Obituaries Obituaries (May 25, 2005)

Kenneth B. Sorensen

Retired Menlo Park police officer

Kenneth B. Sorensen, who served as a Menlo Park police officer for 31 years, died May 12 in Carson City, Nevada.

Mr. Sorensen and his wife, Donna, moved to Carson City six years ago from Menlo Park. He was 66.

Mr. Sorensen was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and served in the U.S. Navy.

After retiring from the Menlo Park police force, Mr. Sorensen worked at Menlo Park Hardware and Guy's Plumbing and Heating.

Mr. Sorensen was known for telling jokes and, thanks to e-mail, friends in Menlo Park were able to share his humor, say family members.

While living in Carson City, he supervised 25 unpaid patrol officers who make up the Carson City sheriff's department volunteers in policing program.

"Ken was one of the most-liked volunteers that we have," said Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong. "Not only was he well liked, he was well respected throughout the department."

Mr. Sorensen is survived by his wife of 22 years, Donna Fallis Sorensen of Carson City; his children, Debby Embree of Yuba City, Steve Schaffner of Yuba City, Ray Sorensen of Rocklin, Sherry Larck of Modesto, Mike Sorensen of Castro Valley, and Larry Sorensen of Rocklin; stepdaughters Debbie Toscanelli of Palo Alto and Lisa Bates of Fullerton; sister Caroline Giambattista of New Jersey; and 12 grandchildren.

Services were held May 21 in Carson City. Memorials in his name may be sent to the Carson City sheriff's department volunteers in policing, c/o Lt. Ray Saylo, 901 E. Musser St., Carson City, NV 89701.

Arthur Bell

Printing executive

Arthur "Terry" Bell, a resident of Portola Valley for 17 years, died May 19 in Atascadero, where the family has a second residence. He was 62.

Born in Santa Monica, he grew up in Pacific Palisades and graduated from San Jose State University. He was a 27-year partner/vice president of ColorGraphics Inc., in San Francisco.

Mr. Bell was a member of several printing organizations, as well as the Northern California Golf Association and Atascadero Foursquare Church. He enjoyed travel, golf, hiking, boating and rafting, say family members.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Linda A. Bell; his children, Brendy Bell Alsup of Templeton and Jason W. Bell of Santa Maria; and four grandchildren.

Services were held May 23 at Atascadero Foursquare Church. Donations in his name may be made to Atascadero Foursquare Church, 2100 Ramona Road, Atascadero.

Johnnie Mae Nichols-Watson

Menlo Park resident

Services will be held Friday, May 27, for Johnnie Mae Nichols-Watson of Menlo Park, who died May 19. She was 76.

The services will start at 11 a.m. at Roller Hapgood & Tinney, 980 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Visitation at the funeral home will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 26.

Ms. Nichols-Watson was born and educated in Texas. She was married to the late Isaac Watson and moved to California. She was a devout Christian and received many certificates and acknowledgements for her dedication and work in her church, say family members.

She is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Watson of Menlo Park; nieces Linda Hamilton of San Jose and Beverly Jones of Antioch; nephews Edward Johnson of Menlo Park, Kenneth Johnson of Sunnyvale and Jack Britton of San Francisco; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Lorna Loram

A memorial service will be held May 26 for Lorna Loram, a former longtime resident of Menlo Park and member of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. She died May 16 at the age of 63.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. at the memorial prayer chapel of the Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center in the Santa Cruz mountains. The center is located at 37 Conference Drive in Mount Hermon.

A full obituary will be published in a later issue of the Almanac.

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