Kenneth Harry Dunn
Kenneth Harry Dunn, 88, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000.
He was born Dec. 6, 1911, in England, emigrating to Montreal, Canada in 1917 and then to Los Angeles in 1918. He and his wife moved to Ojai in 1977 after his retirement from the film industry.
While living in Ojai, Mr. Dunn was very active with HELP of Ojai. He drove HELP vans for many years and helped with maintenance and procurement of the vans.
He is survived by his son Alan Keith Dunn of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Judith and William Heard of Ventura; brother Larry Dunn of Arizona; three grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.
Mr. Dunn was preceded in death by his wife of more than 60 years, Marjorie Dunn, in January.
A memorial service will be held at HELP of Ojai, 111 W. Santa Ana St., Saturday at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to HELP of Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Robert Townsend
Robert Townsend, former Ojai resident, died Thursday, March 2, 2000, at his home in Mesa, Ariz.
Mr. Townsend had been an elementary school teacher both in Ojai and Ventura schools from 1956 to 1982.
He is survived by his wife Joan Townsend of Mesa; daughters Gail Ehlers of Kingsley, Mich., and Terri Eastman of Ojai; son Jim Townsend of Okinawa, Japan; and three granddaughters.
Services were held March 7 at the Sunland Village East Community Center in Mesa.
Memorial donations may be made to HELP of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024, or the First Baptist Church of Ojai, 930 Grand Ave., Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements were under the direction of Mountain View Mortuary in Mesa.
Erma M. Macht
Erma M. Macht, 91, of Ojai, died Thursday, March 9, 2000, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Center after a brief illness.
She was born Dec. 12, 1908, in St. Joseph, Mo., and had lived in Ojai since 1938, coming from Los Angeles.
Mrs. Macht worked as a sales person for Fitzgerald's in Ojai. She was a member of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Ventura County, a member of Ojai First Christian Church for 25 years and a member of the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
She is survived by her husband Adam Macht of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law James M. and Lou Matthews of Ventura; two grandsons; and three great-grandsons.
Graveside services will be held today at 10 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ojai, with Dr. Wilbur Skeels officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Ventura County.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Gretchen Lee Bergum
Gretchen Lee Bergum, 61, died Saturday, March 11, 2000, at Acacias Care Center in Ojai after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
She was born in Hayward, Wisc., and graduated from Hayward High School in 1956. She attended the University of Wisconsin at Superior and graduated with a degree in education. Her first teaching assignment was in Minneapolis, Minn., where she taught elementary grades. She came to California in 1961 and continued teaching in the Chino School District.
In 1963, she married Elman A. Bergun and became a homemaker to three stepsons while continuing to teach. In 1970, the first signs of Parkinson's disease appeared and her teaching career ended in Camarillo in 1975.
In 1976, she and her husband purchased a miniranch in the Ojai Valley. She headed a parade group of horseback riders that participated in the Camarillo, Port Hueneme and Ventura Christmas parades and the Old Spanish Days parade in Santa Barbara.
Mrs. Bergum is survived by her husband of 38 years, Elman A. Bergum; three stepsons, Alan, Gary and Daryl; sister-in-law Eileen Harper; two stepgrandchildren; a niece; and a grandnephew.
She was preceded in death by her father Robert Harper, her mother Helen Harper, and her brother Caryll Harper.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Hayward, Wisc.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Mary Lorraine Belt
Mary Lorraine Belt, 86, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000, in Oxnard. She was born Nov. 24, 1913, in Highmore, S.D.
Mrs. Belt was a homemaker and an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She had lived in Ojai for 30 years, coming from Palmdale, where she was initiated into the Eastern Star. She had served as organist/pianist for the Ojai Chapter for 12 years. In 1991, she was honored with the Rob Morris Service Award.
She is survived by her sisters Mrs. Bette Johnson of Los Angeles and Ms. Marilyn Minnich of Orange.
Memorial services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ojai Masonic Temple, 309 Mallory Way in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Ruth E. Fairbank
Ruth E. Fairbank, 90, died Thursday, March 9, 2000, in Santa Maria. She was born March 27, 1909, in Newark, N.J.
Mrs. Fairbank had been a resident of Ojai for more than 25 years. She was a homemaker and a community volunteer who donated her time to many organizations, including the Ojai Presbyterian Church, the Ojai Valley Woman's Club and the Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
She is survived by her sons Richard Testut of Vancouver, Wash., and Robert Testut of Los Angeles; her daughter Barbara Weaver of Los Olivos; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Magner-Maloney Funeral Home in Santa Maria.
Kenneth Harry Dunn
The memorial service for Kenneth Harry Dunn will be held this Saturday at 10 a.m. at HELP of Ojai, 111 W. Santa Ana St. in Ojai.
The Ojai Valley News incorrectly reported it as being last Saturday in his obituary notice in the March 10 edition.
Agatha B. Munson
Agatha B. Munson, 89, of Chino Valley, Ariz., died Tuesday, March 14, 2000, in Prescott, Ariz. She was born July 30, 1911, in Elkton, Mo. to Ethmer C. and Mabel Ora Fisher.
Mrs. Munson lived in the Ojai Valley area for many years and moved to Chino Valley in 1984.
While in Ojai, she owned The Mighty Bite restaurant and The Elbow Room bar. She collected Indian jewelry and artifacts.
She is survived by her guardian Harry Cumming of Easthampton, Mass.
She was preceded in death by her husband Victor Munson.
Private cremation will take place at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
Burial will be at the Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home in Prescott.
Ralph M. Collins
Ralph M. Collins, 80, of Ojai, died Saturday, March 18, 2000, at his home after a brief illness.
