Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!LARA
Angelina Valenzuela Lara
Angelina Valenzuela Lara died at Alderson Convalescent Hospital in Woodland Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004 at age 78.
Mrs. Lara was born May 6, 1926 in Sacramento to Alberto Valenzuela Sr. and Librada Rodriguez and had been a Yolo County resident for 65 years. She worked as a homemaker her entire life.
Survivors include Mrs. Lara's daughter, Anna Galvan and her husband Juan of Woodland, sons Michael J. Lemus and his wife Arleen of El Monte, Tommy Lara and his wife Debbie of Reno, Nev. and George Lara of Woodland. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Arvicio Thomas Lara, daughter Lydia Lobato and son-in-law Carlos Lobato.
The family requests memorials in Mrs. Lara's name be directed to the Diabetes Association Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 2680, N. Canton, Ohio, 44720.
Services: Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 6 p.m. today, Thursday, at Kraft Bros. Chapel, 175 Second St., Woodland. A Rosary will be recited after the visitation at 6 p.m. with Father John Boll officiating. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon, Friday, Sept. 17 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 301 Walnut St., Woodland, with interment to follow at Monument Hill Memorial Park, Woodland. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.
LARA
Rose "Rosa" Lara
Rose "Rosa" Lara died on Jan. 16, 2005, at her Knights Landing home. She was 87.
Visitation is from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Evergreen Funeral Chapel, 327 College St. in Woodland. A vigil service begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 513 Locust St. in Knights Landing. A Mass of Christian burial begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Interment will be at the Knights Landing Cemetery, Road 102 in Knights Landing.
Born July 27, 1917, in Yuma, Ariz., to Juan and Hilaria (Ramirez) Meraz, she moved with her family to Knights Landing when she was 6. She was a Yolo County resident for the past 81 years. A homemaker since the age of 18, she was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church for 81 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Lara, in 1955; son, John Lara, in 1969; her sisters, Rita Cital in 1981 and Mary Cruz in 1984; brothers, Refugio Ramirez in 1960 and Clemente Ramirez in 2002; and her grandson, Albert Lara Jr., in 1967.
She is survived by her daughters, Angie Lara of Knights Landing, Rose Tayofa of Sacramento, Esther Lara of Woodland and Patricia Vigil of San Francisco; her son, Albert Lara of Sacramento; and her sister, Sartunina Cabrera of Palermo.
She is further survived by16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to St. Paul's Catholic Church.
LARKIN
Thomas H. Larkin
Thomas Heuser Larkin died Feb. 27, 2000, at his Woodland home. Born July 6, 1932, to the late Mendell H. and Jeanie Olsen Larkin, he was 77.
Larkin was a resident of Yolo County for 26 years. He graduated from McClatchy High School in Sacramento in 1950 and UC Berkeley in 1954. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity.
While serving in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, he was stationed in Germany.
Larkin was employed by Macy's in Sacramento for 20 years and worked at Yolo County Pool Supply and Servisoft in Woodland for the past six years.
He was a 24-year member of Woodland BPOE #1299. He also served as exalted ruler from 1991-92, was named Woodland Lodge Elk of the Year for 1982-83, was active at the district level, and was secretary of the Woodland Lodge at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, D'Nell Larkin of Woodland; children, Katherine and David Larkin, both of Woodland; and granddaughters, Mistie, Celina and Jeanie Larkin all of Woodland.
A memorial service will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Woodland Elks Lodge, 500 Bush St. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks Major Project through the Woodland Lodge or the Yolo Hospice.
McNary's Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
LAROCK
Hazel Marie Larock
Hazel Marie Larock died peacefully in her sleep before dawn in Woodland on March 3, 2005. She was 92 years old.
She was the fourth of five children born to Martha Baust Lambert and her husband William Edward Lambert. Her father was born in Twickenham, London, England, and immigrated to San Francisco with his family as a boy.
Years later, he met his San Francisco-born wife-to-be after his sister's piano lesson. The San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 caused the couple to relocate to Berkeley, where Hazel was born May 31, 1912. She attended Garfield School and Berkeley High School. Upon graduation in 1930 she worked as a secretary at Garfield School and as secretary to the Berkeley Board of Education.
Through mutual friends, she met Ralph Wyant Larock, and they marriage in a ceremony in her parents' Berkeley home on Jan. 9, 1937. Her matron of honor was her sister Florence, and the best man was Ted Blake, a close friend of the groom. They took up residence in homes in Kensington, just north of Berkeley, living first on Oak View Avenue and then on Avon Road, between 1937 and 1996.
They had two sons, Bruce and Richard, in 1940 and 1944. One of the annual family highlights was a week's vacation at the Berkeley city camp on the Tuolumne River above Groveland. Each year the family would reserve the tent house called #57 Ladybug Lane and enjoy a variety of recreations in the camp and along the river, including nightly campfires.
After her father died in 1953, she became a confidante, caregiver and grocery shopper with and for her mother for more than 25 years.
In 1996, she and her husband moved to The Californian retirement residence in Woodland to live closer to family.
Her hobbies were gardening, knitting, sewing and crocheting. Her family says she also enjoyed celebrations with her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Larock; her three brothers, Edward, Robert and William Lambert; and her sister, Florence Porter.
She is survived by two sons, Bruce Larock and his wife Susan of Davis and Richard Larock of Ames, Iowa.
She is further survived by her granddaughters, Lynne Marie Larock and her husband Scott Lindhurst of Granite Bay, and Jean Ellen Larock of Davis; great-grandson Henry Lindhurst; and two nieces, four nephews and their families.
