Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Charles E. Johnson
Charles Edward Johnson died on Dec. 26, 1998, at Woodland Hospital. He was 84.
A retired, self-employed artist and sign painter, he lived in Davis, where his daughter, Kaye Kinsey, resides.
Before moving to Davis in 1995, he resided in Watsonville for 57 years. This is where he owned a sign shop and maintained his business for more then 50 years. The professional skills he possessed were well known in the central coastal area around Monterey Bay.
His sense of humor and his love of life were always part of what he expressed in his art, family members said. His portrayal of personalities in caricature seemed to bring to life the subtleties of the individuals he chose to display on canvas or paper.
Johnson had a deep concern and love for the outdoors, family members said. He spent much of his free time in the coastal foothills and his knowledge of the plants and animals of the coastal chaparral was profound.
An avid sportsman, his life often revolved around finding a way to get to the field or stream. He often artistically put on canvas the beauty he perceived while outdoors.
Johnson found great joy in relating the stories about the fortunes or failures of his hunting and fishing friends. It seemed that he was never without a story about some incident associated with his active outdoor life.
According to family members, after he skillfully enhanced the incidents, he was totally enraptured by the appropriate response of those who enjoyed good stories or could relate to the vividly described events.
Friends and relatives will miss the valued stories of his myriad experiences.
He was born on Jan. 4, 1914, in Winslow, Ariz. He marriage Josephine Clark, the gracious and wonderful mother of his surviving three children, Kaye, Charles and Mark.
He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Rene Kinsey Wigen, David Kinsey, Sandra Kinsey Gordon, Jerry Johnson, Karen Johnson Brown, Ira Johnson, Trese Emery, Clark Emery and Shari Couch; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks and donated many hours of his talents to this organization.
No memorial services are planned. Donations may be sent to Ducks Unlimited or to the donor's favorite organization that provides support to wildlife and their habitat.
Michael J. Cummings
Michael J. Cummings was received in heaven on our Savior's birthday, Dec. 25, 1998. He was 57.
He was born on Aug. 9, 1941, in Fort Collins, Colo. He lived in Colorado from 1941 to 1949 and 1956 to 1959. He lived in Davis from 1959 to 1983, after which he settled in Woodland.
He was a member of the Yolo Sportsmen's Association where he enjoyed trap and skeet shooting, family members said. He spent vacation with his family deer hunting in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and camping/ walking on the beach in Fort Bragg.
He was most proud of the back yard he landscaped, his 100-plus rose bushes and his ``cherry'' iris-colored Ford Flareside, which was always polished from top to tires, family members said.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Juanita Cummings; his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Rosa Cummings; and his maternal grandfather, Peter J. Gallagher.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Connie Cummings; his daughters, Shelene Richards, Kimberly Vail and husband, Terrence, both of Woodland; his grandchildren, Ashley Sharee and Chase Michael, both of Woodland; his father, Maynard Cummings of Davis and wife, Barbara Katz; his sister, Sherrie Cummings of Antioch; his brother, Dan Cummings of Davis and wife, Diana; and his maternal grandmother, Mabel Gallagher of Fort Collins, Colo.
He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A service of celebration will be held in honor of his life. Friends and loved ones are welcome to join the family at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church, 1616 West St. in Woodland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to the Woodland Christian School, 1616 West St., Woodland, CA 95695.
Nathonie Greer
Nathonie Greer died on Dec. 15, 1998, in Davis. Born Nov. 23, 1923, he was 75.
He will be buried
at the Woodland Cemetery. The North Sacramento Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Arlena M. Rea
Arlena May Rea died Aug. 12, 2001, after a long illness at Courtyard Healthcare in Davis. Born Oct. 14, 1918, in Danville, Ill., she was 82 years old.
Grammie Lena, as she was fondly known by her family, was a longtime resident of Davis. She retired from UC Davis where she worked as a lab technician for more than 20 years.
