The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 26

Part Saturday, August 12, 1989 Los Angeles Times OBITUARIES President of Republic Pictures Nathan Levine; Pioneer in Movies By BURT A. FOLKART, Times Staff Writer Nathan (Nat) Levine, who par- Industries, was processing film for writers, cinematographers and layed a career as a distributor of Mascot, Monogram, Liberty and special effects team that had made early films that were rejected by other small picture companies and Mascot successful. most of the major studios into the knew that Mascot was one of the presidency of Republic Pictures, is few independent firms making Head of Firm dead at age 89. money. After some disputes with Yates' A spokeswoman for the Motion Levine was operating out of the original management team, Levine Picture and Television Hospital old Mack Sennett studio in North became head of the firm, bringing said Friday that he died Sunday at Hollywood, which he purchased to the new studio his expertise in the Woodland Hills facility.

when Sennett went bankrupt. low -budget, commercially sucLevine began in the industry in An additional attraction for cessful features and long-run1920 when he launched an inde- Yates, who wanted his own studio, ning adventure serials. That twin pendent distributorship. Seven was that Mascot held contracts for package remained the backbone of years later, still in his 20s, Levine such young cowboy stars as Gene Republic until i it gradually quit formed his own production compa- Autry and Smiley Burnette and production in the late 1940s, the ny, Mascot. had used a former USC football victim of expensive, color spectacplayer named John Wayne in three ular movies from competing studios First Sound Adventure Short short films.

and the brash infant of television. There he produced the first of In 1935, Yates formed Republic what would be 500 reels of serials, Pictures and Levine melded Mascot Ironically, CBS purchased the including what is believed to be the Pictures into the Republic organi- North Hollywood property in 1952 first sound adventure short, "King zation. Yates added modern re- and renamed it Television City. of the Congo." cording equipment and the in By then Levine had been gone Meanwhile, Herbert J. Yates, sound stages to Levine's holdings.

for years, retiring from the film who owned Republic Film Labora- Levine also brought to Republic industry in 1937. His survivors tories and later Consolidated Film the sound recording engineers, include a son. William Prater; Jailed for Life in Unionist's Murder Murder for that December. -incumbent W.A. (Tony) convicted of orassassination.

Boyle's conviction was overturned and he convicted a sectime. He died in May, 1985, while serving three life terms. Prater, formerly LaFollette, a mid- level unofficial accused helping to plan the killing and accumulating $20,000 in unfunds to pay the assassins. He later helped prosecutors convict Boyle. The three men accused of carrying out killings, Aubran (Buddy) Martin, all Claude convicted Vealey and in prison.

16 years in a before being paroled, transferred to the Pittsburgh in Sepserve life terms state law and was later that year. E.S. Hoffman; Gave Millions to Assist USC Elaine Stevely Hoffman, widow of electronics magnate H. Leslie Hoffman, who with her late husband donated millions of dollars to Southland institutions, much of it to the University of Southern California, is dead. The university announced Friday she had died at her San Marino home on Aug.

5 of pneumonia. She was 83. Over the years the Hoffmans contributed millions of dollars to the university's Master Plan, which raised $126 million in the 1960s, and millions more toward construction of the Elaine Stevely Hoffman Medical Research Center and the H. Leslie Hoffman Hall of Business Administration. The medical facility that bears her name is a nine-story, square-foot structure with 90 laboratories devoted to medical research in biochemistry, pathology and microbiology.

She also was a principal of the Hoffman Foundation, a major contributor to USC's Kenneth Norris Jr. Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her other philanthropies included the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Pasadena Art Museum. Survivors include a daughter and three granddaughters. UNTIL AUGUST 15, EVERY SUNDANCE SPA THAT LEAVES OUR SHOWROOM GETS ONE FINAL CHECK.

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Prater was found early in the morning at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas in Luzerne County. A prison spokesman said Prater, who was 70, apparently died of natural causes. "He had been in poor health for some time," Roy VanWhy said. Prater had been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a stroke in 1983. Prater tenced in was serving the murders.