Her wish was for no services. Final arrangements were made by the UC Davis School of Medicine. The family wishes to express its appreciation to the devoted caregivers at The Californian who made her last years more comfortable.
Remembrances may be given to the donor's favorite church or charity, or to the Arboretum at UC Davis.
LARSEN
Jens Rolighed Larsen
Jens Rolighed Larsen, 63, of Vacaville, passed away on Jan. 12, 2004, in his home, following a 19-month battle with brain cancer.
Born Feb. 19, 1940, in Denmark, he resided in Vacaville. He was self-employed as the owner of Jens Masonry Supply from 1967 to the 1980s and Danco Properties, which focused on commercial real estate development, until he passed away.
Mr. Larsen was voted Businessman of the Year in 1998 by Antelope Highlands Chamber of Commerce. He served in the Danish Navy before coming to California. He became an American citizen in 1990. He loved golf and was a member of the Bodega Bay Men's Club.
Mr. Larsen is survived by his wife of 38 years, Joan (Ichtertz), of Vacaville; daughter and son-in-law, Lanisa and Jeff Howerton of Vacaville; son and doughtier-in-law, Michael and Kimberly Larsen of Vacaville; sister and brother-in-law Anne Grethe Muller and Kristian Muller of Denmark; brother Soren Larsen and his wife Inga Larsen of Denmark; sister-in-law Judith Larsen of California; mother-in-law Myrtle Ichtertz, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Gaylene and Harold Anderson, all of Winters; grandchildren Kylie, Alexis and Makaila and one expected in February, and many cousins, nieces and nephews in Denmark and California.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Laurits and Maren, of Denmark; Karl and Hanne of Denmark and Albert, of California.
No formal services were held. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's preference, Kaiser Hospice or Brain Cancer Research.
LARSEN
John Byron Larsen
John Byron Larsen died in Colusa, Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 at age 93.
Mr. Larsen was born July 31, 1911 in Lewiston, Utah, to John Christian and Harriet Comish Larsen. He attended Utah State College for four years. He worked for Spreckles Sugar Company for 40 years as a ranch supervisor, fieldman, agricultural superintendent and agricultural district manager. He retired to Colusa with his wife in 1982. He was active in the Rotary Club, the Elks Club, King City Golf Club and the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Salinas Valley Farm Bureau and Salinas Rodeo Planning Committee. He was a lifetime credential member of the King City Fair Board and served as President of the King City School Board.
Survivors include Mr. Larsen's daughter, Louise Woodring and her husband Robert of Colusa; his grandchildren, Todd Woodring of Orange County, Darsel Forney and Chad Woodring of Colusa; his great-grandchildren, Rikki, Jada and Madison Forney, Braden and Lilly Larsen Woodring, Aiden Byron and Ariana Woodring, and Kiyan and Zayan Noyes and his niece, Suzanne Alziebler of Santa Clarita. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Frances Castro Larsen and his sisters, Angela Johnson and Barbara Hardwick.
Services: Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the McNary-Moore Chapel in Colusa. A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1 at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 1150 Fifth St., Colusa. Burial will follow the church services at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Colusa. Funeral Services are under the direction of McNary-Moore Funeral Service.
SIMMONS
Alice K. Simmons
Alice Kate Simmons died in her home on July 27, 2002. She was 96 years old.
She was born in Hamburg, Germany, on April 7, 1906, and her story is a classic tale of immigrant triumph, the true American dream. With the help of her favorite uncle, Martin Gatgens, she and her father, William Gatgens, came to America through Ellis Island. They settled in Davis in 1921 when she was just 16. Having left their metropolitan roots, they found themselves building a new life in a town of 500.
While learning English, Simmons did domestic work for some of the legendary early Davis families such as Oeste and Haussler.
Always progressing, she completed business college and secured a position in the Viticulture Department at the University. In her spare time, she practiced gymnastics outdoors. She met her late husband, John B. Simmons, through her involvement with gymnastics.
Together, the couple raised three children: Son John M. Simmons, and daughters Helen Ferrari and June Simmons.
Through a partnership with Rhoda Haussler, Haussler Dairy and farm was formed. The duo later dabbled in land development, founding Simmons Real Estate, which is now run by her son.
A tireless worker, Simmons helped build the family business with long hours of hands-on labor.
Gardening and travel were her foremost personal interests, though she had many.
When she had more time to give, Simmons focused on community. She was active in the Senior Chorus, the Yolo County Farm Bureau, the German Conversations Club, the Community Church Women's Circle, the Our Savior Lutheran Church, the Friends of the Arboretum and the Davis Art Center.
In addition to giving time and financial support to many causes, she was a natural entrepreneur in an age of women staying at home. Her natural bent for business was reflected in her successful investments, but even more so in the nonprofit ventures she pioneered. The Book Sale Center of the Friends of the Library and Davis Community Church's Thrift Shop are examples.
Simmons also touched the lives of many individuals and families with her quiet kindness, welcoming international students to the campus, bringing rides to the elderly, meals to the sick and making home visits to the homebound. Her generosity in meeting the needs of friends and neighbors at points of challenge is well known.
She lived in Davis these past 80 years and had a positive influence on the development of Davis' culture. She had an even greater influence on her family and made them a priority throughout her life. In addition to her children, she leaves behind a strong legacy through her nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
She will always be remembered by family and friends as a loving and compassionate person, an active philanthropist, community volunteer and leader.
A memorial service will begin at noon on Aug. 7 at Davis Lutheran Church. A celebration of her life will take place at the UC Davis Alumni & Visitors Center following the service.
