"G" Surnames, Biographies and obituaries, Maricopa County, Arizona - GenWeb


Biographies and Obituaries


 A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z          

~G~

GANZ, Emil
Emil Ganz, a German immigrant who first tried his fortunes in Georgia, later came to Arizona and quickly achieved prominence with his Bank Exchange Hotel. After Phoenix was incorporated in 1881, it had a succession of weak mayors until 1885, when GANZ was elected. He put the city on a sound financial basis and inaugurated new services.

Gipson, Helen
Helen Gipson, 97, of Phoenix passed away on November 24, 2005 Helen was born on November 14, 1909 in Bisbee AZ. She was a 50 year member of Eastern Star. She was also a member of the First Congregational Church. Helen earned her A.A. at Tempe Normal School, a B.A. at Arizona State University and an M.A. at Northern Arizona University. She formed the First Dental Assisting Class in the state of Arizona at Phoenix Union High School. Helen was asked and formed the Dental Assisting Class of Orange County California. She then finished her career at East Phoenix High School before retirement. Helen was preceeded in death by her husband James D. Gipson Sr., sisters; Hulda Manchini and Hilda Cook. She was survived by her son James D. Gipson Jr. and wife Rayona, Grandchildren; James D. Gipson III and wife Aileen, Kara and Brad Rockholt, great grandchildren; Colin and Megan Rockholt. A celebration of Life was held at First Congregational Church, 1407 North 2nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85004. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Bethesda Maryland. Published in The Arizona Republic on 11/29/2005.

GOETTL, Adam Goettl 1907-1998
Founder Goettl Air Conditioning If Adam, Gust and William Goettl hadn't developed the evaporative cooler in the 1940s, metro Phoenix might not have grown to one of the nation's largest cities. The Goettls' product, which blows air across water-soaked pads, is credited with helping spur the Valley's growth after World War II. In 1939, they opened Goettl Brothers Metal Products Co. on south Central Avenue. The company, later called Goettl Air Conditioning Inc., was sold in 1977 to an investor.

GOLDWATER, Barry 1909-1998 Barry Goldwater
U.S. Senator. Barry Goldwater's political career started with his election to the Phoenix City Council in 1949. Three years later, he challenged and defeated Ernest McFarland, then Senate majority leader. Goldwater served in the Senate until 1964, when he campaigned unsuccessfully for president against Democrat Lyndon Johnson. In 1968, he ran again for the Senate and won. But in his last campaign in 1980, Goldwater barely edged ahead of Democratic challenger Bill Schulz, winning by about 9,400 votes. Goldwater retired after the end of the 1986 session.

GOLETZ, Albert Goletz
SPRINGFIELD -- Albert Frances Goletz of Springfield died March 5 of cancer. He was 69. No service is planned. He was born Aug. 22, 1938, in Wheeling, W.Va., to Albert and Helen Frye Goletz. He attended North Phoenix High School and Arizona State University. He held a bachelors degree from Grand Canyon College. He worked as a systems analyst for Weyerhaeuser. Survivors include a brother, William of California; and a sister, Mary Hindman of Phoenix. Inurnment will be at Greenwood Memorial in Phoenix. Arrangements by Alpha Cremation Service in Eugene. The Register-Guard, Eugene, OR. Mar. 9, 2008, Page: 21C

GORDON, Rena Joyce
Rena Joyce Gordon, passed away on November 24, 2005. Rena Joyce Gordon, 69, of Scottsdale, AZ passed away on November 24, 2005 after an eleven-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Rena loved and was loved by Len, her husband of 49 years, and by her daughters Melinda Sue and Melissa, her son Matt, grandchildren Jake, Hal, and Lily and many family, friends, and university students and colleagues. Rena was an alumnus of the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Arizona State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Geography. In 2002 Rena retired from ASU East where she helped develop a new health and wellness baccalaureate degree. In the 1980s and early 1990s Rena was on the faculty of the University of Arizona's Department of Family and Community Medicine and directed the U of A Medical School's Rural Health Office. She was the founding editor of the research journal Complementary Health Practice Review. Most importantly for those who knew her was her vivacious spirit and kindness. She had been using her academic writing skills to write a family history on her and her husband Len's Russian Jewish immigrant Gordon and Feigelman family journey to America. Rena encouraged Len to take an ASU Writing Workshop course this Fall semester. As part of that workshop Len described his first awareness of Rena: "In 1951 I first became aware of Rena Feigelman at school and of Elizabeth Taylor in the movies. I thought that Elizabeth Taylor was almost as attractive, bright, and appealing as Rena Feigelman." Rena's joyful qualities are permanent. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Len and Rena Gordon Spunky Award, c/o Christy Atler, Development Office, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1701. Funeral service at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. Published in The Arizona Republic on 11/27/2005.

GOSSETT, Rebecca Todd
Rebecca Todd Gossett, retired Librarian for the Maricopa County Library District Bookmobile, Phoenix, died October 19, 2002. She was 85. Gossett retired from Maricopa in 1980.

HAWKINS, Floy
In March, 1929, Miss Floy Hawkins became the first foreign missionary (China) to go out from Arizona Southern Baptists.

~H~


   Return to Top



Home Page


Your AZGENWEB State Coordinator is Gail Meyer Kilgore and your Assistant State Coordinator is Colleen Pustola. Project Coordinator is Judy Wight Branson, and the Maricopa County Coordinator is Pat Wilson. If any of us can be of assistance please do not hesitate to email us.


© Copyright AZGenWeb 2004.
AZGENWEB-MARICOPA CO., ARIZONA: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed Maricopa Co. Coordinator.