Yablonski, along with and their Charlotte, in southwestern New Year's had lost was sen- William Jackson Prater 1973 and three life sentences for Paul Gilly, were sentenced to life 59, was shot to death Prater served his wife, Margaret, 57, federal prison 25-year-old daughter, but then was at their Clarksville home state prison at Pennsylvania on tember, 1988, to Eve, 1969. Yablonski imposed under an election for UMW moved to Dallas We're there for you, every day. Los Angeles Times Voyager Gets Snapshots of Neptune Arcs two weeks before its planned close encounter with Neptune, on Friday sent back the first pictures of partial rings called "ring arcs" around the solar system's fourthlargest planet. Researchers have long suspected the rings' existence, but had never seen them from Earth-based telescopes. The ring arcs, one 30,000 miles long and the other 6,000 miles long, were found in association with two of the four moons of Neptune that were also discovered by Voyager as it neared the end of its 12-year, 2.83-billion-mile journey.

"We're really just ecstatic," said Jet Propulsion Lab astronomer Rich Terrile. By THOMAS H. MAUGH II, Times Science Writer The Voyager space probe, continuing to make new discoveries Dust, Pebbles, Boulders Terrile speculated that the newly discovered ring arcs were composed of dust, pebbles, or boulders from moons that have been torn apart or ground down by collisions with other objects in orbit around Neptune. Close- up studies by Voyager as it nears Neptune should help determine their composition more precisely. The largest arc is just outside the orbit of the newly discovered moon 1989 N4, about 23,300 miles above the planet's cloud tops.

The smaller arc trails moon 1989 N3 by 50,000 miles in its orbit at an altitude of 17,000 miles. Astronomers had suspected the existence of the rings because light from distant stars would disappear intermittently as the stars passed behind Neptune. But sunlight reflected by the rings is too dim to be seen from Earth. Sen. Cranston's Son Denies Wrongdoing in Voter Drive By KENNETH REICH, Times Staff Kim Cranston, son of Sen.

Alan Cranston (D- on Friday answered charges of improper partisanship in a voter registration organization he headed last year, saying that he was unaware of any wrongdoing and that if he had known of any, he would have fired the employees responsible. A San Francisco Chronicle story Friday morning quoted employees of the younger Cranston's Center for Participation in Democracy as saying that the supposedly nonpartisan, tax-exempt group had refused to register voters in areas where Republicans might be found and penalized any of its workers who registered many Republicans. The tax code allows such organizations to target certain areas, thereby in effect favoring one party over another, but the employees also told the newspaper that center employees violated the tax- status by registering voters as Democrats without their knowledge and using Democratic candidate Jesse Jackson's name to attract black registrants. Group Under Scrutiny Cranston, 37, now chief of staff to Lt. Gov.

Leo T. McCarthy, has left the presidency' of the voter registration group, but remains on its board of directors. The group, now headed by former state Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, has come under scrutiny lately because it was the beneficiary of $400,000 in contributions from Charles Keating, head of the failed Lincoln Savings Loan whose many contributions to Sen. Cranston and organizations favored by him are now a subject of inquiry. The younger Cranston, who was on vacation in Aspen, on Friday, acknowledged that the Center for Participation in Democracy had targeted "low minority and young persons," but he said, "We weren't targeting them to register with one party or another.

"In fact, I participated in the three main training program sessions for the staff and I told people what 'nonpartisan' meant, and what they could or couldn't do," he said. "Some people may not have done what they were supposed to do," Cranston acknowledged. "A number of people didn't stay with the program for long, disgruntled employees and so on, and I suspect that was the basis for the story. 'Wasn't Aware' "I certainly wasn't aware of anybody not following the rules, and if I had been, I would have asked the staff of the center to fire those people. I don't put up with that kind of thing." Cranston said he could not recall meeting two former employees who were quoted by name in the story -Dino Blackburn, 31, and Lawrence Ross, 23, both of Oakland.

Neither could be reached Friday. But, Cranston said, "I am a bit dismayed that if they felt they were asked to do something wrong, they didn't bring it to anyone's attention at the time." Cranston said the Center for Participation in Democracy had trained more than 400 people in leadership skills in low- -income and minority communities and registered several hundred thousand people. Writer first was ond of was ion of ion Associated Press the Associated Press Five Killed in House Fire From Associated Press STOTTS CITY, Mo. -Fire swept through a wood -frame house early Friday, killing a family of five as neighbors frantically pounded on doors and honked car horns in an attempt to alert them, authorities said. The cause of the fire was unknown, officials said.

-DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS ADLER, Martin born March 16, 1893; died August 11, 1989. Beloved father of Barbara (Jerry) Pauly and Rita (Alan) Hoisch; cherished grandfather of Richard (Gael), Karen, John (Debbie) and Tom. He was dearly loved and will be missed by all. Services 11am Sunday at Eternal Light Chapel in Eden Memorial Park. Malinow and Silverman Mortuary directors.

ALIA, Mary Ann of Rancho Palos Verdes; passed away August 11, 1989 at home. Born August 22, 1945 in New Jersey; Professor of Education Cal State University, LA. Survived by husband, Douglas Butler; sons, David Alia Butler and Matthew Alia Butler at home; father, Joseph Alia; brothers, Mario, Salvador, Joseph and Anthony. Alia; and sister, Carmella Lentz, all of New Jersey. Funeral services 1pm Monday at the Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Ann Alia Scholarship, School of Education, Cal State University -LA, 5151 State University Drive, LA 90032. White Day Colonial Chapel, Redondo Beach directing 2446) ALMEIDA, Maria Pierce Brothers Del Fox Mortuary Lawndale (213) 679-1793 AMATO, Christine beloved wife of Louis; daughter of Kleo Lee; sister of Alex Kazanegra; niece of Yani Begakis. Prayer service 7pm Sunday, August 13, Church of the Hills. Service 1pm Monday, St. Sophia Cathedral, 1324 South Normandie Los Angeles.

Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Forest Lawn Mortuary BAIRES, Juana Antonia Armstrong Family directors BECK, Nicholas 63; passed away August 9, 1989 from complications of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A long -time resident of Southern California, he taught journalism at California State University, Los Angeles and was active in the gay community. He was also a former professional boxer who collected vintage films of historic boxing matches as a personal hobby. He is survived by many family members and friends. Services 2pm Tuesday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Mount Sinai Mortuary.

BENTZEN, Marina Guerra Mortuary BLAKELEY, Jonathan Alex age 17; resident of Canoga Park; student at Taft High School; died on August 9, 1989 of cardiomyopathy. He is survived by mother, Carol Jo Morgan; father, James R. Blakeley; brother, Christopher Blakeley and grandparents. Visitation Sunday, from 6pm to 9pm at Gates, Kingsley Gates, Canoga Park. Funeral services Monday, 10am at St.

Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, Canoga Park. Interment in Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth. Gates, Kingsley Gates directors BLENDER, Alvin G. beloved husband of Gertrude; loving father of Julie (Bruce) Merrin; adoring grandfather of Adam and Josh Merrin. Memorial service 3pm Sunday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Chapel, Mount Sinai Mortuary BOYCE, Lillian G.

Armstrong Family directors BRANOVAN, Norman Groman Eden Mortuary BUBAR, Josephine Services Sunday, 1 pm at Hillside Memorial Park Chapel. Hillside Mortuary CAMPBELL, James Edward passed away August 10, 1989 in Mesa, Arizona. Survived by his daughter, Louise Milligan; daughter, Robbie Weeks; 2 grandchildren and 3 great- -grandchildren. Services 3pm Saturday, August 12, 1989 at Grand View Memorial Park, Glendale, CA. Seaver Mortuary directing COLMAN, David Hillside Mortuary CONKLIN, Harriett beloved mother of Judith C.

Callender; loving grandmother of 3. Services, and committal were private. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary assisting the family. Call Miss Black for understanding and helpful service on Obituary Notices (213) 629-4411, ext. 77241 or (213) 237-7241 Los Angeles Times CRUMLY, June A.

beloved mother of Mary Elizabeth (Ivan Smith, Barbara (Paul) Kelly and Curtis (Merrie) Crumly; loving, grandmother of 10; and proud greatgrandmohter of 8. Services are planned for midSeptember. Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary assisting the family. Flowers are respectfully declined. Friends are asked to remember the Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024 DAVIS, Elton Leslie age 97; died August 10, 1989 in Madera, CA.

Retired Railway Mail Clerk after traveling two million miles in the government mail service; President Division of Railway Postal Clerks California State Vice President of National Association of Retired Federal Employees; memof South East Masonic Lodge 596; survived by a son, Marvin of Madera and a sister Iva Bears of Oakland. Cryptside services Monday, August 14, 2 pm at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier. DETTMAR, Wilbur G. died August 10, 1989. Retired attorney and Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; and sons, Kevin, Steven and Scott. Memorial service pending. DILLEY, Richard Howard Armstrong Family directors DUTTON, Ceell C. beloved husband of Maudelene Dutton. Funeral services private.