She is survived by her only child, Phyllis Martinez and her husband Tony; three grandchildren, Terri, Tom and Joe Martinez; seven great-grandchildren, Jennie and Jason Wylie, Whitney and Jake Martinez, and A.J., Taylor and Alex Martinez, all of Davis; two brothers, Merril Swisher of Indianapolis, Texas, and Don Swisher of Davis; and a sister, Ester Stebbins of Phoenix, Ariz.
It was her wish that no services be held in her memory. However, her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to Yolo Hospice.
Billye E. MacKinnon-Lynch
Billye Edith MacKinnon-Lynch died peacefully, surrounded by her children, on Aug. 14, 2001, in Sacramento. She was 77 years old.
Born on Feb. 3, 1924, in Rolla, Kan., she left home at age 17 with her best friend, Maxine, aboard a train bound for San Francisco. It was there that she met her first husband, Robert Lynch. They were marriage in San Francisco in 1948.
After spending time in both Arizona and San Diego, they settled in Sacramento and raised four sons while managing the family insurance business, Comstock Adjustment Service.
She was a longtime member of the Carmichael Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling to Mexico and Alaska.
In 1976, her husband Robert died. She remarried in 1981. She had many friends in Davis.
She is survived by her brother, Cliff Tillett of Augusta, Kan.; her second husband, John MacKinnon of Sacramento; her four sons and daughters-in-law, Michael Lynch of Sacramento, Cathy Winger of Loomis, Steve and Teresa Lynch of Davis, Jeff and Karen Lynch of Sacramento, and Scott and Jeannine Lynch of Sacramento; and her 10 grandchildren, Erin, Caitlin, Alison, Hannah, Robert, Patrick, Chelsea, Thomas, Kayla and Daniel.
Friends and family are welcome at a celebration of her life, to be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Warehouse Christian Ministries, 9933 Business Park Drive in Sacramento. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to CommuniCare Health Centers, 2040 Sutter Place, Davis, CA 95616.
Betty Marie Nelson
A memorial service was held today for Betty Marie Nelson, who died Aug. 16, 2001. Born Feb. 11, 1923, in La Crescenta, she was 78 years old.
She will be remembered by her family and friends for her gourmet cooking, traveling to 31 countries, creative entertaining and love of music and arts. She was a member of Laguna Arts Festival "Pageant of the Masters" and the Gemological Institute of America.
She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Kenneth R. Nelson; her daughter, Stephanie and her husband Jack Harness; her son, Mark Nelson and his wife Abbie; and her daughter Cher Bartlett.
She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Carrie, Dave, Allan, Amy, Jaime, Adam, Andie, Katie and Ryan; and her great-grandchildren, Colton and Caitlin.
A memorial service was held today at 11 a.m. at St. Martin Episcopal Church in Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.
I-Shiung Chang
I-Shiung Chang died Feb. 2, 2000. Born on Dec. 18, 1918, he was 81. He successfully recovered from hip surgery in June, but suffered a massive stroke on Dec. 15.
Chang retired as a hospital administrator of Keelung Hospital in Taiwan after more than 40 years of service. He came to Davis in 1979 to be with his son, Ching Yin Chang, owner of College Town Realty. He operated a motel with his wife of 59 years, May-En for about 10 years in Sacramento.
He enjoyed gardening and rented a plot in UC Davis' Solano Park for more than 10 years, until 1996. He also enjoyed tennis, fishing and walking.
He is survived by his five brothers, Fong-Mao, Fong-Chung, Fong-Chi and Fong-Chih, all of Taiwan, and Fong-Cheng of Torrance; five sisters-in-law, Lee-Jean, Shieh-Hsia and Mei-Tzu of Taipei, Taiwan, Jui-Chen of Torrance and Min-Chin of Taipei; three sisters, Chin Chang Lu and Yea-Hsia Chang Chow of Taipei, and May Chang Ho of Los Angeles; three brothers-in-law, Z-Yan Lu and Po-Chong Chow of Taipei, and George Ho of Los Angeles.
