Ed Henry Aunger
Ed Henry Aunger, 80, died in Bakersfield, Calif., Wednesday, June 20, 2001 after a long illness. He was born March 6, 1921 in Los Angeles.
He attended Los Angeles schools and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California. Mr. Aunger served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, USAF 13th Division, in the South Pacific, from 1942 to 1945.
After returning home, he married Elizabeth Hartley in 1947. He received his master's in business administration from USC and worked in administration for Hughes Aircraft.
Mr. Aunger was a resident of the Ojai Valley from 1971 until September 2000, when he and his wife relocated to Taft, Calif.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth, and daughter Victoria, both of Taft; and his son Brian of San Luis Obispo, Calif.
No services are planned.
Gene Meadows
Gene Meadows, 68, died June 20, 2001 at his home in Emmett, Idaho. He was born in Simi, Calif., the third child of Clarence and Osa Meadows, and was raised in that area.
He graduated from Ventura College in 1949. In 1950 he married his best friend and lifelong partner, Lorraine Delano. They settled in Ojai and soon started a family. In 1951, Mr. Meadows joined the Army Reserves and served for six years. From 1954 to 1974 he served his community in Ojai as a police officer.
After retiring from the police force in Ojai, the Meadows family moved to Emmett where they ranched until 1986 when he put the uniform back on for the Emmett Police Departmen where worked his way through the department to become chief of police. He retired for the second time in 1998 and relaxed at his cabin in the mountains, spending time four-wheeling and fishing.
Mr. Meadows created woodburnings of wildlife and glass etchings and also wrote short stories.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lorraine; son Mike Meadows of Emmet; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Mary Meadows of Boise, Idaho; daughters and sons-in-law Sherri and Greg Sokas, and Patricia and Randy Williams, all of Emmett; sister and brother-in-law Lucy and Pete Vaughn of Ojai; sister Louise Pace of Simi, Calif.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family wishes to thank Hospice and friends who visited.
A celebration of life will be held at Potter's Funeral Home in Emmett on Saturday, June 30, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to Life's Doors Hospice.
Ferdinand Mirus
Ferdinand Mirus, 91, died Thursday, June 21, 2001 at Royal Gardens of Ojai. He had been in declining health for several years with limited vision and hearing. He had been a 50-year resident of Ojai.
Born in Antwerp, Belgium, March 20, 1910 to theosophist parents, he was a lifelong vegetarian. Being of German descent, the family was forced to move from Belgium at the beginning of World War I to Weimar, in the former East Germany. He attended technological college after high school and became an engineer, performing wind tunnel experiments to develop more efficient aircraft prior to and during World War II.
Mr. Mirus was one of the scientists who came from Germany after the end of the war to work in research and development for the U.S. government at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
Being dissatisfied with the kind of work he was doing, he came to Ojai in 1949 to hear Krishnamurti speak in the Oak Grove, and met Setti Line Vrabec, who became his wife in 1951. The couple moved to Ojai that same year, and settled in a small two-bedroom house surrounded by walnut groves in what was then known as Midway Acres, an area in present-day Mira Monte, above the Honor Farm.
Mr. Mirus found employment as an engineer for Allis-Chalmers, a farm equipment company with a small branch in Oxnard. He worked there designing farm equipment from 1951 until his retirement in 1971.
After his retirement, Mr. Mirus gave his energy to studying and exploring of Krishnamurti and attended many of Krishnamurti's talks and discussions in the Oak Grove, as well as holding discussions on Krishnamurti's teachings in his own home.
He is survived by niece Inga Kelly of Los Alamitos and her twin children; and Setti's son from a previous marriage, Dale Vrabec and his wife Sylvia of Estes Park, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his wife Settie, who died April 18, 1998 at the age of 101.
Mr. Mirus asked that his obituary include a thank-you to the people who helped him during the last part of his life.
Cremation arrangements were under the direction of McDermott-Crocket Mortuary in Santa Barbara.
Ruth Novian
Ruth Novian, 65, of Oak View, died Thursday, June 21, 2001 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 21, 1936 in Zap, N.D., and lived in Oak View for 40 years, coming from Arizona.
