From the Bakersfield Californian: In Loving Memory Jeffrey Edward Churchwell, January 8, 1950 - October 23, 2000
Jeffrey Edward Churchwell, 50, of Bakersfield passed away on October 23 at San Joaquin Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jeffrey was born in Bakersfield to Clem and Betty Jane Churchwell on January 8, 1950. He was raised in Bakersfield and attended local schools then moved to Oregon where he worked as a truck driver for the last nine years.
Survived by his parents; sister, Nancy and husband Mike Cercone; nephew, Matt and niece, Bronwyn and numerous relatives.
Greenlawn Morturary Funeral Directors
Allen W Romanoff
Jeff was one of my best friends and was best man at my wedding. I lost track of him after I was drafted and always wondered what became of him. I miss him still.
Helen DeLaMater (Watts)
Allen, that is sad to hear...I remember he lived a few blocks from us growing up. I don’t remember seeing him much in HS. Hope you are well.
Brenda Edwards (Hackney)
So sad to hear, Jeff lived down the street from me.Dave Bell
Jeff was a close friend in school. This reminder of him not being able to share memories, and catch up on his life with his friends, just seems unreal. We weren’t supposed to end up this way. Somehow it feels that we were to always remain as we were in High School... young, healthy, full of life and the wonders it holds. Am I alone in this, or do others feel that way too... that deep down inside we should never lose our friends; that they should have never suffered the plagues of growing old, or death; that we too should remain young and healthy forever.
Brenda Edwards (Hackney)
Hi Dave, I don't think you are alone in feeling that none of us should be growing old or passing away. It is a sad reality at this point in our lives' now and hard to comprehend when one of our old friends' are no longer here. Jeff was such a nice person and had an endearing personality. Jeff and I never saw each other again after High School as we both began our own life's journeys'. Our Class has lost many more people than I had expected as well, it is hard to believe, we remeber them as we knew them, young, vibrant and full of promise.Sharon Stephens (Bibee)
This is so sad. May I ask how Jeff passed? Was he sick? I agree with you in thinking of each other as young healthy kids. We might be surprised when we do see one another with age on us. But we are very sad to know one of classmates passing. It hurts deep in our hearts.
James Reynolds
Vicki May (Reynolds) has been doing a lot of research at the library. Jeff’s obit is one of many that she has found.
Jeff died of cancer according to the obituary.
He was in my homeroom (Scheffler) in 8th grade at Greenfield. I only have pleasant memories of this guy. Always quick to smile and had an understanding way about him. I’m sure that he had a hand in the many sports victories that our little homeroom class had. In a class of 30, you would expect only 15 or so boys to join together and compete in football, basketball, field hockey, baseball (10-inch), and track. I think the standouts in our class were Eugene Walker, myself, Randy Ray, Jim Beatie, Bobby West (the enforcer), and a few others like Dave Scott and Jeff Churchwell. Jim Schumann was in that class as well. Really was our last transition from grade school to high school, when you think about it. We won the overall championship for 8th grade despite my loss to Bobby Rader in the long distance run (last event of the year, complete with cheering kids all around). I waited too long to apply my last kick and let him get too far ahead of me. Nicely done, Bob.
Well, Jeff was part of our little tribe and we all liked him. I, too, wish that he could be with us in October.
Jeffrey Leong
Greenlawn NE, Oakhill, Space 3, Lot B, Block 27