Patricia Anne Charles
Patricia Anne Charles, 77, of Ojai, died Friday, March 31, 2000, after a brief illness. She was born April 1, 1922, in Worcester, Mass.
Mrs. Charles was an executive secretary for Northrop Aerospace for 20 years and an 11-year county resident.
She is survived by her daughters Judy Walker of Ojai, and Kathy Rixely of Wilmington, Calif.; son William Charles of Santa Monica; brother Robert Berglund of Worcester; sister Alice Frodigh of Worcester; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Private cremation services were held. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to HELP of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements were under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula.
Ruth Mildred Collier
Ruth Mildred Collier, 78, of Ojai, died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. She was born Jan. 3, 1922, in Lucas, Ohio, and had lived in Ojai for 25 years, coming from Milwaukee, Wisc.
Mrs. Collier was the receptionist-secretary for the Montessori School of Ojai for the past 12 years.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Deborah and Rex Kochel of Ojai; son Jimmy Collier of San Francisco; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Sunday at the family residence.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Capt. Darwin L. Fuller
Capt. Darwin L. Fuller, 66, of Santa Paula, died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at his home. He was born Jan. 18, 1934, in Pueblo, Colo., but spent most of his life in Ventura County.
During the offshore oil boom of the 1960s, Capt. Fuller owned and operated the M/V Seabee out of Port Hueneme. In 1972, when working as a free-lance commercial diver, he suffered a crippling case of the bends, which paralyzed him from the waist down for the rest of his life.
He went on to serve in the civil service in the Target Ships Group at CBC Port Hueneme. He later entered the real estate development industry, as well as trying his hand at locating and recovering lost treasure and speculation in gold mining operations. In his final years, Capt. Fuller spent much time with his microcomputer, producing several book manuscripts, one of which was currently being edited for publication.
He is survived by his wife Mary Ann; sons Kenny of Cottage Grove, Ore., and Jon of Santa Paula; daughter Vicky of Ventura; son-in-law Jon Jean; seven grandchildren; and brothers Ray, Walter and Lawrence.
He was preceded in death by his son Larry.
Services were held Tuesday at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with Mark Steffey officating.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Johanna "Annie" Jacobson van Geuns
Johanna "Annie" Jacobson van Geuns died Tuesday, April 3, 2000, at her family home in Ojai after a long life in the Netherlands (Holland), Bolivia and the United States.
Mrs. Jacobson van Geuns had been a fashion reporter in New York. She spent the last three years living in California with her family.
She is survived by her son Herbert Jacobson; two granddaughters; and three great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975 and her brother Maurice on Feb. 7, 2000.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Wayne LaRue
Wayne LaRue, 83, of Ojai, died Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at Acacias Care Center.
He was born Oct. 30, 1916, in Boise, Idaho, and grew up in a rural farm environment and walked 10 miles to school through blizzards and knee-deep snow, even in the summer, or at least that is what he told everyone.
Mr. LaRue moved to Ojai from the Midwest in 1959 and taught music at all of the grade schools until his retirement in 1980. He introduced and taught countless Ojai children to play a musical instrument and regularly visited every grade school in the valley, including Summit School, San Antonio, Ojai Elementary, Topa Topa, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Oak View.
He was in the Civilian Pilot Training Program before joining the Air Force and trained as a pilot for large, troop-carrying gliders, which were to land deep in enemy territory. However, he was mustered out following his last physical exam due to a previous case of polio which he had tried to hide. He ended his military service as an Air Force photography instructor at Lowry Field in Denver, and his love of photography continued throughout his life.
Mr. LaRue met his wife Blair in Washington, D.C. during the war and they were married in 1942. They had two children, Leslie and Steve.
After the war, he worked in sales and as a photographer and returned to finish his education in the '50s, graduating from the University of Omaha in 1956 and later receiving his master's degree in music education at Greeley State Teachers College in Colorado. He moved his family to Ojai in 1959, where he taught until his retirement.
The church was always a major part of his life and his voice became his musical instrument with a range from baritone to tenor. He participated in church choirs, both as director or participant, almost all of his life. He also learned radio communications as a ham. His call was WA6FMN.
Mr. LaRue is survived by his wife Blair; his children Leslie and Steve; nephews; grandchildren; and his brother Albert.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the March of Dimes are requested. A memorial service was held at the Ojai Presbyterian Church April 17.
Laverne A. Rose
Laverne A. Rose, 82, of Ojai, died Thursday, May 4, 2000, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital after a brief illness. He was born March 14, 1918, in Butler, Pa., and moved to the Panama Canal at age 10.
After graduation from high school, he completed a four-year apprenticeship as an operating engineer. During World War II, he served in the Naval Construction Battalion in the Pacific.
Mr. Rose lived in Ventura County for 50 years, 48 of which were in the Ojai Valley. He was a 50-year member of the Operating Engineers Union. After retirement in 1974, he and his wife traveled in their recreational vehicle throughout the United States and Canada. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ursula Rose; daughters and sons-in-law Jeannie and Herbert Hord of Moorpark, and Janet and Don Burt of Ojai; brothers Herbert Rose of Ojai, and Herald Rose of Auburn; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ojai, with Dr. Wilbur Skeels officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Society or the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Philip N. Phillips
Philip N. Phillips, 83, died Monday, May 1, 2000, at Casablanca Alzheimer's Care Facility in Oak View after a lengthy illness. He was born June 17, 1916, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and had been a resident of Ojai since 1953.
