Dr. Malvern Leigh "Lee" Strohbehn
Malvern Leigh "Lee" Strohbehn, D.D.S., 85, died suddenly Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, surrounded by family at his home in Arlington, Texas, where he has lived for the past six years. He was born Aug. 23, 1916 in Tama County, Iowa, to Elmer and Matilda Strohbehn.
He began his career as a school teacher in Iowa. In 1941 he married Louise Heeschen. After service in the Navy in World War II, he acquired a master's degree in education. Subsequently, he made a career change to dentistry, which he practiced in Ojai for 19 years.
Dr. Strohbehn was a community leader, serving on the Ojai Valley Unified School District School Board, as an elder of the Ojai Presbyterian Church, and as a representative to the California Senior Legislature. As a senior advocate he wrote a regular column in the Ojai Valley News. While a senior legislator, he was voted Senior Advocate of the Year in 1988. He was also a past president of the Help of Ojai Board and of the Ojai Valley Retired Professional and Businessmen's Club.
In the year 2000, Dr. Strohbehn was selected to represent the year 1916 in the Fort Worth Star Telegram Photo of the Century.
He was a man of many interests and talents. During his lifetime he personally built two houses, two sailboats and dozens of pieces of furniture for his family.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Louise; his three children, Steve, Susan and Eric, and their spouses; and seven grandchildren.
Services were held Nov. 9 at the Arlington Presbyterian Church. A commitment service will be held at the Ojai Presbyterian Church Columbarium at a later date.
The family wishes to express its gratitude for the support of the Presbyterian Church communities in Arlington and, for many years, in Ojai.
Shirley Robinson Bliss
Shirley Robinson Bliss, 84, of Ojai, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2001. She was born Nov. 11, 1917 in Los Angeles, Calif., to C.J. Robinson and Jessica Wright.
She was the great-granddaughter of John Montgomery, one of the earliest residents of the Ojai Valley, whose house can still be seen on Matilija Street. Her father's mother, Jacobita Montgomery, was the daughter of John Montgomery and lived most of her life in Ojai.
Mrs. Bliss spent part of her childhood at the family ranch in the Upper Ojai Valley and moved there permanently in 1952.
She married Dr. Wesley Bliss, anthropologist and archaeologist, in 1938, and was a participant in his archaeological work. Her interests included reading, traveling, science, history, literature and the arts, and writing poetry.
Mrs. Bliss is survived by her three children, Michael of Simi Valley, Calif., Loa of Waban, Mass., and David of Apache Junction, Ariz.; her brothers, Charles J. Robinson of Rancho Mirage, Calif., and Kenneth S. Robinson of Ballinger, Texas; and six grandchildren.
At her request, no formal services were held.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Norman E. Helm
Norman E. Helm, 50, of Ojai, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2001 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. He was born July 22, 1951 in Litchfield, Ill., and lived in Ojai for two years, coming from Denver, Colo.
Mr. Helm was an accountant.
He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie J. Ames, of Fontana, Calif.; mother Mary T. Helm of Ojai; brother Wayne D. Helm of Laguna Hills; brother David M. Helm of Garden Grove; sister Marilyn J. Impastato of Oceanside; and three grandchildren.
Family services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Cliff Hanson
Cliff Hanson, 78, of Ojai, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2001, following complications of cancer. He was born Nov. 3, 1923 in Clearlake, S.D., and had lived in Ojai for 20 years, coming from Rialto, Calif.
Mr. Hanson was a retired Civil Service Aerospace employee. He was a member of the Lions Club, Ojai Valley Community Church, the Group Against Graffiti and a Senior Patrol volunteer for Little House. His interests included Ford model cars, golfing and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly Hanson, of Ojai; son Gary Hanson of Fontana, Calif.; daughters Susan Kitchen of San Bernardino, and Nancy Kitzmiller of Oak View; five grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Community Church, with Pastor Don Moore officiating.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Ojai Valley Community Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Ernest Mickle
Ernest Mickle, 69, of Ojai, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001 after a fight with Lou Gehrig's disease. He was born Oct. 7, 1932 and was raised in Santa Paula, where he graduated from high school in 1950. Joining the Navy in 1951, he was assigned to the USS Gurke, a destroyer, and saw action four separate times in Korea. The ship was hit by enemy artillery three of the four times.
