MINTHORN, Ramon D. (Ray)

Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona February 8, 1990, page 1-A Services are pending at St. Alban Episcopal Church for Ray Minthorn, 61, who died in a tragic incident last week near one of the two homes he and his wife, Ruth, own near Wickieup. The Minthorns are long time members of the St. Alban parish, and for more than 10 years the couple drove almost 300 miles roundtrip each Sunday to Wickenburg from their home near Williams, where Ruth Minthorn, 60, provided the organ music for the church service. Williams is almost due north of Wickenburg, on I-40 west of Flagstaff, Wikieup is some 60 miles northwest of Wickenburg, on U.S. Highway 93. The couple had been in the valley last Thursday to visit a doctor, and were returning to their Wikieup home when a heavy snowfall cause the pickup truck Ray Minthorn was driving to run off the road. At that point, said Fr. Dan Gerrard, pastor of St. Alban's the couple was about seven miles from their house. Fr. Gerrard had visited with the authorities and the Minthorn family about the incident, prior to being interviewed by The Sun Monday. The couple struck out for their home on foot, after determining they could not get the truck back on the road, Fr. Gerrarrd said, and were within a mile of their house when Ruth Minthorn fell, fracturing her left ankle. Ray Minthorn made his wife as comfortable as he could, said Fr. Gerrard, then went on toward the house, but became disoriented. After the couple was discovered missing, search parties organized by local residents and the area Fish and Game ranger found Ruth Minthorn about 24 hours later late Friday after the storm had subsided, said Fr. Gerrard. Her husband, Ray, was found dead in the area early Saturday morning, the victim of an apparent heart attack. "They were devoted to our church and it's a tragic loss," said Fr. Gerrard, of Ray Minthorn's death. Ruth Minthorn was transported by the Mohave County search and rescue team at Kingman Regional Medical Cemetery, where she is reportedly underwent surgery on her ankle at mid-week and is in good condition. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona February 15, 1990, page 2-A Memorial services were Monday at St. Alban Episcopal Church in Wickenburg for Ramon D. “Ray” Minthorn, 61, who died Feb 3 near his rural home in Wickieup. The Rev. Dan Gerrard officiated. Private interment followed later in the Williams Cemetery in Williams. Mr. Minthorn was born April 8, 1928 in Columbia Falls, Mont. He had lived in Arizona for the past 20 years, moving from Missouri. He was a retired electrician for the aerospace program. Mr. Minthorn was a veteran of the Korean War, and was awarded the Korean Service medal, Japan Occupation Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of the couple’s homes in Wickieup and Williams; a son Darren Lee Minthorn of Ft. Hood, Texas; two sisters, Myrna Allers of Kalispell, Mont. and Alice Penniston of Independence, Mo.; four brothers, John L. Minthorn of Aurora, Colo., George Minthorn of Kansas City, Mo., Melvin Minthorn of Wilton, Conn., Ivan Minthorn of Scottsdale and two grandchildren.