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| FPA Memories This section is to honor members who have passed on but whose spirits are still alive in their paintings and our hearts.
 Eunice Joy (Sterner) Ewalt (1932-2011)
Eunice Joy Sterner Ewalt of Kettleman City passed away Friday, September 2nd, 2011 at the age of 78 years. She was born in Chicago in 1932 and had lived in this area for the past 58 years. Joy married the late Ted Ewalt in 1958. She taught elementary school in Kettleman City for 26 years. After retiring from teaching she became a porcelain artist. She loved her family and her cats. Joy marched to her own drummer. She was a founding member of the California Association of Porcelain Artists and a member of the Fresno Porcelain Artists. Joy is survived by 2 sons; Ted Curtis Ewalt of New Hampshire and Danny Kevin Ewalt of Coalinga, 3 daughters; Jacque Neil of San Diego, Eve Hager of Minnesota and Terri Nightwonger of Santa Margarita, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; Ted in 2000. A Celebration of Life ceremony is being planned at a later date. Arrangements are by Phipps-Dale Funeral Chapel in Lemoore. Friends who wish may contribute to the Kings County SPCA, 8084 Lacey Blvd. Hanford, CA 93230. Published in the Hanford Sentinel on September 7, 2011 
 Frances Mary Bionda Watry , 91, of Tulare, passed on to eternal life with our Lord on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 after a lengthy battle with various health issues. Mrs. Watry was well-known in Tulare as a dental assistant for Drs. Finch and Drilling early in her working career and later after her children had completed high school, she returned to college to achieve her lifelong goal to be a nurse, a career she enjoyed at Tulare District Hospital for many years. She was born to Peter and Angelina Bionda on their ranch southwest of Tulare, where they had settled after emigrating from their native Switzerland. Frances met George D. Watry in 1947 and they married in June of 1948, celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary before his passing in November 2010. Their daughter, Carol Ann Martin, preceded her in death in March 2011. Frances is survived by her daughter Judy Dlugonski of Tulare and Judy's son and his wife, Robert and Tiffany of Fresno; Mrs. Watry will be remembered as a regular blue-ribbon and sweepstakes-ribbon winner at the Tulare County Fair for decades for her many talents, including sewing, knitting, crochet, cooking, baking, canning, preserving, jams and jellies, gardening, furniture refinishing, home decorating, and painting on canvas and porcelain. She is remembered by many people at Christmas time for the hand-painted porcelain ornaments that were especially created for the recipients. She enjoyed tending her garden of vines and flowers, especially roses and tall bearded irises, and her home was adorned with African violets. Mrs. Watry was famous for her ravioli, polenta and stew, eggplant dishes, lemon meringue pies, and many other delicacies, including her homemade pomegranate juice. Family gatherings also would involve Swiss cheese, salami, and a good wine - foods from her parents' homeland. For all of these talents and more, she was honored as Mrs. Tulare of 1957. Frances was also an active member of the Fresno Porcelain Artists and California Association of Porcelain Artists, remaining an honorary member after losing most of her eyesight in 2000. Frances and George were active members of the Tulare City Historical Society and in the past were involved in the Tulare Historical Museum's activities and maintenance. Her other interests were piano, dancing, ice skating, aviation and visiting her parents' homeland. She was a lady and instilled in her children the importance of treating everyone well and using their God-given talents to the best of their ability. She had a strong work ethic her entire life, becoming apparent early on in her life when her father passed away in 1924. Frances will always be remembered for her determination to achieve every goal she set for herself, a nurturing and caring manner, inner strength, and her generous senses of humor and kindness. Since we know God has blessed her with a garden beyond her dreams, Frances requested that, in lieu of flowers, remembrances be made to the St. Anthony Retreat Center, P.O. Box 249, Three Rivers, CA 93271 or to the Tulare City Historical Society, 444 West Tulare Ave, Tulare, CA 93274. Messages of condolence to the family may be sent to judy.dlugonski@gmail.com. Published in Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Adv-Register from August 6 to August 9, 2011
 
 
 Ann Duggins
Her biography and Memory page To see Ann's Art Gallery Ann Duggins passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. Ann was born in Montrose, Colorado on January 19, 1925. She married William Earnest Duggins on May 3, 1944, at Fresno Baptist Church and honeymooned at Hotel Fresno. They were married 61 years until his death on November 16, 2005.
