SCHWARTZ, Kenneth Vincent

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, Arizona Saturday, February 28, 2009 Kenneth Vincent Schwartz II, 80, of Clarkdale, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. He was born March 8, 1928, in Mansfield, Ohio. He moved to Arizona in 1953 and then Verde Valley in 1957, with his wife Mary and 3 children. He was a member of the Episcopal Church since 1957 and became an ordained deacon of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in 1989. His significant contributions to the Verde Valley have been memorable. He started walking through Cottonwood as Santa Claus in the early 1960s to spread the true meaning of Christmas to all. Ken was one of the first EMTs to start the Verde Valley ambulance, he helped constructed the Phoenix Cement Plant in 1959 and eventually retired in 1991. He was called upon to assist in building Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Sedona, Ariz. He was truly a loving husband and father, and will be missed by all that had been blessed by his helping hand. He is survived by is beloved wife Mary Louise Schwartz and his three children Kenneth and (Karla) Schwartz of Cottonwood, Kathryn and (Mike) Jessop of Clarkdale, and Charles and 1SG (Linda) Schwartz of Marana, two sisters Charlotte Rodriguez, Albuquerque, N.M, and Sandy Harris of Dayton, Iowa. Hi.s grandchildren are Armando (Enedina) Romero (Carrizoza), Eric and (Johnna) Carrizoza, Ana Carrizoza, Amanda Schwartz, Nicholas Joslyn, April Joslyn, James Schwartz, Shawn Schwartz, Lisa Jessop , David Jessop and 15 great grandchildren. Information provided by survivors.