Clara Mary Abrams
Clara Mary Abrams, 89, of Ojai, died Saturday, Aug. 18, 2001 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Center following a long illness. She was born Dec. 27, 1911 in Tullytown, Pa., and lived in Ojai for 30 years.
Mrs. Abrams worked as an electronic assembler. She was active in Help of Ojai and participated in many activities. She was a member of the theater group at Ojai Villa and was active at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in past years.
She is survived by her son, Albert Abrams Jr. of Oxnard; daughter Shirley Palmer of Oak View; brother Anthony DiCicco of Pennsylvania; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Abrams Sr., in 1976.
Friends may call Thursday, Aug. 23, from noon to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with the Rosary at 7 p.m., officiated by Father Patrick Keane, O.S.A. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai, with Father Michael McFadden, O.S.A., officiating. Interment
will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of the privately owned and operated Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Alexander Marshall Paul Blackburn
Alexander Marshall Paul Blackburn, 12, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, died Friday, Aug. 10, 2001, at Sacred Heart in Spokane, Wash. He was born Nov. 22, 1988, in Santa Cruz, Calif., to Gary Blackburn and Sparrow Baranyai, and had lived in Coeur d'Alene for one year, moving from Ojai, where he had lived for three years.
While in Ojai, Alexander attended San Antonio School. He also participated in the American Heart Association's Heart & Sole Race and took fencing lessons at Pierpont Fencing Academy in Ojai. He made frequent use of the Ojai Trolley, which ran by his house.
At the age of 4 months, he received a new heart under the donor program and had been doing well until recently.
The past year, he was a student at Mountain View Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene, and had just been accepted at the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy.
His main interests were music and drama. The day he was taken to the hospital, he was going to be in a play at the Lake City Playhouse. His other interests were dancing and people, especially girls.
Alexander is survived by his parents, Kraig and Sparrow Lysek of Coeur d'Alene, and Gary and Raylene Blackburn of Visalia, Calif.; brothers Justin, at home, and Jessie of Oregon; stepbrother Austin of Visalia; and grandparents Paul and Norine Baranyai of Toronto, Canada, Steve and Maria Kovacs of Victoria, British Columbia, Cora Nadine Larson of Visalia, and Marion Lysek of Thornton, Colo.
A memorial service was held Aug. 18 at the Fort Ground beach.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Dorothy's Rest, Box B, Camp Meeker, CA 95419 or Lake City Playhouse, East 1320 Garden Avenue, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814.
Arrangements were under the direction of the English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d'Alene.
Matthew Kyle Beck
Matthew Kyle Beck, 17, of Ojai, died unexpectedly Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 in Fresno, Calif. He was born Nov. 2, 1983 in Torrance, Calif., and lived in Ojai for 15 years, coming from Gardena, Calif.
He was a student at Nordhoff High School and worked as a clerk at Ojai Auto Parts. His interests included working and learning about cars with his older brother, basketball, soccer, chillin' with friends and spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his parents, Gary J. and Donna M. Beck of Ojai; brother Gary Beck Jr. of Ojai; sisters and brothers-in-law Cindy and Hugh McAllister of Ventura, and Debbie and Mike Brunette of Thousand Oaks; sister Sarah Beck of Ventura; grandparents Elaine Beck of Ojai, Marie and Al McKim of Bakersfield, and Pete and Agatha Hoogland of Holland; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Community Church, with Pastor Scott Harrell officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Matt Beck Scholarship Fund, 1161 Forest Ave., Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements are under the direction of the privately owned and operated Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Byron S. "Pop" Warner
Byron "Pop" Warner, 95, of Fallon, Nev., died Friday, Aug. 17, 2001. He had been a longtime resident of Ojai, prior to moving to Fallon in 1995.
He was born Dec. 1, 1905 in Pendleton, Ore., to Kenneth George Warner and Margaret May Lee. He lived with the family in Pilot Rock before moving back to Pendleton to finish high school. In 1927, he graduated from Oregon Agricultural College (Oregon State University) with a degree in mechanical engineering.
