July 2005

Alice Faye Tucker Albritton of Salem, Ore. passed away May 25, 2005. She lived in Curundu and graduated from BHS in 1953 and later married David Albritton (BHS’51). She was a Navy Fighter Pilot’s wife until David retired in 1983.

Querida M. Berger passed away in Bradenton, Fla. on November 14, 2004. In the 1940s, she went to the Canal Zone as a nurse at Gorgas Hospital where she met and married Dr. I. Robert Berger. During her career as a hospital nurse, she worked in many different areas until she retired in 1972.

James Walter Braswell Jr., 93, of Wilmington, N.C. died May 20, 2005. He worked at Corozal as an Engineer and resided in Curundu from 1964-1969.

Eula Reno Driscoll, 92, of Greenville, S.C. died May 13, 2005. She was a teacher and she taught at the Canal Zone Junior College in Balboa, Panama.

Gertrude H. Gibson, born in Gorgona, Canal Zone on November 16, 1910, died May 30, 2005 in San Diego, Calif. Mrs. Gibson danced ballet professionally and then taught dance classes to many young students in the Canal Zone. She was later employed with the Electrical Division until 1953.

John R. Gough Sr., 80, of Marrero, La. passed away April 11, 2005. John arrived in the Panama Canal Zone with the Army Air Corps in 1943. He worked for the Army Audit Agency and later moved to the Budget and Rates Division of the Panama Canal Company until retiring in 1979.

Ed Hepner, 78, of Winter Haven, Fla. died June 18, 2005. He lived in the Panama Canal Zone from 1965 where he worked as a marine machinist foreman at Mt. Hope Industrial Division and a planner and estimator until retiring in 1987.

Margaret (Peggy) Sealey Hutchison, 87, of Aiken, S.C. died May 29, 2005. She was born in Ancon, Canal Zone, graduated from BHS in 1935, attended two years of CZJC and married Donald P. Hutchison in 1938. She worked as a Secretary for HQ USSOUTHCOM and resigned in 1975 with 19 years of service when her husband retired. Peggy was the Canal Record reporter for South Carolina.

Claire Helene Jaworski, 65, died June 17, 2004 in Alexandria, Va. She was known to Health Bureau personnel through her husband Gene Jaworski who worked at Gorgas, Coco Solo, and military hospitals.

Paul William “Pablo” Kramer, 78, of Portland, Texas, passed away May 25, 2005. He moved to Panama at age 14 and graduated from BHS in 1946. He served a four-year machinist apprenticeship for the Panama Canal. After serving two years in the Marine Corps, he returned to the Panama Canal where he worked until his retirement in 1985.

Diane “Pat” McCay, 88, of Port Charlotte, Fla., formerly of St. Petersburg, died May 12, 2005. She came to Florida in 1935 when her father, an engineer for the Panama Canal, relocated to Miami.

Evangeline Theresa Melant, 80, died March 16, 2005 in Georgetown, Texas. She began her civil service career as an IRS auditor during WWII. Evangeline met and married Victor C. Melant and they moved to the Canal Zone where she continued her government career as a secretary for the U.S. Navy. She continued to work for the Armed Forces until retiring in 1999.

Frances Fanning Sampsell, 90, passed away on April 23, 2005. Mrs. Sampsell began her career as an educator in Lincoln County, Tenn. in 1939. In 1952, she went to the Canal Zone where she served as a teacher; elementary principal; Supervisor of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Schools. Upon her retirement, she was presented a Keeper of Children’s Minds plaque from Governor Parfitt, the last U.S. governor of the Canal Zone.

Fred Weade, 94, passed away this past April 2005 in Colorado. He started work as a pilot on the Panama Canal in 1941. He was an active Elks Club Lodge 1414 member until his death. He was also a 32nd degree Mason and active in the Shriners.