to seriously deteriorate, finally leading to complete blindness. She still persevered, keeping a positive attitude and still remaining the cornerstone of her family.

Peewee was predeceased by her father, Gunso; and her brother, Kooshie. She is survived by her husband, Walter; her sons, Charles (Erin McCabe), and Kevin; and granddaughter, April Simpson, of Truckee; sister-in-law, Betty Hirata; and nephews, Stanford and Eric Hirata, of Roseville.

Peewee is also survived by her wonderful friend, Darlene Capps; and numerous other good friends. Services were held on Oct. 22, 2018 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Susanville. Her family requests that donations be made to a favorite charity in Peewee Lindsey’s name.

Edward James Newby
Edward James Newby died Oct. 6, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. He was born Nov. 11, 1937 in San Francisco, California. He loved to fish, camp, and he was an outdoors man.
He is survived by James Kevin Newby and Beverly of Westwood, California; two grandchildren; brother, Robert and June Newby; three nephews.
Services for Edward are graveside at 11 a.m. Nov. 17. at Westwood Cemetery.

Robert Arthur Middleton

Robert Arthur Middleton passed away on Sunday, Oct. 21. in the arms of his family.

He was born with his twin sister Lois, in Delleker, California, Aug. 14, 1927, to John William Middleton and Jennie Clara LeMay. He was the fifth of six children.

The family lived in Portola, California, later moving to Janesville. His two older brothers died in 1929, and his father passed away when he was 11 years old, in the midst of the Great Depression. The family moved to Woodland, where he attended school, working two newspaper delivery routes each day to help with finances. He served in the US Navy in World War II and was again called to service in the Army in Korea.

After Korea, he moved to Susanville, where he met Virginia Langley. The two fell in love and married in 1953. Attending Lassen College and later Chico State, he became a teacher: his lifelong passion. He taught history, geography, anthropology and archaeology at Lassen High School, and later at Lassen Community College. In those years he touched hundreds of young minds: each one was special to him. His students remember him for his kindness.

He was a longtime active member of the community, serving his church as deacon, and the city of Susanville on the city council. Bob was a staunch advocate for the Lassen County Free Library, and was a member of the Lassen County Historical Society.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Virginia; four children, Michael Robert (Hillene Fleurke), John William (Marjorie Chan), James Arthur (Tracy Austin), and Lisa Virginia (Dale Porter); and nine grandchildren, all of whom had a special relationship with him. He loved his family deeply, tenderly, and unconditionally. This love was cherished and returned.

Bob’s memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Community Church, 1400 Numa Road, Susanville, California. A private interment, attended by close family, will precede the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Robert Middleton Memorial Scholarship fund at Lassen Community College. Go to lassencollege.edu/support-lcc/Pages/default.aspx. Donations can be made via check or PayPal: Please specify Robert Middleton Memorial Scholarship on the order form. Checks can be mailed to:

Lassen College Foundation
P.O. Box 3000 Susanville, Califonia 96130.