Ms. Novian was a custodian for the Ventura Unified School District. She was also a volunteer with Food Share of Ventura.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda Erhart of Montana, Connie Smith of Minnesota, and Donna Ezell of Kentucky; daughter and son-in-law Debra and Robert Smalley of Oregon; son Charlie Novian of California; sisters and brothers-in-law in North Dakota, Tillie Raszler, Ida and Clarence Rohde, Delores Layton, Ardella and Raymond Halter, and Arlene and John Stiefle; brother and sister-in-law Ervin and Shirley Beck of California; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Elizabeth Clark Brand
Elizabeth "Betty" Clark Brand, 80, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at Barton Memorial Hospital, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Betty Brand was a descendant of the early Ventura County pioneer Clark family that settled in the Ojai Valley in 1868. She was born April 17, 1921 at Bard Hospital in Ventura, one of 10 children of stagecoach driver, former Ventura County Sheriff and United States Marshal Robert E. "Bob" Clark and Alice Barnett Clark.
In 1941, she married Leonard Brand of Pasadena, Calif. Before moving to South Lake Tahoe in 1963, the Brand family managed the Clark family cattle ranch on Sulphur Mountain in Ojai. In South Lake Tahoe, they established Brand Electric which they operated until Mr. Brand's death in 1985.
Mrs. Brand's life was involved at St. Theresa Catholic church, where she was a daily communicant.
She is survived by sons Gary Brand and Phil Brand, both of South Lake Tahoe, and Steve Brand of Dayton, Nev.; daughter Joan Houston of Sacramento; sister Clare Whitley of Phoenix, Ore.; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild; and innumerable nieces and nephews from Ventura County.
Rosary was recited at St. Theresa Catholic Church 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28. Memorial Mass will be held at St. Theresa Saturday, June 30, at 10 a.m., followed by internment at Happy Homestead Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Helping Hands of St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe.
Victor Paul Rockwell
Victor Paul Rockwell, 89, of Frazier Park, Calif., died Friday, June 22, 2001 in Bakersfield. He was born Sept. 28, 1911 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. Rockwell had lived in Ojai for approximately 50 years before moving to Frazier Park.
Arrangements are under the care of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.
Bruce A. Solow
Bruce A. Solow, 46, of Ojai, died Wednesday, July 4, 2001 at his home after a battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 23, 1955 in Los Angeles, Calif., to Robert and Marilyn Solow.
He graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts, and then went on to be an assistant director for film and television. He worked on such shows as "Laverne and Shirley," "Miami Vice" and "NYPD Blue."
In 1990, he and his family moved to Ojai, and he shifted his career into corporate headhunting for the Scott Marlow Agency. Mr. Solo was well-known in the Ojai community for his involvement in the arts. He played trombone in his own Bruce Solow's Big Band, he sang renaissance music with the Madrigalis, acted in dozens of plays, and was also seen around town and at the Magic Castle in Hollywood as Dr. Fako, his magician personae.
He is survived by his wfie Corkey; daughters Mollie and Casey; mother Marilyn; brothers Larry, Lee and Brian; sister Margaret; sisters-in-law Sharon, Sharon and Toni; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial donations be made to the Ojai Humane Society, the Ojai Shakespeare Madrigali, or the John Wayne Cancer Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 7, at 10 a.m. at 815 Libbey Avenue. Bring a chair and a brunch potluck dish.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Helen LaVonne Bryan
Helen LaVonne Bryan, 87, of Auburn, Calif., died Thursday, May 17, 2001 at Sierra Nevada Hospital in Grass Valley, Calif. She was born June 29, 1913 in Duncan, Ill., to Clifford and Mabel Culp.
She attended high school in Montrose, Colo., and college at Ventura Junior College. She married Virgil T. Bryan April 1, 1933 in Huntington Beach.
Mrs. Bryan was office manager of Bayless Market in Ojai from 1953 until her retirement Jan. 1, 1981. She lived in Ojai from 1950 to 1998, when she moved to live with her daughter in Auburn.
She is survived by son Richard T. Bryan of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter Jill Lessing of Auburn, Calif.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1973 and son James S. Bryan in 1998.
Arrangements were handled by the Neptune Society of Grass Valley.
A graveside memorial and interment
will be held Thursday, July 12, at 1 p.m. at the Santa Paula Cemetery.
