Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Jack Richard Nichols
Services will be today for Jack Richard Nichols, who died Sunday in Santa Cruz. He was 78.
Mr. Nichols was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He served as a tail gunner on a B-17 during World War II and served on a B-29 crew during the Korean War. He worked as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in Santa Cruz for 19 years.
Mr. Nichols was a lifetime member of the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a charter member of the Air Force Sergeants Association.
He is survived by his wife, Bookie Nichols of Santa Cruz; and sons Richard Nichols of San Jose and Jack Michael Nichols of Hayfork.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Gary.
A memorial service will be today at 2 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 420 Melrose Ave., in Santa Cruz. Mr. Nichols will be buried with full military honors Saturday at 2 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville, Texas.
Donations are preferred to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to the memorial fund of the Trinity Presbyterian Church.
April 11, 2002
Louise Fuessel
Services will be held Monday for Louise Fuessel, who died March 29 in Capitola. She was 86.
Mrs. Fuessel was born in Texas. In 1945, she marriage Aloys Fuessel, an Air Force officer and pilot, and accompanied him on several assignments. They retired to San Antonio in 1972. She moved to the Santa Cruz area in 2000.
Mrs. Fuessel graduated from Cotulla High School in 1932. She volunteered at several hospitals.
Mrs. Fuessel enjoyed entertaining and being an officer’s wife. While on assignment with her husband, Mrs. Fuessel attended the Nuremberg War Trials.
She is survived by daughter Marti Atkinson of Corralitos.
Her husband, Aloys W. Fuessel, and son John Fuessel, died before her.
Memorial services are at 1 p.m. Monday at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio.
Contributions are preferred to the Hospice Caring Project, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.
April 12, 2002
Margaret A. Langston
Services were held for Margaret A. "Maggie" Langston, who died March 12 in Bend, Ore. She was 84.
Mrs. Langston was born in Twin Falls, Ind. She lived several years in Honolulu, Bangkok, Acajutla and El Salvador before moving to Santa Cruz in 1970. She moved to La Pine, Ore. in 1989.
While in Santa Cruz, Mrs. Langston worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles in San Jose, as a health-care assistant, at Meals on Wheels and did volunteer work for Grey Bears. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Elks Club and Moose Lodge.
Family members say Mrs. Langston will be remembered for her style and grace, outrageous sense of humor, adventurous spirit and excellent sense of timing.
She is survived by daughter, Nancy Anne Earl of Aptos; two grandsons; and a niece and nephew.
Her husband, Tom Langston, and brother James Arthur died before her.
Contributions are preferred to Hospice Caring Project, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 or the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
April 12, 2002
Nellie June Loya Ramirez
Services will be Friday for Nellie June Loya Ramirez, who died Saturday at Watsonville Community Hospital. She was 68.
Mrs. Ramirez was born in Fresno and lived in Watsonville for 40 years.
She had worked at Watsonville Canning Co. for 10 years, and enjoyed watching her favorite soap operas, singing, playing the electric piano, playing the lottery and being with her grandchildren and her godchild, Ruth Sanchez.
She is survived by a son, Larry Rodriguez of Watsonville; daughters Jennie Alvarado of Castroville, Isabel Alvarado of Greenfield and Sandra Quintero and Rosemary Rodriguez, both of Watsonville; a brother, Dave Vasquez of Phoenix; a sister, Jennie Jimenez of Watsonville; 29 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Her son, Joe Sandoval Jr., and brothers Danny and Robert Loya died before her.
Friends may call from noon-9 p.m. Thursday at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, and a vigil service will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Mehl’s.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Church. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery.
April 17, 2002
Winifred ‘Winnie’ Blair
At her request, no services were held for Winifred "Winnie" Blair, who died April 9 in Quincy. She was 82.
Mrs. Blair was born in Paso Robles and lived in Freedom for 58 years before moving to Quincy last May.
While living in Freedom, Mrs. Blair was a housewife and also worked at a Watsonville dress shop, the former Classic Shop, for several years in the 1950s.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ben Blair of Quincy; a daughter, Linda Hardy of Quincy; a son, David Blair Sr. of Isleton; one grandson, one granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are by the Neptune Society in Chico.
Mrs. Blair’s ashes will be scattered at sea.
April 17, 2002
Leonel Silveira
Services will be tonight at 7 for Leonel Silveira, who died Sunday in his Freedom home. He was 90.
Mr. Silveira was born on the island of Pico, in the Azores, off of Portugal. He immigrated to the United States in 1971. He and his wife lived in Freedom for the past 30 years.
He worked for the Sakimoto Nursery in Watsonville for six years, retiring in 1977. He belonged to Irmandade da Santissima Trindade do Watsonville.
He was well-known for his homemade Portuguese wine and for his woodworking. He crafted many wine barrels and replicas of farming equipment and tools from his old country. Not knowing how to read or write, he created poems, asking his wife and daughters to write them down for him. He had many friends.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Felisbela Silveira of Freedom; two daughters, Cremilde S. Oliveira and Maria A. Silveira Machado of Freedom; sisters Maria C. Soares and Julia Xavier, both of Pico, Azores; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
His 6-month-old son, Manuel, died in 1939.
Services will be 7 tonight at Our Lady Help Of Christians Valley Church. Mass will be recited at 10 a.m. Thursday at Valley Church. Burial will be at Watsonville Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call today from 9 to 5 p.m. at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel and from 6 to 9 p.m. at the church.
Contributions are preferred to the American Lung Association of the Central Coast, 550 Camino El Estero, Suite. 100, Monterey, CA 93940.
April 17, 2002
Ernest Floyd Wiggins
Services will be Monday for Ernest Floyd "Wiggie" Wiggins, who died April 1 in Watsonville. He was 69.
Mr. Wiggins was born in Oklahoma City, Okla. He moved to Watsonville in 1942 and graduated from Watsonville High School in 1951.
Mr. Wiggins was a brakeman and conductor at Southern Pacific Railroad for 43 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Watsonville.
Mr. Wiggins was the first manager of the Eagle Giants Little League team, holding the position for 13 years. He was a pitcher in a fast pitch softball league in Watsonville for 38 years, and played City League basketball for 29 years.
He is survived by stepson Bill Creed; stepdaughter Pam Rivera of Watsonville; brother Harry Wiggins of Watsonville; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
His wife Glee Wiggins and stepson David Nichols, died before him.
Service is at 11 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, 229 Stanford St., Watsonville.
Arrangements are by Davis Memorial Chapel.
April 13, 2002
Virginia Talbert
Services will be April 27 for Virginia Talbert, who died Sunday at Scotts Valley home. She was 81.
Mrs. Talbert was born in Seattle, Wash. She had lived in Santa Cruz County for 38 years.
Mrs. Talbert graduated Mills College in Oakland in 1945. She enjoyed golfing and was a member of the Pasatiempo Golf Course and of the Republican Women’s Group.
She is survived by sons Neil Talbert of Scotts Valley, Peder Talbert of Santa Cruz, George Talbert of Paso Robles; brother James Wold of Mesa, Ariz.; two grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Oakwood Memorial Park. A reception will follow.
Contributions are preferred to the Hospice Caring Project, 6851 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.
Arrangements are by Norman’s Family Chapel.
April 13, 2002