Ann was an inspiration the way she could meet people so easily, became a wonderful artist when she said she had no art ability, and she was always there to help people.
She is a lifetime member of the PTA and has been a Girl Scout Leader. She started porcelain pouring, carving and painting in 1972 while working as a school secretary at Daily Annex, a school for the mentally challenged. She taught ceramics then china painting and porcelain pouring and carving greenware and dolls in 1978. China Painting, Fresno Porcelain Artists and CAPA (California Assoc. of Porcelain Artists) have been a large part of her life since her retirement from the Fresno Unified School District.
She is survived by her three children, William Earnest Duggins Jr., Betty Ann Castro and Barbara Ellen Begue; three grandchildren, Kelli Jean Duggins Baker, Jennifer Lynn Begue Sutter and Michael William Begue; one nephew, Larry Peyton Cunningham and his daughter Laurie Ann Cunningham; and her cousin, Alice Platt, who was raised like her sister.
 BEAGLE -- Elva Juanita Beagle , 94, of Fresno died Saturday, 2/7/2009. She just turned 94 on January 3rd. She graduated from Fresno High School in 1933. She managed S&H Green Stamp store in fresno in the 50s. Elva was a woman of many talents with a heart of gold. Our monthly meeting place has been her church for 48 years. Elva joined FPA in 1976 and is one of our charter members. She was an honored artist in 2005 and became an honorary member in 2007. BUFKIN -- Ruth M. Bufkin, 86, of Kerman died Saturday 2/21/2009. She was a charter member of FPA. Her teacher was Ferne Cardwell and Lucille Corbin She turned 86 on October 29. Graveside: 10 a.m. Thursday 2/26/09, Belmont Memorial Park in Fresno. Remembrances: Central California SPCA Animal Shelter, 103 S. Hughes Ave., Fresno, CA 93706. Lucille E. Corbin, 85, of Tollhouse, died 1/25/2008, painted delicate birds, flowers and other emblems of life on china for decades. Her earlier years were more warlike: She affixed her name on the tags of bombs that Americans dropped over Germany during World War II. Mrs. Corbin, an artist, riveter and explorer, suffered a stroke last year and died Friday. Mrs. Corbin was born in Kerman and graduated from Kerman High School in 1942. As World War II exploded, she found work on a "Rosie the riveter" assembly line in Southern California. She helped put together bombs for the war effort, said daughter-in-law Patsy Corbin. A fuse for each bomb told who had worked on it, and Mrs. Corbin received notes through the war from airmen. They sent their greetings, and told how they were destroying targets in Adolf Hitler's Germany. Jim Corbin, Mrs. Corbin's son and Patsy's husband, said he suffered pain well before her death. "I've been watching her go for a year," he said.
He served as her critic, watching her craft a career painting china. He recalled her love of American Indians and their culture, which she learned living in the Sierra foothills. She enjoyed ceremonial openings and closings of Indian sweat lodges.
She taught Ruth Bufkin to paint china. Bufkin keeps a photograph of Mrs. Corbin painting china in Fashion Fair mall for onlookers. Bufkin said Mrs. Corbin "painted anything you could think of. I have one picture 2 feet high, bunches of grapes on vines." Mrs. Corbin and her husband, Lawrence, lived for years in Whittier, where he became fire chief. When he retired, Mrs. Corbin taught porcelain art in a Whittier adult school. Lawrence Corbin died in April 1983. Mrs. Corbin was the perfect mother-in-law, Patsy Corbin said: When her mother-in-law became most angry, she would say, "Don't that just frost you?" (Jim Steinberg, The Fresno Bee)  Bettie Wilmoth Owens Bettie enjoyed time with her friends in the Fresno Porcelain Artists, and she was also in the Doll Club and the Miniature Club. Bettie was a devoted church member and was involved in many church events. Her china painted art work was lovely, and she used this art in her doll making. She really loved making tiny miniature dolls.
