Donald William Zigler
Donald William Zigler, 73, of Ojai, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001 of sudden heart failure. His last days were spent fishing with family members in the Sacramento River in Northern California. He was born April 17, 1928 in Long Beach, Calif., where he graduated from high school before enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served his country in the Pacific Theater before an honorable discharge in 1948.
In 1950, he married Norma Rice and moved to Ventura to pursue a career in oil field sales, which eventually led to the founding of his co-owned oil tool sales company, R-Z Oil Tool Co., in 1967. He retired in 1985.
Active in retirement, Mr. Zigler's many interests included senior softball, auto racing, and classic cars. He raced drag boats in the early 1980s and became the world record holder in his class.
He was a member of American Legion Post #482 in Ojai, where he gave many hours of service.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Norma Zigler of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Alecia and Rick Taylor of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Steve and Maura Zigler of South Lake Tahoe; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Bobbie Zigler of Canyon Lake; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Zigler was preceded in death by his mother and father, Emily and William.
Visitation was held Sunday at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with funeral services on Monday at 10 a.m. Interment
followed at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Legion Post #482 of Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Harriet S. Riggins
Harriet S. Riggins, 83, of Ojai, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, at home surrounded by her family after a brief battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 30, 1917 in St. Paul, Minn.
She was married to Robert E. Cahill from July 29, 1939, until his death on Nov. 3, 1964. She was married to Dale D. Riggins from Sept. 29, 1966, until his death on Oct. 9, 1987.
Mrs. Riggins spent much time traveling around the world. Her interests also included playing bingo and helping out at Second Helpings thrift store for Help of Ojai.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen Mackie, of Ventura; daughter and son-in-law Geri and John Singer of Oak View; son and daughter-in-law Bob and Suzi Cahill; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Nancy Mollard and Barbara O'Leary, as well as her two husbands.
At her request, no services will be held.
Ora Marie (Burgett) Smith
Ora Marie (Burgett) Smith, 74, of Krebs, Okla., died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001 at her home. She was born April 19, 1927 to Ben and Rosa Newcomb in Ringling, Okla.
She moved to California in 1951. She lived in Meiners Oaks for 30 years where she worked at the Acacias Nursing Home, Ojai Valley Hospital and Meiners Oak Elementary School. After the death of her husband, Kenneth Burgett, she eventually returned to her home state of Oklahoma.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Carolyn and Robert Teasdale of El Cajon, Calif., and Rose Horner-Halliday and husband Winston of Bakersfield, Calif.; daughter Charlene Mueller of Hayden, Idaho; son and daughter-in-law Ardell and Sue Burgett of Krebs, Okla.; brother and sister-in-law Jerry and Elma Newcomb of Chandler, Okla.; sisters and brothers-in-law Mae and J.W. Childress of Marietta, Okla., Stella and Clif Johns of Madill, Okla., and Janetta and Willard Johnson of Lebanon, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George E. Smith, four brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services were held Oct. 25 at Chaney's Memorial Chapel in McAlester, Okla., with the Rev. Marvin Dunn officiating. Interment
was in Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of McAlester.
Arrangements were under the direction of Chaney Harkins Funeral Home in McAlester.
Jimmy L. Jones
Jimmy L. Jones, 55, of Scranton, Ark., died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001, after a battle with cancer. He attended schools in Ojai and graduated from Nordhoff High School in 1964.
Mr. Jones was a retired system operator from Southern California Edison. After retirement he moved to Arkansas to be near his daughters.
He is survived by his daughters, Carrie Summers of Scranton, Ark., and Jamie Hobson of Fort Smith, Ark.; sister Joyce Dotson of Nipomo, Calif.; brothers F.D. "Buddy" Jones of Paris, Ark., and Jerry Jones of Ojai; three grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents, F.F. and Gladys (Anthony) Jones.
There will be a memorial in celebration of his life Saturday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. at the Church of Christ Annex at 411 N. Montgomery St. in Ojai.
Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Roller Funeral Home in Paris, Ark.
Milton T. Helmle
Milton T. Helmle, 77, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001, at his home after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born May 13, 1924 in Lodi, Calif., and was an Ojai resident for 18 years, coming from Ventura where he lived since 1955.
Mr. Helmle, a public accountant, had been an auditor and chief systems analyst for the County of Ventura, and was a veteran of World War II, hving served in the Army Air Corps.
He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Santa Barbara and was an organist for the Scottish Rite. He was also a member of the Ventura Shrine Club and a former member of the First Baptist Church in Ventura.
Mr. Helmle also belonged to both Ventura Senior Bowling leagues and was a member of the Soule Park Senior Men's Golf Club.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Charmian Helmle, of Ojai; daughter Trudi Aemett of Berkeley, Calif.; and grandson Sean Frakes of Ojai.
