Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday in Hems Bros. Mortuary chapel in El Centro for Benny Morgan Derrick, 80, of El Centro, who died of heart failure Friday while visiting family in Modesto. Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church, at the corner of 7th Street and Orange Avenue in El Centro. The Rev. Barry Cunningham of the El Centro Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro.
Mr. Derrick was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Fallbrook. He was the 11th child born to A.B. and Revie Derrick. His parents homesteaded land in Imperial Valley near Keystone Road. Mr. Derrick attended schools in El Centro and graduated from Central Union High School in 1942. After joining the U.S. Navy in fall 1942, he served as an armed guard in the Merchant Marine, making 10 trips across the Pacific to New Caledonia and Okinawa during World War II. It was during those long ocean voyages that he honed his card-playing skills, according to family.
Upon his return to the Imperial Valley, he farmed with his brothers Olin, Evan and Laurie. He later met Helen Schumm, a teacher at Westside Elementary School. They married in the El Centro Church of the Nazarene on June 27, 1947. His wife taught first and second grades at Westside until her death in 1983. Mr. Derrick drove the school bus and generally took care of Westside School for 39 years. He retired in the 1980s. Mr. Derrick continued to farm on the side until the year that he only cleared enough to buy himself a pair of new cowboy boots.
He married his second wife, Marge Taylor Smith, in 1988. Together they traveled frequently.
According to family, Mr. Derrick was well-known for his auctioneering, whistling, card-playing, hunting, horsemanship, trips to Laughlin, Nev., gleaning the produce fields of friends, giving away produce, loving the Imperial Valley and loving everyone he met. Everyone loved him because he loved them first and he will be terribly missed, according to family.
Mr. Derrick was preceded in death by his stepson, Wesley Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Marge Derrick of El Centro; son, Tad Derrick of San Diego; daughter and son-in-law, Chanda and Bruce Kuhn of El Centro; grandchildren, Jared Kuhn of Las Vegas and Amanda Kuhn of El Centro; stepson and spouse, Gary and Peggy Smith of Madera and their children, Amy Smith of South Pasadena and Beth Poindexter and her husband, Brian, of Fresno; stepgrandchildren, Patrick and Rochelle Smith, both of Madera; sisters, Leota Rudolph of Hemet and Jean Killgore of Rialto; sister-in-law, Laura Jean Derrick of Imperial; brother-in-law John Taylor of El Centro; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Edward and Virginia Wylie, of Modesto; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests donations be sent in memory of Mr. Derrick to the Westside School Community organization, 2294 W. Vaughn Road, El Centro, CA 92243, or to Pioneers' Museum, 373 E. Aten Road, Imperial, CA 92251.
Imperial Valley Press June 18 2003
Contributor: Marilyn(47077044)
Mr. Derrick was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Fallbrook. He was the 11th child born to A.B. and Revie Derrick. His parents homesteaded land in Imperial Valley near Keystone Road. Mr. Derrick attended schools in El Centro and graduated from Central Union High School in 1942. After joining the U.S. Navy in fall 1942, he served as an armed guard in the Merchant Marine, making 10 trips across the Pacific to New Caledonia and Okinawa during World War II. It was during those long ocean voyages that he honed his card-playing skills, according to family.
Upon his return to the Imperial Valley, he farmed with his brothers Olin, Evan and Laurie. He later met Helen Schumm, a teacher at Westside Elementary School. They married in the El Centro Church of the Nazarene on June 27, 1947. His wife taught first and second grades at Westside until her death in 1983. Mr. Derrick drove the school bus and generally took care of Westside School for 39 years. He retired in the 1980s. Mr. Derrick continued to farm on the side until the year that he only cleared enough to buy himself a pair of new cowboy boots.
He married his second wife, Marge Taylor Smith, in 1988. Together they traveled frequently.
According to family, Mr. Derrick was well-known for his auctioneering, whistling, card-playing, hunting, horsemanship, trips to Laughlin, Nev., gleaning the produce fields of friends, giving away produce, loving the Imperial Valley and loving everyone he met. Everyone loved him because he loved them first and he will be terribly missed, according to family.
Mr. Derrick was preceded in death by his stepson, Wesley Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Marge Derrick of El Centro; son, Tad Derrick of San Diego; daughter and son-in-law, Chanda and Bruce Kuhn of El Centro; grandchildren, Jared Kuhn of Las Vegas and Amanda Kuhn of El Centro; stepson and spouse, Gary and Peggy Smith of Madera and their children, Amy Smith of South Pasadena and Beth Poindexter and her husband, Brian, of Fresno; stepgrandchildren, Patrick and Rochelle Smith, both of Madera; sisters, Leota Rudolph of Hemet and Jean Killgore of Rialto; sister-in-law, Laura Jean Derrick of Imperial; brother-in-law John Taylor of El Centro; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Edward and Virginia Wylie, of Modesto; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests donations be sent in memory of Mr. Derrick to the Westside School Community organization, 2294 W. Vaughn Road, El Centro, CA 92243, or to Pioneers' Museum, 373 E. Aten Road, Imperial, CA 92251.