After school, he joined the Army Air Corps and began his flying career soloing on April 13, 1928. He was later hired by the Ford Motor Company as a test pilot on the Ford Tri-Motor. As a Ford pilot in 1929, he competed in Cleveland Air Races-Ford Reliability tours finishing just ahead of Willey Post.
In 1930, he was hired by American Airlines. As an American Airlines pilot for 34 years, he saw service during World War II flying both the north and south Atlantic, and was the second allied plane to land in Liberated France. During the Korean War, he was part of the Pacific Airlift Operation. In 1962, Mr. Warner set a new commercial speed record certified by the National Aeronautic Association for a flight between Los Angeles and Boston in a B-720. Just prior to his retirement from American, he once again flew the Ford Tri-Motor for American, which is now hanging in the Smithsonian. For the past few years, he was American Airlines oldest and most senior retired pilot.
After retirement, he remained active flying in his own plane, finishing his flying career with more than 31,000 hours, and holding an original Federation Aeronautique International license signed by Orville Wright.
He was a member of the Ojai Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star, and a founding member of the Riviera Lodge #780. Mr. Warner was one of 12 of the founding members of the Airline Pilots Association. He was also a member of Delta Chi Fraternity and the Airline Owners and Pilots Association.
Mr. Warner is survived by his sister, Vivien Bean of Vallejo, Calif.; and son Kenneth G. Warner of Fallon, who continues the family aviation tradition as a pilot for American Airlines.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Francenia Elizabeth Lee Warner, and daughter Patricia Warner Thompson.
Services will be held Thursday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, with the Ojai Masonic Lodge officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of the privately owned and operated Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Joan Wiley Lee
Former Ojai resident Joan Wiley Lee, 74, died of natural causes at Manor Care Nursing Home in Pinehurst, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001. She was born April 30, 1927 in Hardy, Ky.
As the wife of former headmaster of the Ojai Valley School, Tom Lee, she worked as a volunteer in the Ojai community, serving on the board of the Symphony Auxiliary and in several capacities at the Ojai Presbyterian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee moved to Ojai in 1971 from Denver, Colo., where she worked at Rose Memorial Hospital as an obstetrical nurse. The family moved to Boise, Idaho, in 1975, where she resumed her career as a nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Nampa, Idaho.
She is survived by her former husband, Tom Lee, of Hendersonville, N.C.; her daughters, Elizabeth Leonardson and Mrs. Glen (Lisa) Ellis; and four grandchildren.
Correspondence, memories and wishes may be directed to Elizabeth or Lisa at 4102 Cedar St. #1, Fort Wainwright, AK, 99703-1359.
Caroline Evelien Osborn
Caroline Evelien Osborn, 81, of San Luis Obispo, died Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. She was born March 3, 1920 to William and Evelien Moorhouse in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
She married Russell Osborn on Sept. 27, 1941. She moved to Pasadena, Calif., in 1958, then to San Luis Obispo in 1995.
Mrs. Osborn was a homemaker and a member of the Alhambra Chapter No. 193 Order of the Eastern Star. She volunteered her services at the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, Los Angeles Unit. Her interests included music, playing the piano and oil painting.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dianne and Rudy Del Rio of San Luis Obispo; sister Eileen Yarrow of Ontario, Canada; several nieces and nephews in Canada and Florida; and her extended family at Casablanca Alzheimer's Care Facility in Oak View.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Osborn, in 1995, and daughter Pamela Joan Osborn in 1947.
Graveside services for the family will be held at Los Osos Valley Memorial Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 197 N. 10th St., Grover Beach, CA 93433, or Hospice of San Luis Obispo.
Arrangements are under the direction of Los Osos Valley Mortuary and Memorial Park in Los Osos.
Diane Lindsay Boles
Diane Lindsay Boles, 72, died in her sleep Thursday, July 26, 2001 at Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. She was the daughter of the late Lindsay Durand of Ojai.
She was born June 22, 1929 in Los Angeles, Calif., and graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1947. She was employed as a staff writer for Time and Life magazines in Beverly Hills, Calif., soon becoming an assistant editor. She remained in that position until marrying John Boles on Aug. 27, 1955.
