Saturday, May 7, 2011

George Novak - Ridgecrest, Calif. - 1920-2011 - Daily Independent, Apr 29, 2011

George Novak

George passed peacefully in his sleep at home in Ballarat on April 8, 2011, where he resided with son Rocky Novak.  George was 90 years young.  George was born and raised on a farm in Whiting, Kan., on April 26, 1920. He worked as a cowboy/rancher.  He served in World War II while stationed at Fort Richardson.  He met the love of his life Linda Durango.  They married in 1944. 
Shortly after the passing of his wife, he and his son Rocky moved to the Searles Valley where he did construction work for KMC and also the China Lake Naval Weapons Center.  In 1972, George claimed land in the Panamint Mountain Range (Novak Camp) and is also known Chris Wickes, where George lived and worked his dream of mining and milling up until his health no longer permitted.  George is preceded in death by wife Linda; parents Mr. and Mrs. George Novak, brother Jim Salazar; and cousins Lila Hart and Gerry Chambers.  He is survived by son Rocky Novak, nephews and niece Dennis, Donna and Chris Hart; Wayne Chambers and Kennith Cole. 
He will be truly missed by family and friends. 
A potluck/campout celebration of George’s life will be held in Ballarat on May 21-22. 
Thread Inspired by Patty's Information.  Thanks Patty!

17 comments:

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Thread inspired by Patty's information.
Thanks Patty! : )

Well folks, it's true, George Novak died one month ago, almost to the day.

He looks JUST like he did in the picnic table photo (below)... even on his 86th birthday party.
I mean.. OK he's older, but you can definitely tell it's the same guy.
He didn't change a whole lot in 35, or so years.

Rest in Peace George!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

It seems Kimchi just posted the same article, in the comments section below, as I was getting this thread up. LOL

I guess that's what happens when you have a great research team! : )
Simultaneous posts... LOL

Actually, this is the first time I've ever been able to catch-up with Kimchi.
She's usually 3 days ahead of me... at least! LOL

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

I just had to enter the "tools" tab... went to "internet options", and deleted all my cookies...
(as I instructed Lynn to do, last week)... as my computer has been getting the dreaded...
"Error: Service Unavailable" message... all day, every tiime I try to make a move on google blogs.

Some kind of a glitch, which happens every 3 weeks or so, on these blogs.

Just a helpful tip... which will likely prove helpful, if you spend time on these blogs.

Speaking of Lynn...
I hope she's feeling a little better.

katie8753 said...

"In 1972, George claimed land in the Panamint Mountain Range (Novak Camp) and is also known Chris Wickes, where George lived and worked his dream of mining and milling up until his health no longer permitted."

Did he know Mrs. Barker before 1972? If wonder if he knew Charlie.

Lynyrd I haven't had a problem with that, just other minor stuff. Thanks!

Kimchi said...

>>>Did he know Mrs. Barker before 1972? If wonder if he knew Charlie.<<

I believe he did...he's been around for a while...

I read where George could cross his legs and both feet touch the ground... guess he was one tall and lanky guy..

I've been to Ballarat before...no, the little cafe is now kind of a museum...they sell cokes and beer - have a refrigerator that runs on propane or a solar type thing with batteries...nope, no electricity there!

The truck parked out front is neat...they said it belonged to the family..it's an old Dodge powerwagon..even has stars (like a night sky) painted on the ceiling on the inside.

katie8753 said...

Wow - didn't know all that. Thanks Kimchi!

Kimchi said...

Have to ask you Katie, you live in Texas, you ever been to Copeville?

Or Farmersville?

Everything is a "ville" there..LOL

Sort of like Farmville...just kidding!

katie8753 said...

No Kimchi, Copeville & Farmersville should each be renamed "Hicksville". I've never had the pleasure of going there. LOL.

It's funny, I don't know about other states, but in Texas, whatever area you live in, you always have an opinion of people who live in another area of the state.

What's funny is, any town north or east of Dallas is predominantly redneck city. That's why I think it's funny that redneck Tex moved to California and opened a wig shop. I guarantee you that he wasn't mentioning any of that to his friends back home. They'd think he'd turned queer on 'em. HA HA.

Kimchi said...

Haha...

I think back in the '60's it was kind of redneck here..but Hollywood was "the happening"..

My parents had "gay" friends in Laurel Canyon, but I didn't understand the term "fags"..mom said a "fag" was a cigarette when I asked...but they were from Canada and pretty Liberal now that I think about it..

Sorry to get off topic here...

Kimchi said...

I do remember a Manson encounter though...(showing my age here)

My older sister worked for an Attorney and his office was at the corner of Sunset and Sunset Plaza -(in Hollywood) this was 1969-70..she took me to work with her one day..she said "don't stare at those bald girls there, they are Charlie's girls"...I said "what is Charlie's girls?"
She said "They're Hippies, something you don't understand"

That's all I remember from that day except crossing the street with Sonny and Cher and I got their autograph, and Cher was "very" pregnant...so that tells you what year it was...I can't remember when Chastity was born.

katie8753 said...

Kimchi do you live in the LA area?

katie8753 said...

Kimchi that's fascinating! Was that near the jail or where the trial was taking place??

Chastity was born a girl in 1969. Then SHE turned queer. HA HA HA.

Kimchi said...

Yes, born and raised "outside" of LA City proper...

All I remember is that Cher was very pregnant at the time...

Hollywood is West of the Court House...

Sis told me recently she was "hijacked" LOL by Charlie's people...not really, but they asked her for a ride from Hollywood where she worked to El Monte...(East of LA) and she gave 3 of them a ride...

They talked of "this man that was full of Love, that he was 'Jesus Christ' his name was 'Charlie'...

She said she was scared shitless...LOL

katie8753 said...

Wow. El Monte? Isn't that where Steve Parent is from?

Boy, Charlie's harem was all over the place. HA HA.

I wonder who they were.

Kimchi said...

Yes, Steven was from El Monte, I was born and raised next to El Monte...he is buried less than a mile from where I live...(Rowland Heights)...

I don't know who they were, she (sister) has no interest in this case so I probably will never know...

LA and Hollywood is not glamorous like they portray it..it is dirty, has a lot of homeless, lost souls, mentally ill, skid rows, (many)...even the 60's and 70's were scary...we went there for a "thrill" I guess you'd say...

Yes, there are the nice areas, but only the rich can afford it...we weren't rich...

katie8753 said...

Kimchi I've been to Hollywood, years ago, back in the 80's.

We went to Grauhman's Theater (sp?) and saw the sidewalk with the handprints. Is that Hollywood? Didn't they have movie premiers there years ago?

Anyway it seemed kinda gawdy and run down. And there did seem to be a lot of unsavory folks hanging around. But I didn't see any bald hippy girls hanging around. HA HA.


I wonder how Debra Tate is coming along with a square for Sharon at the theater. LOL.

MrPoirot said...

Had a friend who last year went to the walk of fame at Grauman's. He said it was in a very bad neighborhood.

This explains why the Rams left LA. Mexicans are soccer fans not footbal fans.