He also is survived by three sons, Ching Yin Chang of Davis, Ching Yuan Chang of Taichung, Taiwan, and Ching Der Chang of Rancho Palos Verdes; three daughters-in-law, Lucy Lin Chang of Davis, Huei-Jen Hwang Chang of Taichung, Taiwan, and Ann Tai Chang of Rancho Palos Verdes; and a daughter, Jane Chang Chu of Rolling Hills Estate; a son-in-law, C.M. Chu.
He also is survived by nine grandchildren, Elbert K.T. Chang of Los Angeles, and his wife Francis W. Chang, Edward J.H. Chang of Davis, Eugene S.C. Chang of Davis, Kelley Chang of Taipei, Ken Chang of Davis, Catherine Chang of Rancho Palos Verdes, Eric Chang of Rancho Palos Verdes, Stephanie Chu of Rolling Hills Estate and Alvin Chu of Rolling Hills Estate.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Davis Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow at College Town Common Club House, corner of Cowell Boulevard and Ensenada Drive in South Davis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Chinese-American Foundation of Davis, a nonprofit corporation, 1109 Kennedy Place, Davis, CA, 95616.
Harry G. Stoebel
Harry George Stoebel died after a brief illness on Jan. 29, 2000. Born on Sept. 1, 1921, in Fitchburg, Mass., to Harry and Bertha Stoebel of Manchester, N.H., he was 78.
He graduated from West High School in Manchester in 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy for 20 years and saw action in both World War II and the Korean Conflict.
During World War II, he participated in the Aleutian campaign aboard the battleship USS Idaho, and in the South Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier USS Natoma Bay. In 1945, he transferred to the Navy Submarine School in New London, Conn., and later was stationed aboard the submarine USS Sablefish. In 1952, he was commissioned as a chief warrant officer.
During the Korean Conflict he served aboard the hospital ship Repose. He completed his naval career in 1959, retiring at his last duty station, Seattle, Wash.
In 1961, he began work as an engineer for the Boeing Co. in the Aerospace Division. His work at Boeing included participation in the Minuteman missile and lunar rover projects.
He retired from Boeing in 1984 and continued living with his wife, Helen, at their home in suburban Seattle until 1996, when the couple moved to Davis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Hadley Stoebel, also of Davis, and his brother, Robert Ploss Stoebel of Seattle, in 1998.
He is survived by his two sons, George Stoebel of San Diego and his wife Marie, and David Stoebel of Davis and his wife Judy Rose; and five grandchildren, Jason, Jeremy, Jeannine of San Diego and Daniel and Jacob Stoebel of Davis.
A funeral will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 640 Hawthorn Lane in Davis. He will be buried
with military honors immediately afterwards in the Davis Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Davis Funeral Chapel.
Ruth I. Gerriets
Ruth Ida Gerriets died on Feb. 4, 2000, in her Davis home. Born on March 5, 1916, on her family homestead near Athol, S.D., to Axel and Emma Riser, she was 83.
She grew up speaking Swedish, rode her horse to a country school and graduated with a class of six from Athol High School in 1934.
She marriage Donald Gerriets on July 22, 1943. She and her new family moved to Madera in 1955 and to Davis in 1957. She ran a home day care for many years. The years she spent taking care of six children in addition to the four of her own were among the happiest days of her life.
She was also active in the Missionary Society of the First Baptist Church of Davis.
She is survived by her husband, Donald Gerriets of Davis; three sons, Lyle of Sacramento, and David and Wesley, both of Davis; one daughter, Donna Douglas of Davis; four granddaughters, Nicole Douglas and Kimberly, Valerie and Allison Gerriets, all of Davis; and her sister, Grace Wik of Wecota, S.D.
She was a loving wife and mother and will be missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Yolo Hospice, P.O. Box 1014, Davis, CA, 95616. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church, 38141 Russell Blvd., Davis.
Rayma J. Seward
Rayma Jean Seward died on Feb. 7, 2000, at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. Born on Dec. 5, 1936, in Aurora, Mo., to Raymond Earl Walker and Dorothy Pauline Batson Walker, she was 63.