Bettie was born on March 23, 1926 in Baker, Oregon to Fred and Wilma Johnson. Bettie married Jay Wilmoth of Fresno and they spent the next 38 years together. After Jay passed away in 1994 and being a widow for ten years, she met Charles Owens and fell in love again. On her 80th birthday, she was reunited with her two sisters who had not been together at the same time in 61 years. Bettie will be remembered most for her artistic china painting and doll making talents and her love for Christ. She passed away June 21, 2006. She is missed by all. Her mini china shop has her on the right and Fern Cardwell, Lucille Corbin, Ruth Bufkin and Lena Costa (Jim Costa's mother).    
Juneva E. Yerke  
 
Juneva E. Yerke, passed away on September 12, 2005, the day after her 81st birthday and just 2 days after suffering a heart attack and a massive stroke. Born in Rawls, Texas, Juneva first moved to Southern California in 1940 with her family, where she met and married her husband, Oscar L. Yerke in May 1943. The newly married couple remained in Southern California, rearing 3 children and enjoying 4 grandchildren. They moved to a 30-acre ranch just outside Mariposa, CA in 1983 when Oscar retired. Juneva was always very active. As a young mother, she took adult education classes in millenary, lamp shade making, cake decorating, tailoring, upholstering and piano, and was actively involved in each throughout her life. Her training in the art of cake decorating enabled her to make and decorate all of her family’s wedding cakes and those of many friends, each one a beautiful work of art. Juneva was a voracious reader, with a special love for biographies. She was also very active in her work for the Church of Christ, providing an excellent example of the Christian woman for all who knew her. Juneva was an avid china painter for over 30 years, first having learned the fine art in Torrance, CA in 1975. It was in Mariposa in 1984 that Juneva began teaching her first classes. She entered her china painting in both the Los Angeles County and Mariposa County Fairs, winning numerous ribbons. Juneva’s family and friends were always eager to see what her latest projects were, treasuring each piece that came out of the kiln. In fact, Juneva decided to paint complete sets of dinner china (12 place settings plus serving pieces) for each of her 3 children and presented them as Christmas gifts in 1986: 3 huge, matching boxes under the tree, filled with the amazing beauty of her exquisite painting. Another large project Juneva had always wanted to complete was to paint all 50 state birds and flowers on dinner plates, a project she did indeed master in the mid-1980s. Her dining room in Mariposa was large enough to accommodate all 50 plates. And what a fabulous sight it was. Juneva was also honored when the Bank of America in Mariposa asked her for the privilege of displaying the plates in their branch, an honor which she cherished. Juneva moved from the ranch in Mariposa to Oakhurst, CA in 1991, 2 and a half years after her husband passed away. She lived and painted happily in Oakhurst for 10 years, moving back to Southern California in 2001. Juneva is survived by her 3 children: Barbara Hole, Dennis Yerke and Susan Yerke; 4 grandchildren: Michelle Yerke, Jason Hole, Matthew Yerke and David Hole; and 2 great-grandchildren: Nikolas Yerke and Taylor Hole…as well as a host of friends and family around the country. All who knew Juneva loved and respected her. She will be dearly missed.
Helen Flynn joined the Fresno PorcelaIn Arthts in 1981 while studying with Ann Duggins. Helen performed many duties for tbe club. She was President, CAPA chairperson and did a fantastic job with the show details, making it a great success. Helen was a retired school teacher and her vibrant personality made her fun to be with. She loved Dresden, and due to her small hands, she did beautiful detailed flowers and was an expert in the use of gold and enameling. When she passed, her daughter, Pam donated a lot of beautiful blank China to tbe club which brought in money to the club. We celebrate Helen's life for all she has given to us and for tile many things she did for our club.  Doreen Ross was a devoted china painter and had a house full of beautifully painted china. She was also an expert doll maker and teacher. She had a gorgeous doll house for which she had fashioned dolls, wall paintings, and tine china dishes. Doreen was a faithful friend and a delightful companion. She left a big hole in the club. 
 Marian Miller was not only a wonderful china painter, she also excelled in other mediums like oils and water colors. She was a delightful companion and enjoyed season tickets to Roger Rocka's Dinner Theatre in Fresno, with fellow china painters, Joy Ewalt and Jacqui Neil. Marian was always happy to help her friends, and we think of her often.
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