Mr. Phillips grew up in Glendale, Calif., and graduated from Hoover High School. He served in the U.S. Army from February, 1942 until September 1945. He then began his 35-year career as a salesman for California Hardware Company, retiring in 1981. His customers and friends knew him as "Skip." Mr. Phillips won many trophies playing shuffleboard while representing Mira Valle Mobile Home Park.
He is survived by his companion Toni McLennan of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Philip A. and Dana Phillips of Ojai; son Gregory A. Phillips of Wheeler Hot Springs; daughter and son-in-law Pamela A. Phillips and Alan N. Bandoli of Ojai; one grandson; and one granddaughter.
A private service will be held for family members. After cremation, his ashes will be scattered over Los Padres National Forest, where he had spent time camping, hiking and fishing.
Donations may be made in his name to HELP of Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers-Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula.
Louise P. Butler Uhl
Louise Powell Butler Uhl died Feb. 1, 2000, after suffering several years with emphysema. She was born in 1921, and lived with her family on El Toro Road in Ojai from 1929 to 1940.
She attended Ojai Valley School and The Branson School in Ross, Calif., and graduated from Wellesley College in 1944. An English major, she was employed in a Massachusetts Institute of Technology laboratory, and was a member of the Junior League.
In 1946, she married Dr. Henry S.M. Uhl, a graduate of Harvard Medical School. They lived in Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, Worcester, Longmeadow, Mass., Barrington, R.I., and Asheville, N.C. as Dr. Uhl's medical administrator career developed. They were divorced in 1976.
Mrs. Uhl had an in-depth knowledge of the opera and took active interest in young singers by co-chairing the Metropolitan Regional District auditions after she relocated to Norfolk, Va. in 1982. She also wrote a number of poems, a few of which have been published.
She is survived by her daughter Aletheia Meredith Mystea of Fort Collins, Colo.; her sister Nadea Butler Middleton of Virginia Beach, Va.; two nieces; two nephews; and two grandnieces.
A memorial service was held in Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, with taped singing of some "Songs of Auvergne," sung by her friend mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. Her ashes will be placed somewhere in France by her daughter.
Bruno L. Benson
Bruno L. Benson, 85, of Ojai, died Saturday, May 6, 2000, at his home after a brief illness. He was born Aug. 15, 1914, in Minneapolis, Minn., and had lived in Ojai for 72 years.
Mr. Benson was a crane operator for 35 years, working for various employers and finally for himself.
He was a very active member of the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society and initiated the development of its museum. He also played for several years in Ventura Symphonettes. As a member of the First Baptist Church of Ojai, he and his wife were active in the church's Pantry Project, Food for the Needy.
Mr. Benson is survived by his wife of 55 years, Opal W. Benson; daughters Frances Van Antwerp and Janet Robles; son Roger L. Benson; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and two brothers.
A private family service will be held Saturday at Nordhoff Cemetery, with Pastor Wilbur Skeels officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Ojai's Pantry Project or to Ventura Gem and Mineral Society's Museum Fund.
Ernest V. Watson
Ernest V. Watson, 87, died Sunday, May 14, 2000, at his home in Ojai following a lengthy decline. He was born in Los Angeles and raised in New York state.
His athletic prowess manifested itself early as New York State pole vaulting champion in high school. He served with valor in the Navy during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific theater.
After the war, Mr. Watson settled in Ojai where he became proprieter of the downtown Ojai Chevron station for 35 years.
A longtime golfer, he was a past Ojai Valley Golf Club champion and runner-up several times. He was also a longtime member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having achieved the 32nd degree, and a charter member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barbara Watson; two stepsons, William and Thomas Rambo; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Watson was preceded in death by his children, Carol and Richard.
At his request, no formal services were held.
Eula Porter
Eula Porter, 99, of Montecito, died Monday, May 22, 2000, at Casa Dorinda in Montecito.
She was born July 30, 1900, in Utica, Okla., and had lived in Montecito since 1976, coming from Los Angeles.
Mrs. Porter had worked many years as a senior clerk for the City of Los Angeles.
She is survived by her granddaughter Christopher Ann Douglas of North Hollywood; niece Joy Adams of Ojai; and nephew Donald Davis of Ojai.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Patricia Ann Douglas.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with Pastor Scott Harrell officiating. Private interment
will be at Santa Paula Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Stanley Szarek
Stanley Szarek, 99, of Ojai, died Saturday, May 20, 2000, at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura after a short illness.
He was born Oct. 14, 1900, in Poland, and had been an Ojai resident for 13 years, coming from Michigan.
Mr. Szarek had been a machinist for General Motors for 46 years.
He is survived by his wife Jane Szarek of Ojai; daughter Teresa Lesefko of Ojai; sister Helen MacDonald of Las Vegas; one grandson; and two great-grandchildren.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, and scattering at sea will be off the coast of Ventura.