In 1963, the Boles family moved to Ojai, where they lived until 1999. A full-time wife and mother, Mrs. Boles was active with Ojai's St. Joseph's Hospital, the Ojai Valley Garden Club and St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was responsible for raising of thousands of dollars for children stricken with leukemia at St. Jude and for patients with Alzheimer's disease at St. Joseph's.
She is survived by her husband, John Boles; children Thomas, Hillary, Maria, Patti and Christa; aunt Dorothy Grove; uncle Richard Pilliod; three cousins; and seven grandchildren.
Graveside services were conducted July 21 at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara, Calif., officiated by the Rev. Bob McDevitt, S.J., of the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Health and Retirement Center in Ojai.
Arrangements were under the direction of El Camino Mortuary in San Diego, Calif.
Elizabeth Amelia Bunce
Elizabeth Amelia Bunce, 91, died Friday, Aug. 17, 2001, of heart failure. She was born Aug. 2, 1920 in Monrovia, Calif., to James and Bessie Mae Biggers.
She attended school in Santa Paula. Upon graduation, she went to work at Jones and Dodd, later moving to Ojai, where she lived for many years, raising her family.
Mrs. Bunce moved to Santa Barbara in 1947, where she went to work for Coleman Building Materials. Years later, she moved to Carpinteria, and was employed by Cate School. She retired in 1975 as acting business manager.
She served as a docent with the Carpinteria Museum, volunteered for many years with Direct Relief, belonged to Businesswomen's Breakfast Club, and played cards with various groups of friends.
Mrs. Bunce is survived by her sons James A. Van Antwerp of Rancho Cucamonga, and Richard D. Van Antwerp of Clovis; daughter Virginia McGuire of Santa Cruz; sisters, Alice Lovelady and Edith Biggers; brothers James Thomas Biggers and John Biggers; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Reginald Bunce, brothers George and James Biggers, and sister Frances Mathews.
Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 12:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Goleta, Calif., located at 677 N. Turnpike Road.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Direct Relief, P.O. Box 30820, Goleta, CA 93130.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDermott-Crockett Mortuary in Santa Barbara.
Dorothy Banks
Dorothy Banks, 78, of Ojai, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001, following a long illness. She was born Sept. 15, 1922 in Paxton, Neb. She had lived in Ojai since 1974, coming from Reseda, Calif.
Mrs. Banks had been a registered nurse, retiring in 1955. She was a member of the Ojai Eastern Star.
She is survived by her sister, Betty Hoffman of New Mexico, and brother Robert Spuhler of Lexington, Neb.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Billie Banks.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Jeanette Resnick Jacobs
Jeanette Resnick Jacobs, 89, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001 at her home in Ojai. She was born Sept. 30, 1911 in Omaha, Neb., and had lived in Ojai since 1938.
Mrs. Jacobs and her husband, the late Godfrey Jacobs, founded the certified public accounting firm of Jacobs & Jacobs with his late brother Anzac Jacobs. She worked there for 32 years before retiring at the age of 86.
Mrs. Jacobs was the first secretary of the Ojai Art Center and a member of its board of trustees. In 1959 she served as worthy matron of the Ojai Chapter of Eastern Star and was a 50-year member of that organization. She was secretary-treasurer of the Ojai Youth Tennis Foundation for many years, and was also a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Ojai Valley Woman's Club, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and Reach to Recovery.
Mrs. Jacobs survived life-threatening bouts with cancer in 1949 and 1979.
She is survived by her children, Allan and wife Janet of Ojai; Eileen and husband Howard Plotkin of Houston, Texas; Jack and wife Janet of Camarillo; and eight grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 1036, Ojai, CA 93024, to provide scholarships for college students and teachers of the Ojai Valley.
Services will be private.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Richard "Rick" Ted Riessen
Richard "Rick" Ted Riessen, 39, of Ventura, died in his sleep Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001. He was born July 6, 1961 in Lynwood, Calif.
Until two years ago, he and his family lived in Oak View for approximately 20 years.
Mr. Riessen worked in construction and as an auto mechanic. He is survived by his five children.
A service will be held Saturday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 365 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura.