In lieu of flowers, donations St. Cyril's Catholic Church, Encino, CA. Praiswater Funeral Home, FISHER, Rose A. beloved grandmother of Robert J. Fisher, Meredith Podroszewski and Michael B.

Fisher; also survived by 3 great- -grandchildren. Services 11am Monday, August 14, 1989 at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, 2002 Merton Los Angeles, CA. Forest Lawn Glendale Forest Lawn Mortuary FORD, Robert F. Armstrong Family directors GERTZMAN, Harry D.

beloved husband of Esther. Services 10am Sunday at GlashandWillen West Hollywood Mortuary Chapel, 7700 Santa Monica HANAFUSA, AI, 96. Beloved mother of George (Kathryn), Ken (Peggy) Hanafusa, Kei (Tash) Sugimoto and Deana (Louis) Abe; grandmother of 10; great- -grandmother of aunt of Akio (Toshiko) Uelima. Private funeral services were held on August 11 at Rose Hills Memorial Park. Fukui Mortuary directors HERRON, Robert E.

beloved son of Charles W. and Stella Herron; brother of Charles W. Herron Jr. and Lawrence Herron; companion of Neal Daik; uncle of Charles Wayne and Michael Robert Herron. Services 11am Tuesday, Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Forest Lawn Mortuary KAMIFUJI, Tommy Masue 57; beloved husband of Misako; father of Bobby, Irene and Doreen; brother of Hiroyuki "Kam" (Momoye) Kamifuji, Margaret Tsutako Takeda and Betty Harumi Kamifuji (Ralph) Luther; and son-in-law of Merry Yukiko Betsuin.

Funeral Monday, August 14 at Evergreen Baptist Church, 1255 N. San Gabriel Rosemead, California. Fukui Mortuary The family requests that the flowers please be omitted. MATT, Lillian Spritzer passed away on August 10, 1989. Survived by her husband, Joseph A.

Matt; daughter, Alene Rosenberg; sister of Beatrice (Parke) Levy and Jesse (Sylvia) Spritzler; grandchildren, Nancy (Danny) Wise and John (Karen) Rosenberg; great- grandchildren, Karly Jena and Jeremy Louis Wise. Family will be at the Beverly Hills home of Mr. and Mrs. Parke Levy on Sunday, August 13, 1989 from 1 to 3 pm. Arrangements by Malinow Silverman Mortuary.

MC PHERSON, Alva B. passed away August 10, 1989 in Alhambra the age of 80 years. Formerly of Idyllwild, CA. Survived by his loving wife, Christine of San Gabriel; daughter, June Best of San Gabriel and his son, Christopher B. Mc Pherson of Thousand Oaks; beloved grandfather of 6 grandchildren; 6 great- -grandchildren and 1 stepgreat grandson; also brother of Thelma McPherson.

Services will be 2pm Sunday at the Chapel of Turner and Stevens, Alhambra. Private family inurnment in San Gabriel Cemetery. Turner and Stevens Alhambra directors Times Obituary Information Call Miss Black for understanding and helpful serve on Obituary Notices 1213) 629-4411 met 77241 or (213) 237-7241 OMAN, Robert E. Groman Eden Mortuary directing RACH, Roberta "Bobbi" Bobbi was very involved in the 4-H activities in Orange County over the last 15 years. She was also involved with C.H.O.C.

through the Little Red Wagon Women's Guild. In addition, she had a professional interest in running and editing the O.P.A. Common Talk newspaper. The paper started over 15 years ago with her partner, and today, has grown to a multi-page monthly newspaper. Services 11am Monday, August 14 at the Harbor Lawn Mortuary.

Interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Orange County 4-H Council's Rach Memorial Fund, 1000 S. Harbor, Anaheim, CA or the Kenneth Norris Research Hospital, in memory of Roberta M. Rach, 1441 Eastlake Suite 800, LA 90033. ROOT a.k.a.

DAY, Lillian Armstrong Family directors SANDERS, Delfina Piere Bros. Gulick -2178 SNYDER, Gladys Hillside Mortuary TUBY, Beatrice Malinow Silverman Mortuary VALENCIA, Jorge Alberto Armstrong Family directors VERDA, Dominie J. J.T. Oswald Mortuary N.Hollywood VERHEYEN, Marie passed away at age 87, August 10, 1989 in Newport Beach. Daughter of the late Mr.

and Mrs. John Conlin, mother of Carl W. Verheyen, Jr. and Alicia Verheyen Atlee; grandmother of Carl W. III, Carolyn Marie, Kenneth and Kathryn A.