For eight years, beginning in 1956, Mr. Mickle was a deputy sheriff with Ventura and El Dorado counties. In January 1965, he entered the California Highway Patrol and worked the Ventura County area; he retired in 1972 with an injury. In 1973, he opened the real estate office, Mickle-Gragg, taking over from Ralph Gragg, who retired. A short time later, retired Fire Capt. Charles Moore joined him at M & M Realtors. In 1985, Mr. Mickle joined Bruce Hibberd at Century 21-Ojai Valley, where he retired this year.
He is survived by his wife of eight years, Barbara, of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Brett and Lisa of Vancouver, Wash., and Jeff and Marla of Ventura; stepson James Dodge and his wife, Patty, of Simi Valley; stepdaughter Laura Root and her husband, Tom; six grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. at Charles Carroll Chapel of the Good Shepherd, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Homes.
Dorothy Dron Rail
Dorothy Dron Rail, 73, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 at her longtime home in the Ojai Valley after a lengthy illness. She was born June 12, 1928 in Santa Barbara, Calif., the daughter of John Anderson and Dorothy Cook Dron.
At an early age, she moved with her family to the Ojai Valley, where she lived 45 of her 73 years. She grew up on the chaparral-covered slopes where the valley meets the mountains. She joined in and extended her family's interests and activities in native plants, birds, snakes and geology, arts and crafts, architecture, poetry reading and folk singing, fossil-hunting in Quatal Canyon and camping in the high Sierra.
At Ojai Valley School she developed her reading and writing skills. She graduated from high school in Santa Cruz, Calif., received an associate of arts degree from Ventura Junior College, a bachelor of arts from the University of California at Berkeley, and a teaching credential from California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks.
For two years she lived in Western Europe. On later trips she visited Eastern Europe, Russia and Southeastern Asia. She also car-camped thousands of miles across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Throughout her life she continued her activities in ceramics, jewelry-making, photography, music and gardening, concentrating on California native plants.
Mrs. Rail is survived by her husband of 46 years, Robert Rail of Ojai; son Laurence Malone of Santa Fe, N.M.; daughter Alison Rail and granddaughter Lydia Rail, both of Juneau, Alaska; brothers John Dron of Coos Bay, Ore., and Boyd Dron of Ojai; stepsons Larry Rail of San Francisco, and Steve Rail of Leonia, N.J.; and 18 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St. in Ojai.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Friends of the Ojai Library for the purchase of books, or to a charity of your choice.
Eugene "Whitey" Oliver Pearson
Eugene "Whitey" Oliver Pearson, 67, of Oak View, died Friday, Nov. 16, 2001, at his brother's home in Logandale, Nev. He was a resident of Oak View for 38 years. He was born March 24, 1934, in Watertown, S.D., to Albert and Pearl Janice Johnson Pearson.
He grew up in South Dakota, and at age 14, left home to travel the United States. At age 18, he settled in with an adopted family in California.
On May 30, 1953, he married Verna Mae Carlson in Tijuana, Mexico; on Dec. 24, 1953, they reconfirmed their love in another ceremony in Fontana, Calif.
Mr. Pearson worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad for 37 years as a welder. He was a fix-it man and skilled as a carpenter. His interests also included fishing and traveling throughout the United States.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Verna; sons and daughters-in-law Terry and Nancy Willis of Palmdale, Calif., and Rodney and Heidi Pearson of Moorpark; sister Betty Gross of Huron, S.D.; sister and brother-in-law Joan and Richard Willner of Buckley, Wash.; brothers and sisters-in-law Pier and Patsy Pearson of Logandale, Nev., Bob and Helen Wade of Spokane, Wash., Richard and Dolores Bennett of Spring Valley, Calif., and Larry and Debby Bennett of Granada Hills, Calif; three grandchildren; one great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001, at 2:30 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home, with Pastor Mike Moore officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Richard Phillip Parkhill Kossow
Richard Phillip Parkhill Kossow, 84, of Ojai, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001, at his home. He was born Dec. 9, 1916, in Davenport, Iowa, to Harlan Harry Kossow and Ruth Parkhill. In 1917, his father brought him across country via train to live in Ventura.
He completed 14 years of school and worked at roofing and sheet metal, his father's business. With the start of World War II, he was working at the Port Hueneme base and built the sheet metal shop there to supply materials and equipment for the war effort. He then joined the Army Air Force where he served until the end of the war.
Mr. Kossow continued in sheet metal work until his retirement in April of 1975. His interests included worldwide traveling and the Camera Club, and he volunteered at Little House.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Retta Kossow; two daughters by a previous marriage, Diane and Ruth; two stepdaughters, Sharon and Linda; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents in the early '70s and stepdaughter Susan in September 1999.
