Carl O. Shride |
| Posted 2009-07-19 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ March 6, 2002, p. A7 Carl O. Shride, longtime Wickenburg resident and owner of the historic Wickenburg Ice Plant, passed away peacefully at his home in his sleep on Monday, March 4. He was 92. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Helen, daughter Betty Lou, and son Bill. Carl was born July 9, 1909 in Prescott, and moved to Wickenburg in the spring of 1927 when his father made a bid on the Wickenburg Ice Plant. Much to their surprise, the bid was accepted. Carl was 18 at the time and began a lifelong affair with the ice plant, and later developed a beer and wine distributorship that reached from Surprise on the south to Bagdad, Salome and Parker. Imagine living here before the invention of refrigerators or air conditioning! Now imagine a truck coming up the street every day delivering the only ice in town. That was Carl, the Ice Man. Everyone in town had a card that they would place in the window letting Carl know exactly how much ice they would need that day. Carl also delivered to all the restaurants and bars in the area and knew just when to arrive in order to savor the treats coming fresh from the oven. Carl was active in the community; he served on the school board, the Town Council, and as president of the Roundup Club, which later evolved into the Chamber of Commerce. He was Past Master of the Masonic Lodge and Past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star. He also enjoyed his membership in the Royal Arch Masonry, where he served as treasurer for years, as well as being a member of the Shriners. Carl was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church where he sang tenor in the choir for many years. Carl never missed a Gold Rush Days parade, whether he was participating in, delivering ice to the concessions and rodeo grounds, or just being part of the crowd. Famous for his frugality, generous to a fault, he loved Gold Rush Days, and along with Helen, led the parade two years ago. Carl and Helen were married in the fall of 1932 and he built his new bride one of the first new homes in Wickenburg, which stands on the corner of Apache and Adams streets. They raised their children there and then built a second home in the late 1940s on Madison Street, where they have continued to live. Carl was a patient loving "Grandpa" who taught his four grandchildren, Chris and David Lehan, Suzie and Allison Shride, to drive in his 1948 Willys Jeep. He was also loved and cherished by four great-grandchildren, Patrick and Michael Lehan, Reyna Shride, and Allison Richards. A Service of Celebration will be held on Saturday, March 9 at the First Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Wickenburg Municipal Cemetery. A memorial fund has been set up with the Wickenburg chapter of Habitat for Humanity, in lieu of flowers. Contributions may be sent to the Carl Shride Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 21117, Wickenburg, Ariz. 85358. See Also: Find A Grave |
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