Jesse Gene Rankin

RANKIN, JESSE Passed away in San Marcos, CA on November 18, 2004. He is preceded in death by his wonderful wife of 54 years, Betty, the former Betty Jean Bader, and also by his brother Ned Rankin. He was born in Hanford, CA in 1923 and raised on a ranch in Durkee, eastern Oregon. His nickname in high school was “Windy”. He played basketball and football. After he graduated from high school he enlisted in the Navy in 1944. He went to Naval Corpman School, attained the rank of Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class. His tours included Asiatic Pacific in which he was wounded in the famous battle of Iwo Jima. He married Betty in 1946 and settled in Northern California. He once worked for two weeks on a night shift while he was still in the Navy at Campbell’s Soup factory to be able to take his fiancée Betty to a New Year’s Gala. He joined the Carpenter’s Union in 1948, in Baker, OR, transferred to Sacramento and continued working from 1953 for a total of 30 years in the local carpenter’s union No. 46. One of his last jobs as a journeyman carpenter was the restoration of the California state capital. He was responsible for much of the renovation of the decorative woodwork. He is survived by his son Curt A. Rankin, grandchildren Capt. Jess Rankin of the US Army and Kate Rankin, daughter Ellen Sullivan, her children Melanie and Angelina, daughter Jeanette Kaufhold, granddaughter Jamie Kaufhold, and son Wade Rankin. He was extremely happy and gratified to know the first eight months of the life of Aviva Jeanette Kaufhold, his great-granddaughter, daughter of Jamie Kaufhold. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2004 at 2:00 PM at East Lawn Sierra Hills, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento. He had a great sense of humor and philosophy of life. Funeral Home: East Lawn Mortuary 5757 Greenback Lane Sacramento, CA US 95841