Lester James John "Pete" Petersen
Lester James John "Pete" Petersen, 84, of Ojai, died Friday, March 29, 2002, following an extended illness, at St. John's Medical Center in Oxnard. He was born Nov. 18, 1917, in Cotesfield, Neb., and his early years were spent in that rural area.
After graduation in 1934 from Ord High School, he entered the military. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska in a remote place for most of five years. During this time, he manned a 6-inch gun which shot out about 30 miles into the ocean to keep the Japanese at bay and prevent invasion through Alaska. The concussion from these guns was so great that when fired it would blow earplugs out of his ears and buttons off his shirt.
Mr. Petersen and his brother hopped a freight train to Seattle where he found work in an uphostery shop and received training. This became his life's work. He met his first wife, Ruth, there and they had a daughter, Kathy.
Later, he moved to Southern California, where he met and married his second wife, Rosemary. He was a member of the Ventura Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rosemary, and their two daughters, Leslie Clark, of Oxnard, and Leanne Philpott, of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter Kathy Rohrbach, of North Bend, Wash.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation was held Tuesday, April 2, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Charles Carroll Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Ventura.
Services are being held today at noon at Ventura Baptist Church, 5415 Ralston Ave., Ventura. Interment
will be at Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village.
Arrangements are under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura.
Judy Ann Smith
Judy Ann Smith, 52, passed away at home March 22, 2002 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
She was a daycare provider in Ojai for 30 years (Smith's Family Daycare). Many children came through her door, and she loved them all. She was a very caring person.
Actively involved in the American Legion in Ojai, she would help whenever needed. She helped organize the annual Christmas Boutique.
Judy will be missed by her many friends. The parents of children she took care of, and the children who loved her.
Judy was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia Margaret Willis. She is survived by her daughter, Jamie Rowe, and her husband, Richard, and four grandchildren Noah, Hattie, Breal, and Sydnie Rowe of Ojai; and her son, Kevin Gates, also of Ojai. She leaves her beloved companions Buford and Goose.
A Memorial Service will be held at the American Legion Hall in Ojai, 821 E. Ojai Ave. Saturday, April, 6 at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Hospice or American Cancer Society.
Jack L. Segotta
Jack L. Segotta, 72, of Ojai, died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, at his home following a brief illness. He was born June 5, 1929, in Van Houten, N.M., and lived in Ojai for 38 years, coming from Torrance, Calif.
Mr. Segotta was plant manager for Arcturus Manufacturing Corporation. He served his country in the Korean War and remained close with several other sailors who served with him.
Mr. Segotta was a member of the Soule Park Men's Club and was on the golf course almost every weekend for the past 38 years. In his younger days, he played baseball. Other interests included fishing, hunting and summer vacation trips with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Segotta, of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Dan and Sharon Segotta of Florence, Ore.; sons Ken L. Segotta of Anadarko, Okla., and Robert Segotta of Ventura; daughter and son-in-law Jackie and Jeff McConnell of Grants Pass, Ore.; brothers Richard, Don, Tom, Jim, Jan and Pete; sisters Kthleen and Jenny Sue; and four grandchildren.
Visitation was held Sunday, April 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, and services were held Monday, April 8, at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ojai, with the Rev. Rowland Chandler officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Frances Lucille Truax Dillon
Frances Lucille Truax Dillon, 86, of Ojai, died Saturday, March 23, 2002, in Angeles City, Philippines. She was born Feb. 21, 1916, in Whitefish, Mont.
Mrs. Dillon was retired after 32 years of service with the Los Angeles School District as a registered nurse.
She had lived in Ojai since 1985 and was an active volunteer with the Ojai Valley Community Church, Help of Ojai and the American Red Cross.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Dillon Long, of Ventura; sons Roger J. Dillon of Angeles City, Philippines, and Robin F. Dillon of Ventura; three granddaughters, Shannah, Marlene and Alicia; and two great-grandsons, Benjamin and Christopher.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m. at Ojai Valley Community Church, with Pastor Don Moore officiating.
Jean Lottie Chrzanowski
Jean Lottie Chrzanowski, 93, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at her home in Ojai. She was born Feb. 7, 1909, in Poland, and moved to the United States at the age of 12. She and her husband raised their children on a farm in Michigan, and moved to Ojai in 1960.
Mrs. Chrzanowski was a homemaker and was active in the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church choir, the Altar Society and thrift store. Her hobbies included gardening and growing flowers.
She is survived by her sons, Roland Chrzanowski of Yucaipa, Calif., Normal Chrzanowski of San Bernardino, Calif., Franklin Chrzanowski of Tucson, Ariz., and Alexander Chrzanowski of Ojai; daughter Gloria Jones of Ojai; friend Daniel O'Neill; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Laurence Sanders, and husband, Alex Chrzanowski.