He was born April 16, 1919, in Omaha, Neb., and lived in Ojai for 24 years, coming from Hawthorne, Calif.
Mr. Collins was a toolmaker for Northrop Aircraft, retiring in 1975.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Alberta "Bert" Collins of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Ronald M. and Carrie Collins, and Thomas A. and Carene Collins, all of San Jose; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and brother and sister-in-law Charles and Bobbie Collins of Pacoima.
Private family services have been held.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Anne Speilman
Anne Speilman, 81, of Casitas Springs, died Thursday, March 16, 2000, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born Dec. 5, 1918, in Madison, Conn.
Mrs. Speilman had lived in Ventura County since 1950, coming from Washington state. She had been a resident of Casitas Springs since 1966.
She was a custodian at St. Joseph's Health and Retirement Center for many years.
She is survived by her adopted daughter son-in-law Peggy and Ernest Thornsberry of Ojai; 11 adopted grandchildren; and 17 adopted great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held yesterday at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with Dr. Wilbur Skeels officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Hepatitis C Foundation.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Jennie Darvena Wilsey
Jennie Darvena Wilsey, 93, died Friday, March 17, 2000, in Ojai. She was born May 22, 1906, in Crystal, N.D.
Raised in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada, she came to Ventura County in 1947. A lifelong educator, she retired as principal of the Ventura Avenue School Following her retirement from the public school system, she taught for several years at the Ojai Valley School.
For many years, she was a volunteer at the Ojai Valley Museum and was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Delta Kappa Gamma educational sorority.
One of 12 children, she is survived by her sisters Bertha Hartwich of Ventura, Isabel Monkman of San Diego, and brothers John Hjalmarson of Santa Maria and Gordon Hjalmarson of Loveland, Colo.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Ventura County, 2630 Saddle Road, Oxnard, CA 93030.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Benjamin Milbrandt Sr.
Benjamin Milbrandt Sr., 82, of Ventura, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000. He was born July 5, 1917, in Princeton, Minn., and lived in Ojai since 1987.
He attended grade school in a one-room country school near the family home, and graduated from Princeton High School in 1935. He served in the Minnesota National Guard in 1935 and graduated from St. Cloud Teachers College in 1941. After graduation from college, he taught school for four months at Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Mr. Milbrandt spent two months in the Air Force prior to World War II and received a medical discharge and honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps.
He married Marion Carolyn Owens Aug. 28, 1942, in Princeton.
Mr. Milbrandt earned a master's degree at the University of Illinois in 1956 and retired as a civil service employee from Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., in 1967, after 30 years of employment.
He was active as a Boy Scout leader for more than 25 years, was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America in February of 1969, and was president of the Boys Scouts Arrowhead Council. He was a trustee of the American Lutheran Church and active in the Masonic and Eastern Star organizations. In 1969, he received the DeMolay Cross of Honor from the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay.
In 1987, he and his wife Marion moved to Ojai, where he continued his community involvement. He did volunteer work with HELP of Ojai and also was active in Eastern Star and Masonic organizations.
He is survived by his wife Marion Milbrandt; daughter Vivian Snyder of Stockton, Calif.; sons and daughters-in-law Ben Jr. and Catherine Milbrandt of Folsom, Calif., and Roy and Marcia Milbrandt of Ventura; six grandchildren; and brother Harold Milbrandt of Princeton, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Johanna Milbrandt, brother Henry and sister Gertrude.
Memorial services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.
Memorials may be made to HELP of Ojai, 111 W. Santa Ana St., Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.
Arthur Bjornstedt
Arthur Bjornstedt, 88, of Ojai, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital from complications following surgery.
He was born Aug. 19, 1911, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived in Ojai for 50 years, coming from Long Beach.
Mr. Bjornstedt was a land surveyor and had worked for the California Division of Highways before establishing a business in Ojai. He was a past president of both the Ojai Lions Club and Toastmasters. He was a member of the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America and a member of the Athletic Club. He was also active in the Ojai Art Center.
Mr. Bjornstedt was a Rotary Club Paul Harris fellow and a member of the Eagle Scouts.
He is survived by his wife Lerie Bjornstedt, and daughter Chris Bjornstedt, both of Ojai; and son Erik Bjornstedt of Channel Islands Harbor.
Friends are invited to an open house at the family residence Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Private inurnment will be at Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ojai Rotary Club Educational Foundation.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Dolph James Lowe
Dolph James Lowe, 87, of Ventura, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000, after a long illness. He was born May 7, 1913, in Saxton, Ken., and moved to Ventura in 1917.
He was student body president of Ventura High School, graduating in the class of 1932.
Mr. Lowe worked in the oil fields of Kern County for pipeline companies. He worked for Lang Transportation Company, Macco-Robertson Los Angeles and Alec Robertson Bakersfield. Later, he owned Ventura Pipeline Company. He retired from the profession in the mid-'70s.
He married Josephine Lucille Barker in Ventura at a football game and they married in 1937. They raised three sons, living in Oak View, Ventura and Ojai until her death in 1980.
Mr. Lowe married Frances Metcalf in 1982.
He is survived by his wife Frances of Ventura; sons and daughters-in-law Jack and Claire Lowe of Switzerland, and Tom and Becky Lowe of Ojai; stepdaughter Darlene Schott of Ventura; stepson David Metcalf of Westlake; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local Alzheimer's Association or a favorite charity.
He was preceded in death by his parents James and Roxie Lowe, stepfather Roy Sanders, sister Juanita Beckett, brothers Fred Lowe and Charles "Toby" Lowe, his first wife Josephine and son Don.
Visitation is being held today until 5 p.m. at Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura. Furneral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home.
