GORAL, James Leslie

Lake Havasu Mortuary & Crematory, Lake Havasu City, Arizona - Published on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - James Leslie Goral, 90, passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2011. He was born on September 11, 1920 in Greenfield Township, North Dakota to Lydia Louise and Joseph Goral. James graduated from Wahpeton High School in North Dakota and went on to serve in the US Army for 5 years and 9 months during the Guadalcanal campaign, where he received a Bronze Star for his service to his Country. He married his beloved wife, Myrtis L. Ward, on September 07, 1946. James owned his own shoe repair shop in Wahpeton for some time as well as owning his own Shoe store for 30 years in Madison, Wisconsin. James and Myrtis moved to Lake Havasu in 1989. He attended Mohave Community College for 7 years, taking Lapidary and Silver Smithing. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, ELKS Lodge and a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, where he enjoyed all of his later years in the guidance and presence of Jesus Christ. His soul is now in the hands of the Holy Spirit. James and his beloved wife of 64 years, Myrtis, passed away together on January 30, 2011. James is survived by his son, Harold John Goral. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtis on January 30, 2011 and his son, Herbert James, who passed in 1999. Memorial Service will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church on Thursday, February 03, 2011 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Jim Price officiating. _____________________________________________________________ Couple succumbs to injuries received in SR 95 wreck Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ Published Tuesday, February 1, 2011 A Lake Havasu City elderly couple died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle wreck about 2 p.m. Sunday after the vehicle left the west side of State Route 95 for unknown reasons. The wreck occurred at milepost 165, which is about eight miles south of Havasu. The accident had traffic in both directions at a standstill from 2:05 p.m. until 3:14 p.m., according to earlier reports. Driver James Goral, 90, and passenger Myrtis Goral, 86, were in a gold-colored Buick sedan traveling southbound on SR 95 when the vehicle left the roadway about 30 feet and struck an embankment causing significant front-end damage to the vehicle. The impact critically injured both individuals, according to earlier reports. According to a press release issued by Lake Havasu City Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Quijada, the two individuals were trapped in the wreckage and first-arriving firefighters extricated them using the department’s “Jaws of Life” hydraulic extrication tools. After extrication, the two were separately flown to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas. However, Myrtis Goral died during transport with Native Air medical helicopter and was returned to Havasu Regional Medical Center. James Goral arrived at the Las Vegas hospital via Careflight medical helicopter and died about 3:15 p.m. Sunday, said Bart Graves, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman. Arizona DPS continues to investigate the incident. You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.