Imperial Valley Press June 18 2003
Contributor: Marilyn(47077044)
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday in Hems Bros. Mortuary chapel in El Centro for Benny Morgan Derrick, 80, of El Centro, who died of heart failure Friday while visiting family in Modesto. Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church, at the corner of 7th Street and Orange Avenue in El Centro. The Rev. Barry Cunningham of the El Centro Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro.
Mr. Derrick was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Fallbrook. He was the 11th child born to A.B. and Revie Derrick. His parents homesteaded land in Imperial Valley near Keystone Road. Mr. Derrick attended schools in El Centro and graduated from Central Union High School in 1942. After joining the U.S. Navy in fall 1942, he served as an armed guard in the Merchant Marine, making 10 trips across the Pacific to New Caledonia and Okinawa during World War II. It was during those long ocean voyages that he honed his card-playing skills, according to family.
Upon his return to the Imperial Valley, he farmed with his brothers Olin, Evan and Laurie. He later met Helen Schumm, a teacher at Westside Elementary School. They married in the El Centro Church of the Nazarene on June 27, 1947. His wife taught first and second grades at Westside until her death in 1983. Mr. Derrick drove the school bus and generally took care of Westside School for 39 years. He retired in the 1980s. Mr. Derrick continued to farm on the side until the year that he only cleared enough to buy himself a pair of new cowboy boots.
He married his second wife, Marge Taylor Smith, in 1988. Together they traveled frequently.
According to family, Mr. Derrick was well-known for his auctioneering, whistling, card-playing, hunting, horsemanship, trips to Laughlin, Nev., gleaning the produce fields of friends, giving away produce, loving the Imperial Valley and loving everyone he met. Everyone loved him because he loved them first and he will be terribly missed, according to family.
Mr. Derrick was preceded in death by his stepson, Wesley Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Marge Derrick of El Centro; son, Tad Derrick of San Diego; daughter and son-in-law, Chanda and Bruce Kuhn of El Centro; grandchildren, Jared Kuhn of Las Vegas and Amanda Kuhn of El Centro; stepson and spouse, Gary and Peggy Smith of Madera and their children, Amy Smith of South Pasadena and Beth Poindexter and her husband, Brian, of Fresno; stepgrandchildren, Patrick and Rochelle Smith, both of Madera; sisters, Leota Rudolph of Hemet and Jean Killgore of Rialto; sister-in-law, Laura Jean Derrick of Imperial; brother-in-law John Taylor of El Centro; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Edward and Virginia Wylie, of Modesto; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests donations be sent in memory of Mr. Derrick to the Westside School Community organization, 2294 W. Vaughn Road, El Centro, CA 92243, or to Pioneers' Museum, 373 E. Aten Road, Imperial, CA 92251.
Imperial Valley Press June 18 2003
Contributor: Marilyn(47077044)
Mr. Derrick was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Fallbrook. He was the 11th child born to A.B. and Revie Derrick. His parents homesteaded land in Imperial Valley near Keystone Road. Mr. Derrick attended schools in El Centro and graduated from Central Union High School in 1942. After joining the U.S. Navy in fall 1942, he served as an armed guard in the Merchant Marine, making 10 trips across the Pacific to New Caledonia and Okinawa during World War II. It was during those long ocean voyages that he honed his card-playing skills, according to family.
Upon his return to the Imperial Valley, he farmed with his brothers Olin, Evan and Laurie. He later met Helen Schumm, a teacher at Westside Elementary School. They married in the El Centro Church of the Nazarene on June 27, 1947. His wife taught first and second grades at Westside until her death in 1983. Mr. Derrick drove the school bus and generally took care of Westside School for 39 years. He retired in the 1980s. Mr. Derrick continued to farm on the side until the year that he only cleared enough to buy himself a pair of new cowboy boots.
He married his second wife, Marge Taylor Smith, in 1988. Together they traveled frequently.
According to family, Mr. Derrick was well-known for his auctioneering, whistling, card-playing, hunting, horsemanship, trips to Laughlin, Nev., gleaning the produce fields of friends, giving away produce, loving the Imperial Valley and loving everyone he met. Everyone loved him because he loved them first and he will be terribly missed, according to family.
Mr. Derrick was preceded in death by his stepson, Wesley Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Marge Derrick of El Centro; son, Tad Derrick of San Diego; daughter and son-in-law, Chanda and Bruce Kuhn of El Centro; grandchildren, Jared Kuhn of Las Vegas and Amanda Kuhn of El Centro; stepson and spouse, Gary and Peggy Smith of Madera and their children, Amy Smith of South Pasadena and Beth Poindexter and her husband, Brian, of Fresno; stepgrandchildren, Patrick and Rochelle Smith, both of Madera; sisters, Leota Rudolph of Hemet and Jean Killgore of Rialto; sister-in-law, Laura Jean Derrick of Imperial; brother-in-law John Taylor of El Centro; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Edward and Virginia Wylie, of Modesto; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests donations be sent in memory of Mr. Derrick to the Westside School Community organization, 2294 W. Vaughn Road, El Centro, CA 92243, or to Pioneers' Museum, 373 E. Aten Road, Imperial, CA 92251.
Imperial Valley Press June 18 2003
Contributor: Marilyn(47077044)
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