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Rachel S. Whorton, a resident of Albuquerque since 1987, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2001. Rachel was born in Las Vegas, NM on May 6, 1917, the daughter of Morris and Minnie Siegal. The Siegal's settled in Las Vegas in 1913 where they opened and operated a grocery and general merchandise store located on Lincoln Avenue. Rachel graduated with honors from Las Vegas High School, and earned a full scholarship to Denver University. After one quarter, she left school to return to Las Vegas to help her parents run the store. In 1937, she married RomayneDick Whorton and in 1950, Rachel and Dick along with her father-in-law, R. L. Whorton, purchased the Siegal store and changed the name to Whorton's Food Market. They operated the store until 1970 when it was sold. Rachel continued her education at Highlands University and subsequently embarked on a second career as a financial advisor to individuals regarding savings and retirement programs. Rachel was a prominent member of the Las Vegas community, and was the first woman ever to be elected to the Las Vegas City Council. She was active in civic affairs and was a matron in the Las Vegas Chapter of Eastern Star. Rachel moved to Albuquerque in 1987 where she continued her career as a financial advisor until her retirement in 2000. Rachel was preceded in death by her husband, sister, Jean Mosko of Denver, CO and son, William Lee. She is survived by her brother, Art Siegal and wife, Alice of Seattle, WA; brother-in-law, Jack Whorton of New Orleans, LA; sons, Jerry and wife, Sandy of League City, TX, Donald and wife, Diana Obrinsky of Oakland, CA, Bob and wife, Juneen of Los Lunas, NM and David Whorton of Las Vegas, NM; eight grandchildren, Mandy Whorton and husband, Steve Jevins of Denver, CO, Kerry Whorton of San Francisco, CA, Mathew, Laura and Julie Whorton of Oakland, CA, Patrick, Casey and Kendall Whorton of Los Lunas, NM; and two great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Abilgail Whorton of Denver, CO. Services to celebrate Rachel's long and wonderful life will be held Friday, 10:00 a.m., at Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana NE, with Rabbi Joseph Black officiating. Graveside services and burial will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Las Vegas, NM at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Rachel's name to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque, 5520 Wyoming NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE.
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