Verheyen, Hilaire Alexis Marie and Carlota A. Atlee; also survived by her niece, Madeline Koeller; and grandnephews, Michael and Dennis Koeller. Formerly of Beverly Hills, Mrs. Verheyen was member of the Social Service Auxiliary, St. Anne's Guild, L.A.

Orphanage Guild, St. Vincent's Hospital Auxiliand ary, St. Vianney Guild, Madricitas many other charitable organizations. Mass of Christian Burial, 11am Monday at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 2046 Mar Vista Newport Beach. Interment Pacific View.

O'Connor Laguna Hills Mortuary Directors. WEISS, Samuel Albert born December 6, 1989, Poland; beloved husband of Florence Weiss, resident of the Jewish Home for the Aged, Reseda; died on Tuesday, July 26, 1989. No ceremonies held. WELCHER, Rose Hillside Mortuary WHITTEN, Marylea "Peggy" Pierce Brothers Praiswater, Canoga Park Funeral Directors WILFERT, Howard Francis born October 18, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York; died August 7, 1989 at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Burial Los Angeles National Cemetery, West Los Angeles, CA.

Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Mortuary WINTZ, Harry Alexander Mount Sinai Mortuary Funeral Notices MENORAH LODGE 623 F. A.M. will assemble 10am Sunday, August 13 at Glasband Mortuary, 7700 Santa Monica Boulevard, LA to conduct services for our late brother, HARRY D. GERTZMAN Richard W. Matzkin, W.M.

Joseph B. Joyce, Secretary Times Obituary Information Call Miss Black for understanding and helpful service on Obituary Notices (213) 629-4411. ext. 77241 or (213) 237-7241 Los Angeles Times Funeral Directors No matter what you can afford. we're here for you.

FOREST LAWN MORTUARY WOOD HILLS (213) 254-3131 Groman Jewish Funeral Directors Los Angeles Valley (213) (818) 748-2201 365-7151 ARMSTRONG FAMILY MITTEN Ash Burial at Sea $372 Complete All L.A. County Free Literature (213) 747-9121 Los Angeles Hillside MORTUARY CEMETERY (213) 641-0707 MOUNT SiNal MORTUARY CEMETERY (213) 469 6000 Los Angeles MALINOW-SILVERMAN LOS ANGELES -4600 Cremation Services Pierce Brothers Mortuaries Cemeteries 1-800-762-7200 28 SO CA LOCATIONS Neptune Society Los Angeles Burbank 24 Hrs Cemetery Lots-Crypts Internment spaces in Murmuring Trees section of Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hlwd His. Will sell 2 ea. $900ea Aftr 6 pp 3 INTERMENT SPACES, Resthaven section, Forest Lawn Glendale $1975 (213) 839-3516 COMPANION LAWN Crypt 3330-1 A Awakening Faith, Cypress, Forest Lawn $1100, pp 3 LOTS, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Forest Hills.Homeward Sect.Lot 3737, Sp 3,4,5, front lots.pp.509/493-4577. F.L.

Glendale 3 adj plots 'Graceland' sec. write Helen Hewes, Rte 1 Box 106-D, Palouse, WA 99161 ROSE HILLS hillside lot near chapel $550 Must sell pp 213-429-2240 MAUSOLEUM CRYPT 21174-AB Forest Lawn Glend 818-248-2358pp ROSE HILLS. 2 plots part of estate sale. Contact Mike Pp ROSE HILLS TERRACE ESTATES One plot $700 (619) 433-5787 Dbl Lawn crypts Forest Lawn Cypress, Everlasting Hope, pp PLOT, ROSE HILLS. Value $600, sell $550.

Owner. ROSE HILLS MEMORIAL PARK WHITTIER Pp F. L. Glendale -Whispering Pines 1 lot $600 Forest Garden crypt in prest. Court of Freedom $4200 Crypt, Inglewood Park Cem.

Capistrano Gardens $1500 Call Miss Black for understanding and helpful service on Obituary Notices (213) 629-4411. ext. 77241 or (213) 237-7241 Los Angeles Times.