He was preceded in death by daughter Cheri Lynn Helmle in 1998.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Private interment
will be at Santa Barbara Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fred Jordan Mission of Los Angeles, P.O. Box 12345, Covina, CA 91722, or to the Ventura County Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 5545, Oxnard, CA 93031-5545.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Lillian R. Jewell
Lillian R. Jewell, 87, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001 at her home. She was born June 11, 1914 in Kings Park, N.Y.
Mrs. Jewell worked as an occupational therapy instructor. She served as a volunteer in the nursery of Kings Park Lucien Memorial Church for 18 years. She also volunteered time at the Little House Meals on Wheel program, earning Volunteer of the Year.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Louise Jewell, of Cochise, Ariz.; daughter and son-in-law Joyce and Wally Nielsen of Ojai; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Ojai United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David M. Burgeson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Little House Meals on Wheels or the Ojai United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Anthony C. "Tony" Salchak
Anthony C. "Tony" Salchak, 52, of Ojai, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001 in Ventura, following a lengthy illness. He was born Feb. 23, 1949 in Artesia, Calif., and lived in Ojai for 18 years, coming from Whittier, Calif.
Mr. Salchak was a musician and played the guitar and folk music. He also did historic re-enacting.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mary Jo Salchak, of Ojai; children Darcy Salchak of Portland, Ore., Dereth Salchak of Portland, Ore., and Daniel Salchak of Ojai; sister and brother-in-law Mary and Joseph Phipps of Allegan, Mich.; and one nephew.
Mr. Salchak was preceded in death by his parents, George and Beatrice Salchak.
A memorial service was held Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Cross, with the Rev. Jan Nairn officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Lutheran World Relief, (800) 597-5972, or the Maestro Program at Nordhoff High School, PMB 209, 323 E. Matilija St., Suite 110, Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Jeanette Kropp
Jeanette Kropp, 89, of Oak View, died Monday, Nov. 5, 2001 at her home from natural causes. She was born May 16, 1912 in Kansas, and had lived in Oak View for four years, coming from Colorado where she had lived for 51 years.
Mrs. Kropp was a charter member of a Lutheran Church in Colorado. Her interests included gardening, starting trees from seeds, cooking, quilting and singing.
She is survived by her daughters, Janice Kropp-Albertsen, of Oak View, and Phyllis Perrotta of Hollister; son Stan Kropp of Aurora, Colo; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Russell William Kropp, in 1995.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with Pastor Scott Harrell officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Help of Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Robert Herman Rinkleib
Robert Herman Rinkleib, 94, of Ojai, died Monday, Nov. 5, 2001, at his home. He was born July 17, 1907 in Anaheim, Calif., the eldest of five children of Herman Godfred Rinkleib and Jane Christina Tibbetts. He was a sixth generation Californian.
Mr. Rinkleib spent most of his life in Southern California. In 1932, he married Pearle Mae Preston in Las Vegas, Nev. They were married 61 years and raised four daughters. The Rinkleibs lived in Indio, Hollywood, Burbank, spent part of the '50s and '60s in Ojai, and later moved to San Clemente. In 1985, they retired in Ojai, living with their daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Doug Becker.
Mr. Rinkleib attended Texas Tech University and spent most of his professional life as an accountant. He was business operations director for several automobile dealerships in the Southern California area and was owner-partner in two of these.
He was a Rotarian for most of his professional career and served as Rotary president while in San Clemente. His interests included hunting and fishing, and he was a member of both the Burbank and Ojai Rifle Clubs and the National Rifle Association.
Mr. Rinkleib is survived by his sister, Helen Topper, of San Diego; his four daughters, Kelda Rinkleib of Berkeley, Joan McMullen of Oxnard, Dona Kingsbury and Diana Becker of Ojai; sons-in-law Don McMullen and Doug Becker; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, brothers Arthur and Walter Rinkleib, Charles Heath, and his grandson, Scott Kingsbury.
Private family services will be held.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai
James O. Rice
James O. Rice, 75, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001 at Madrone Hospice House in Yreka, Calif. He was born Aug. 28, 1926 in Spiro, Okla., to Earl and May Rice.
He lived in California most of his life, and resided in Ojai from the late '30s to the early '50s.
Mr. Rice served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. He worked for Caltrans for many years on several large highway construction projects.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Rice, of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Janice Rice and Bob Brockmann of Fortuna, Calif.; and four grandchildren.
Viewing was held Nov. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Girdner Funeral Chapel in Yreka, Calif. Graveside services are being held today at 11 a.m. at Happy Camp Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Girdner Funeral Chapel.
