These ice cream sellers made their neighborhoods a little sweeter.
When I was a kid, we called every man who drove an ice cream truck through our neighborhood “Ice Cream Joe.” In July — National Ice Cream Month — we’re honoring ice cream vendors who’ve died recently. Whether selling frozen treats from a truck or an ice cream parlor, these Ice Cream Joes and Janes made their neighborhoods a little sweeter.
Margie A. Noe and her husband “owned and operated the Mr. Softee Ice Cream trucks in Galesburg (Illinois) from 1961 to 1970,” according to her obituary in the Peoria (Illinois) Journal Star.
In the obit, her family mentions that “Margie’s business success with the company was nationally recognized.” It would be great to know more about Noe’s achievements in the ice cream industry.
Vietnam War veteran Ronald Dean Barnes was known as “Papa Ron” during the 14 years he spent “driving an ice cream truck for Biker Dude Ice Cream Company” in Hamilton, Ohio, according to his obit in the Hamilton Journal-News.
Northern Californians Al Ward and his wife Dody opened 1950s-themed Sips ‘n’ Snacks Ice Cream Parlor in 1998. But sadly, according to the obit published in the Daily News of Red Bluff, their career as ice cream meisters was brief:
“The shop … had to be closed in 2000 after Al suffered a stroke and Dody broke her shoulder.”
Myron “Mike” Beatty‘s career as an ice cream delivery boy was very brief:
“Mike always had a job, beginning at age six. During his earlier years, he delivered movie reels to movie houses… washed delivery trucks… skinned sausage… painted fences at the Olentangy Amusement Park… and he was an ice cream delivery boy on a bike (for about a week).”
John Willard Borneman was a retired milkman who later worked at El Cajon Speedway selling race programs and ice cream bars.
Alfonso Diaz of Las Cruces, New Mexico, owned and operated B.B.’s Ice Cream Trucks.
After retiring from truck driving, Sergei Michael “Duke” Kitchuck “went into business for himself doing signs, license plate frame engraving and soft serve ice cream” on the fair circuit.
William La Grange worked in his dad’s ice cream parlor — as well as the family’s ice house, feed mill, saw mill, and garage.
Mary Lee Szany managed her sister and brother-in-law’s ice cream shop (but was better known for her Christmas cookies).
Frank Triana wore many hats. In addition to being an ice cream parlor owner, Triana was a restaurant owner, hotel owner, truck driver, gas station owner, and more…
This post was contributed by Alana Baranick, a freelance obituary writer. She was the director of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers and chief author of Life on the Death Beat: A Handbook for Obituary Writers before she passed away in 2015.