She had been a Davis resident since 1986 and had recently moved to Citrus Heights. She was retired from the Woodland Medical Clinic, where she worked as a cytopathologist.
She did research at UC Los Angeles and worked with The World Health Organization.
She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Pauline Walker of Citrus Heights; son, Gary D. Seward of Grass Valley; two daughters, Dawn R. Keegan of Portland, Ore., and Fawn D. Hedrick of Citrus Heights; and three grandchildren, Sawyer D. Seward of Grass Valley, Taylor Seward of Grass Valley and Marissa D. Hedrick of Grass Valley.
Visitation will be held Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Davis Funeral Chapel. Graveside funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. at the Davis Cemetery. Pastor Tom Norvell will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Yolo Hospice, P.O. Box 1014, Davis, CA 95617.
Ronald C. Galbraith
Ronald Charles Galbraith, a 27-year Davis resident, died on Feb. 7, 2000, at Woodland Memorial Hospital. Born on Feb. 13, 1913, in Lyman, Idaho, he was 76.
He lived in Woodland for the last seven years, the last five at North Star Manor Senior Care Facility.
His early years were spent farming in Idaho and working in sales at Zellerbach Paper Co. He moved to California in 1961 and continued working in sales, retiring from the UC Davis Bookstore in 1978.
He was active in the Davis Dance Club and enjoyed golfing and traveling.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Leona Galbraith, who died in 1992.
He is survived by two daughters, Marcia Thomson and Carol Biancalana, both of Davis; two sons, Ron Galbraith of Citrus Heights and Ron Gridley of Morgan Hill; three brothers, Marlin Galbraith of Salt Lake City, Utah, Lloyd Galbraith of Thornton, Idaho, and Keith Galbraith of Boise, Idaho; nine grandchildren, Candy and Chris Thomson, Anne and Kim Biancalana, Jeff and Jennifer Galbraith, Jodie Usachenko, Tina Bedley and Christopher Gridley; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Northern California.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Davis Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at the Davis Cemetery.
Lester R. Reddig
Lester R. Reddig died due to a heart attack on Feb. 7, 2000. The second child of a family of 10 born to Ransom and Julia Thomas Reddig on Dec. 5, 1915, he was 84.
He marriage to Winifred ``Winnie'' Mangold on May 24, 1944, in Kansas City.
He graduated from Wa Keeney High School in 1935 before moving to California. He had lived in Davis since 1938.
Reddig was employed as a foreman at PG&E in Davis; he retired from PG&E in 1982 after 45 years of service.
He was a loving and devoted husband and father, family members said.
During World War II, he served in Europe as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Medical Corps with the 16th Field Artillery from August 1941 to November 1945. He as a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and participated in VFW functions.
For many years, he and his wife enjoyed traveling while serving as hosts for the Davis Senior Center.
He also enjoyed fishing and hunting in earlier years.
Reddig enjoyed trips to Reno and Lake Tahoe and visiting relatives in Kansas. He enjoyed playing cards, taking photographs and attending garage sales and flea markets.
He was a good handyman and built his residence in Davis. He was always there with a helping hand, family members said.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and will be remembered for his sense of humor, his smile and his gentle ways, family members said.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Leo, Harry and Walter Reddig; and his sister, Viola Westgate.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Winifred ``Winnie'' Reddig; son, Edward Reddig of Davis and his wife Diana; and his granddaughter, Erica Reddig of Grass Valley.
He is also survived by three brothers, William Reddig of Modesto, Glenn Reddig of Sparks, Nev., and his wife Ann, and Darrell Reddig of Salina, Kan., and his wife Veronica; two sisters, Mildred Schneider of Fort Collins, Colo., and Lenora Cain of Newton, Kan., and her husband Bill; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. A funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Davis Funeral Chapel. Burial will take place at the Davis Cemetery with a reception following at the Odd Fellows Hall, 415 Second St. in downtown Davis.
Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association or to the charity of donor's choice.
