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James Woodrow Varin
James Woodrow Varin died at the home of his son and daughter-in-law at Fair Oaks on April 1, 1999, at the age of 82, succumbing to cancer.
Born May 24, 1916, in Ashton, Idaho, he graduated from Burbank High School, Burbank, in 1934. He worked as a miner for a time at the North Star Mine in California and also on the Colorado River Aqueduct in Colorado. He eventually became a machinist and master mechanic and was hired by Pan American World Airways in 1941. In 1943, he aspired to become a flight engineer and began flying the Boeing 314, also known as the "China Clipper, " named after the clipper ships because it took off and landed in the water. By the time he retired in 1976, he was a pilot flying the Boeing 747 internationally.
He became skilled at carpentry and built the family homes in Gilroy and Corralitos. He also assisted with the homes built in Winters and Gualala. On land that he owned at the sites, he had orchards of prunes, apricots and almonds and had several head of cattle and horses at one time.
Mr. Varin is survived by his son, Robert Daniel Varin and son's wife, Elizabeth Varin of Fair Oaks, and his daughter, Joan Christine Weiss and her husband, Albert Weiss of Woodland. Grandchildren include Kimberly Marshall of Colorado, Jeff Varin of Arcata, Troy Varin of Rocklin and Aaron Weiss of Woodland and one great-grandchild, Kayleen Mae Marshall of Colorado. A brother and two sisters of the Grass Valley area, along with their spouses, also survive him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma M. Varin in 1997.
The family requests that memorials be directed to Calvary Baptist Church foyer project, 506 Cottonwood Street, Woodland, CA 95695, or the UCD Medical Center hospice program, 3630 Business Drive, Sacramento, CA 95820.
A memorial service will take place in Gualala, California, Sunday, April 18, at noon.
VASQUEZ
Casilda Merino Vasquez
Casilda Merino Vasquez, a 30-year resident of Davis, died April 5, 2004, in Claremont. She was 76 years old.
She was born on June 18, 1927, and grew up in San Jose de Bachiniva, Chihuahua, Mexico. She came to the United States in 1948 and lived in Davis, where she attended and graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's degree with multiple teaching credentials.
She treasured her years of teaching, her family said. She worked with migrant education students in Esparto, as well as with underprivileged children in the Mission District of San Francisco. In the early 1980s, she moved to Claremont and continued teaching bilingual education for underprivileged children in the Pomona Unified School District.
In addition to her love of teaching, she also loved music, fine arts, traveling and cooking. She promoted lively debate and the pursuit of higher education. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to be socially active and community-oriented, her family remembers. She took great pride and joy in the educational accomplishments of her family.
She is survived by four daughters, Lydia de los Rios and her husband Miguel of Claremont, Sylvia Vasquez and her husband Andrew Gould of Columbus, Ohio; Ophelia Vasquez of Helendale and Myrna Vasquez of San Diego; and son, Albert Vasquez and his wife Christy Brown of Davis.
She is also survived by her sisters, Lilia Loya and Myrna Vilardel, and her brothers, Miguel Merino and Saul Merino, all of Chihuahua, Mexico; and her grandchildren, Jose and Cathy de los Rios, Enrico Echevarria, and Jeremy and Kyle Brown.
Services were held April 17 at the Claremont United Church of Christ in Claremont, followed by interment at the Forest Lawn Mortuary in Covina Hills.
GONZALES
Phillip Gonzales Sr.
Phillip Gonzales Sr. died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, in Santa Rosa. He was 56. Mr. Gonzales was born in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 4, 1945.
Mr. Gonzales had been a resident of Yolo County for 42 years. He was a cook for 20 years at UC Davis and last worked at Sonoma State University. Mr. Gonzales was an avid 49ers fan according to his family.
Mr. Gonzales is survived by his children, Rosie Gonzales of Santa Rosa; Phillip Gonzales and Julianna Gonzales, both of Sacramento; grandson Brandon Gonzales, of Sacramento. He is also survived by his mother Estella Tamayo of Woodland. Other survivors include his sisters Bertha Losoya of Vacaville; Beatrice Noel of San Antonio and Irma Mora of
San Diego; nephews Andrew Mendoza of Utah and Joseph Mendoza of Vacaville.
Mr. Gonzales was preceded in death by his father Guadalupe Gonzales.
A vigil is scheduled for McNary's Chapel at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31. Rosary Church with interment to follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery on West Street.
The family would prefer memorial contributions be directed to the American Diabetes Association.
McNary's Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
SCHAEFER
Albert Henry Schaefer
Albert Henry Schaefer of Rocklin died in Roseville Saturday, June 11, 2005 at age 83.
Mr. Schaefer was born Dec. 19, 1921 in Madison, Ill. He had been a Yolo County resident for 25 years. He served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was the owner of a business in the financial service industry for 40 years.