At his request, there will be no public services. He will be cremated and interred at Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai.
Memorials in his name may be given to a charity of your choice. All correspondence should be sent to Retta Kossow at P.O. Box 1709, Ojai, CA 93024.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Grace Margaret Raven
Grace Margaret Raven, 96, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, at her home from natural causes. She was born Sept. 20, 1905, in Canada, and had lived in Ojai for 49 years.
Mrs. Raven was the owner of ABC Window Cleaning. She was also a caterer, and she had cared for Katherine Haley's home and family for 40 years.
Her interests included bowling (she bowled in leagues until age 93), and gardening. She sold home-grown vegetables from a little table in front of her La Luna Avenue home.
She is survived by a niece, Mary Daum, of Buffalo, N.Y.; and her adopted daughter, Emma "Birdie" Potter, and the entire Potter family, of Ojai.
No formal services will be held, according to her wishes.
Memorial contributions may be made to any local church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
William "Bill" C. Lundy
William "Bill" C. Lundy, 82, of Ojai, died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2001, at Royal Gardens in Ojai after a lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 7, 1919, in Imperial Valley, Calif., and was a 53-year Ventura County resident, coming from Bakersfield. He had lived in Ojai for one year.
Mr. Lundy had worked in the oil fields. He was a member of the American Legion, Ventura Post #339.
He is survived by his son, William C. Lundy Jr., of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Ron Golding of Ojai; brother Frank Lundy of Arizona; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
At his request, no services will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to Livingston Hospice.
Arrangements are under the directions of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Jesse J. Gasaway
Jesse J. Gasaway, 74, of Ojai, died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2001, in Ojai. He was born Oct. 11, 1927, in Jonesboro, Ark., and had lived in Ojai for 57 years, coming from Jonesboro.
Mr. Gasaway was a heavy equipment operator for the city of Ventura for 36 years and planted many of the palm trees growing throughout the city. He helped build several of the city's parks and, while excavating for them, he unearthed artifacts which were donated to local museums. He also worked fire control during many of the city's major fires.
Mr. Gasaway served in the U.S. Army and was given the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy Gasaway, of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law David and Fawn; son and fiancé Mike and Melody; sister and brother-in-law Dolly and Capp Loughboro of Ojai; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Gasaway was preceded in death by a son, Tom Gasaway.
Friends were invited to call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai yesterday. A graveside service is being held today at 11 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Donna Popular, R.N.
Donna Popular, R.N., 51, of Ojai, died Saturday, Nov. 24, 2001, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in the Upper Ojai. She was born Aug. 12, 1950, in Amsterdam, N.Y., to Walter and Sophie DeGroff.
She grew up in Amsterdam, and graduated from the School of Nursing at Children's Hospital in Boston, Mass. She was then employed as a registered nurse at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam.
She worked as an emergency room nurse at Ojai Valley Community Hospital for 20 years, and recently worked at the Santa Paula Hospital.
She is survived by her sons, Wade Popular, of Santa Barbara, and Jim Popular, of Ojai; mother Sophie DeGroff of St. Petersburg, Fla.; brothers Donald DeGroff of San Antonio, Texas, and James DeGroff of Amsterdam; and sister Catherine Toper of Amsterdam.
A memorial service was held today at 11 a.m. at Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Family Funeral Home in Amsterdam. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Fort Johnson, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Donna Popular Dream Fund at 205 N. Lomita, Ojai, CA 93023, to be distributed to her favorite charities.
A memorial service will be held in Ojai, Saturday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Ojai United Methodist Church, 120 Church Road, with a reception following the service.
Arlene Taylor Moody
Arlene Taylor Moody, 74, of Ojai, died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2001, in Ventura's Community Memorial Hospital. She was born May 1, 1927 in Oxnard, Calif.
Mrs. Moody had been a Ventura County resident for 40 years, and was a teacher with the Ojai Unified School District for 24 years.
Arrangements were under the direction of McDermott-Crockett Mortuary in Santa Barbara.
Louise Black Clark
Louise Black Clark, 95, of Ojai, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001. She was born Jan. 6, 1906.
Mrs. Clark's favorite charity was the Humane Society, which she supported for more than 30 years.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Roland and Elizabeth Clark, of Salem, Ore.; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger W. Clark.
Private family services will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society.
Arrangements are under the directions of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