Blanche Olson Menke
Blanche Olson Menke, 85, a longtime Ventura resident, died Friday, June 22, 2001 at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. She suffered from dementia for the past five years and recently contracted pneumonia. She was born Aug. 27, 1915 in Minnesota.
She came to Ventura with her husband and children in 1942. She worked for the State of California's Employment Development Department for 17 years and retired in 1974.
She was widowed in 1965, and in 1975, she married Art Menke. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a volunteer at the Sacred Heart Country Store. She lived in Ojai for awhile.
Mrs. Menke is survived by her four children, Bruce Olson of Philadelphia, Brian Olson of Santa Monica, Bonnie Olson of Ventura, and Barbara Biggers and her husband, Gerald, of Ventura; brother James Plouf; sisters Genevieve Groen and Carolle Denton; and two grandchildren.
The family would like to acknowledge Elizabeth Carlston for her care.
A Rosary and Mass was recited at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ventura. Donations may be made in Mrs. Menke's memory to the Alzheimer's Association of Ventura County.
Arrangements were under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home in Ventura.
Barry Lynn Wells
Barry Lynn Wells, 70, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at his home. He had been a resident of the Ojai Valley for more than 40 years. He was born April 15, 1931 in Arnold, Neb., and moved to California the following year with his parents, James and Neville Wells.
A graduate of University High School in West Los Angeles, he went on to study economics at Stanford University. After receiving his degree in 1953, Mr. Wells joined the Air Force, where he flew early jet fighter aircraft, retiring in 1958 with the rank of captain.
He was the owner of Wells Sports Center, a family-run business in downtown Ojai, from 1972 to 1985, before his retirement. Prior to 1972, Mr. Wells was engaged in the heavy construction contracting business.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Wells; son and daughter-in-law Darren and Gretchen Wells of Atlanta, Ga.; daughters and sons-in-law Missy and Lester Hinks of Ojai, and Bunny and Brian Edwards of Ojai; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Kevin.
Mr. Wells requested no funeral service. A memorial celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Melba Jean Sullender
Melba Jean Sullender, 77, of Ojai, died Monday, July 2, 2001 at St. John's Medical Center in Oxnard. She was born July 21, 1923 at Old Sisters Hospital (Foster Memorial) in Ventura, and was a descendant of the pioneeer Ventura County Edmund O. Tucker family.
She was reared by parents Herbert L. and Anna R. Tucker on the old Gray Ranch and later the Lion Creek Ranch in Upper Ojai, and graduated from Nordhoff High School.
In 1941, she married Dr. Morris McKay Raines, an eye, ear, nose and throat surgeon who practiced in Ventura. They had two children, James McKay and Donald Tucker "Tuckie" Raines.
In 1949, she married John L. Sullender and they continuously resided in the Ojai Valley. They had three children, Richard, Robert and Marianne Sullender.
Mrs. Sullender's community involvement included being a Cub Scout den mother, member of Meiners Oaks PTA, past Bethel guardian of Bethel 204, member of the First Baptist Church since August 1956, president of American Baptist Women's Ministries at both the local and association levels, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, clerk, Bible study leader, secretary and treasurer. At various times in her life, she was employed in medical offices, but is best known for her 30-plus years of service as church secretary at the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
She is survived by her sons James and Richard; daughter Marianne; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband John and sons Robert, Donald and sister Barbara Ann Domreis.
Visitation was held Thursday, July 5, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ojai, with the Rev. Richard J. Sullender officiating.
Remembrances may be made to the First Baptist Church of Ojai, 930 Grand Ave., Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
O. Sheron Rhoades
O. Sheron Rhoades, 68, of Ojai, died Monday, July 2, 2001 following a long illness. She was born Sept. 10, 1932 in Ventura, and had resided in Ojai for 52 years.
Mrs. Rhoades worked as a cosmetologist and owned Hair 'N' Now in Ojai for 15 years.
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Bill Rhoades of Ojai; daughter Karen Moffitt of Bend, Ore.,; brothers and sisters-in-law David and Pat Atkinson of Oak View, and Richard and Katie Atkinson of Santa Ynez; father M.J. Wilson of Ojai; and three grandchildren.
No formal services were held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Ojai Sheriffs K-9 Unit.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