Survivors include Mr. Schaefer's wife of 40 years, Carol Schaefer; his son, Steven Schaefer and his wife Deb of Granite Bay; his stepdaughters; Sally Besser and her husband George of Davis and Susan Wells of San Luis Obispo; his stepson, Robert Sachs and his wife Connie of Cordoba, Neb.; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family requests memorials in Mr. Schaefer's name be directed to the Northern California Alzheimer's Association, 530 Bercut Drive, Suite A, Sacramento, 95814.
Services: A funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 16 at Kraft Bros. Chapel, 175 Second St., Woodland with the Reverend Martin Wager officiating. Private interment will be held at College City Cemetery in Arbuckle for family members. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors is assisting the family with arrangements.
GOODMAN
John Justis Goodman Jr.
John Justis Goodman Jr. died following a long and courageous battle with cancer, in Colusa Regional Medical Center Sunday, June 22, 2003, at age 39. "J, " as he was known, always fought the good fight. He was a Rocklin resident for 10 years. "J" graduated from Pierce High School in Arbuckle in 1982. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Sacramento State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. John was a Senior Engineer at NEC Electronics where he worked for seven years. He recently passed the Registered Mechanical Engineering test. John enjoyed flying, running, triathlons, water skiing, mountain climbing, spending time with friends.
John is survived by his parents: John & Erline Goodman of Arbuckle, Ca.; grandmother: Elizabeth Goodman of Dunnigan, Ca.; sister: Sheryl Goodman of Colusa, Ca.; brother and sister-in-law, Bret and Janene Goodman of Lafayette, Ca.; and six nieces and nephews who thought the world of him. Funeral Services will be Thursday June 26, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Arbuckle. Burial in the Arbuckle Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the Pierce High School Youth Foundation at PO Box 1349, Arbuckle, Ca 95912 Services are under the direction of McNary-Moore Funeral Service.
GOODSON
At his residence in Capay Valley of pneumonia, February 16th, Jesse Goodson, a native of Illinois, aged 30 years 2 months and 11 days.
(Dated February 23, 1878)
GORDON
Betty Lou Gordon (1st of 2 obits.)
Betty Lou Gordon, age 67, who lived in Dunnigan the last 45 years, died in Davis on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005. Born in Colusa on Aug. 17, 1938, Mrs. Gordon was a 1957 graduate of Colusa High School.
She had been a homemaker for 49 years and volunteered at her children's schools when they were younger as a room parent.
Mrs. Gordon is survived by her husband of 48 years, George Gordon Sr. She is also survived by daughter Terry Wilkinson and her husband Greg, of Dobbins; sons, George Gordon Jr. and his wife Jamie of Silver Springs, Nev., Mike Gordon and his wife Trish of Sacramento, and Tom Gordon and his wife April of Woodland. Other survivors include her sisters, Nancy Borges of Crescent City, and Sally Martin of Sacramento; and brother-in-law Bill Gordon and his wife Margaret of Williams as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Everett Gordon, Kristian, Kasi, Kourtney and Kolhby Wilkinson, and Clay and Rachel Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon was preceded in death by her parents, H. Edmond and Atha (Swet) Heitman; in-laws, Bill and Lucile Gordon; sister, Janet Sicard; uncle, Hubert and aunt Helen Heitman; uncle Adolf and aunt Janet Stoll; and uncle Fred Heitman.
Services: A memorial service has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Kraft Bros. Chapel in Woodland. Memorials or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Stroke Association. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors is assisting the family with arrangements.
Betty Lou Gordon (2nd of 2 obits.)
Betty Lou Gordon of Dunnigan died in Davis Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 at age 67.
Mrs. Gordon was born Aug. 17, 1938 in Colusa. She had been a Yolo County resident for 45 years. She was a 1957 graduate of Colusa High School. She had been a homemaker for 48 years and volunteered at her children's schools when they were younger as a room parent.
Survivors include Mrs. Gordon's husband of 48 years, George Gordon Sr.; her daughter, Terry (Gordon) Wilkinson and her husband Greg of Dobbins; her sons, George Gordon Jr. and his wife Jamie of Silver Springs, Nev., Mike Gordon and his wife Trish of Sacramento and Tom Gordon and his wife April of Woodland. Other survivors include her sisters, Nancy Borges of Crescent City, and Sally Martin of Sacramento; and her brother-in-law Bill Gordon and his wife Margaret of Williams as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Everett Gordon of Sacramento, Kristian, Kasi, Kourtnye and Kolhby Wilkinson of Dobbins, and Clay and Rachel Gordon of Woodland.
Mrs. Gordon was preceded in death by her parents, H. Edmond and Atha (Sweet) Heitman; her in-laws, Bill and Lucille Gordon; her sister, Janet Sicard; her uncle, Hubert and aunt Helen Heitman; uncle, Adolf and aunt Janet Stoll; and uncle Fred Heitman.
Memorials or donations in Mrs. Gordon's name may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Stroke Association.
Services: A memorial service has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Kraft Bros. Chapel, 175 Second St., Woodland. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors is assisting the family with arrangements.
