Deaths

• Bigthumb, Mel
• Pena, Ruben
• Thompson, Frank

Mel Bigthumb

WINDOW ROCK — Funeral Mass for Mel Arviso Bigthumb, 30, will be 10 a.m. June 5, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tohatchi. Rev. Bob Ross will officiate. Burial will be in private family land, Coyote Canyon. Visitation will be 9-10 a.m. at St. Mary ‘s Church, Tohatchi. A rosary will be recited 6 p.m. today, June 4, at St. Michaels Church, Ariz.

Bigthumb died May 31, 2008, in Gallup. He was born April 16, 1978, in Fort Defiance, into the Red Running Into the Water People Clan for the Mexican People Clan.

Bigthumb attended Window Rock High School, Navajo Community College. He worked at St. Michaels Association for Special Education.

Survivors include his mother, Maye R. Bigthumb; sister, Melvina Bigthumb.

Bigthumb was preceded in death by his father, Melvin N. Bigthumb; grandparents, Kee and Betty J. Yazzie, Ned and Emma Arviso Bigthumb.

Pallbearers will be Phil Bigthumb, Sidney Thomas, Theodoric Yazzie, Robert L. Yazzie Jr., Perry Chee, Preston Chee, Alex Pena, Jarred Logg.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Michael’s Mission Gym, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ruben Pena

GALLUP — Services are pending for Ruben Pena, 61.

Pena died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, in Gallup. He was born May 13, 1947, in Gallup.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Frank Thompson

BREADSPRINGS — Services for Frank Tsosie Thompson, 87, will be at 11 a.m., Thurdsday, June 5, 2008 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Thompson died June 2, 2008, in Bread Springs. He was born Sept. 4, 1920, in Crystal.

Thompson served in Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division and reached the rank of corporal. He was in the Marine Corps and served in Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Abemana Atoll, Saipan and Tinian as a Code Talker.

In 2001, he was awarded a Congressional Silver Medal. He worked for the Navajo Tribe for 37 1/2 years. He was an active member of the Navajo Code talkers Association, member of the Veterans of Foreign War and a life member of the American Legion. His hobbies included traveling, coin and stamp collecting, locksmithing, carpentry and educating children about the American flag.

Survivors include his wife, Janet B. Thompson of Bread Springs; sons, Floyd Thompson of Gallup, Frankie Thompson of Bread Springs, Terry Thompson of Bread Springs; daughters, Janice Thompson of Bread Springs, Cassandra Blodel of Republic of Palau, Francine Thompson of Bread Springs, Valeri Llopis; brother, Franklin Mose of Crystal; seven grandchildren.

Thompson was preceded in death by his sisters, Isabelle Tsosie, Agnes Johnson, Ellarose Johnson, Caroline Thompson Roanhorse, Rita Mose, Julia Livingston; brother, Francis Tsosie Thompson.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.