Visitation is being held today at 6 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with reciting of the rosary following at 7 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Private interment
will be at Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Church or to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurses Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Kathryn Lattimore
Kathryn Lattimore, 81, of Ojai, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at Casa Blanca Care Home, following a lengthy illness. She was born Aug. 6, 1920, in Cecil, Ark., and lived in Ojai for eight years, coming from Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Lattimore was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Dan Lattimore, of Ojai; daughters Judith Gonelli of Ojai, Margaret Karlan of Lake Forrest, Calif., and Marilyn Summers of Federal Way, Wash.; son Jeffrey Plett of Lacey, Wash.; five stepchildren; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Family services were held in Santa Clara, Calif.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Ilene Lotts
Ilene Lotts, 75, of Ojai, died Saturday, April 6, 2002, following a lengthy illness. She was born June 29, 1926, in Wichita, Kan., and had lived in Ojai for 54 years, coming from Van Nuys, Calif.
Mrs. Lotts was a homemaker.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Judd E. and Heather Lotts, of Clinton, Wash., and Rick and Sarah Lotts of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Jeri and Marvin Batten of Santa Clarita, Calif.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Private family services were held.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Margaret Leslie Mercer Randall
Margaret Leslie Mercer Randall, 89, of Ojai, died Sunday, April 14, 2002, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. She was born Oct. 23, 1912, in Ventura, and had lived in Ojai for the last 52 years. She was a lifelong Ventura County resident.
Mrs. Randall was a deacon at the Ojai Presbyterian Church and was involved with the women's group. Her interests included gardening, baking and designing and making her clothes.
She is survived by her husband, George A. Randall, sons George H. "Randy," Joe and Robb Randall, daughter Marcena Brook, and brothers Herbert Mercer and Ben Mercer, all of Ojai; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A graveside gathering is being held today at 11 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m. at the former home of Alex and Rita Mercer, 197 E. Villanova Road, Ojai.
In lieu of flowers, send your love.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Helena B. Ekroth
Helena B. Ekroth, 96, died Sunday, April 14, 2002. She was born Jan. 18, 1906, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived in Oak View for almost three years, coming from Glendale, Calif.
She is survived by her daughters, Joan Anderson of Lompoc, Calif., and Barbara Kuperman of Woodland Hills, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, William J. Ekroth, M.D., in 1996.
Friends may call Thursday, April 18, from noon to 2 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
A graveside service will be held Monday, April 22, at noon at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, and a memorial service will be held Saturday, April 27, at 11 a.m. at the Ojai Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, with Pastor David Smith officiating at both services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ojai Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, 291 E. El Roblar Drive, Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Dennis Shannon Ford
Dennis Shannon Ford passed away peacefully on April 11, 2002, with family and friends by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife, Linda (Yogi); parents Boyd and Maxine; brother Martin; sister-in-law Marcia and nephew Travis of Ventura; brother Brian, sister-in-law Tina, nephew Kevin and nieces Shelley and Cara of Mission Viejo; and many other loving family members and friends.
Dennis was born in Ventura, California, on June 18, 1953. He grew up in Ojai and graduated from Nordhoff High School in 1972. Later he attended Ventura and Cuesta Colleges and graduated from California State University at Northridge. Dennis had a wide variety of interests. He enjoyed the outdoors, mountain biking, road cycling, hiking and hunting. He served on the Ojai Parks and Recreation Commission and was active in the Ojai Art Center, both working on the sets and acting in several productions. He worked for five years with his father in the insurance business and as a wine steward at The Ranch House Restaurant in Ojai for over 20 years. Dennis especially liked working with young people. He coached basketball at the Boyd Club in Ojai and refereed throughout Ventura County. After earning his teaching degree he coached and taught physical education at Hawthorne High School and at Robert Frank Intermediate School in Oxnard for the last four years.
His love of travel took him to Europe, Central America, Africa, and many destinations in the United States. His optimism and dedication to family and friends will be a source of strength to all who knew him.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2002 at the Ojai Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to all the doctors and nurses who cared for Dennis.
In lieu of flowers, and in consideration of Dennis's lifelong passion for athletics and youth, the family requests that donations be made to the Dennis Ford Memorial Scholarship, care of: Ojai Valley Bank, 1207 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai, CA 93023, and/or the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation, 1306 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai, CA 93023.
Loraine Howard
Loraine Howard, 89, of Oxnard, died Monday, April 15, 2002. She was born Nov. 1, 1912, in Friend, Neb. She lived in the Ojai Valley for five years and was a 72-year Ventura County resident, coming from San Bernardino County.
Mrs. Howard had been a nurse's aide.
She was a member of the Santa Clara Catholic Church in Oxnard, and a member of the Gem and Mineral Society, the Orchid Society, and the Young Ladies Institute of the Santa Clara Church.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Darlene Howard, of Idaho; daughter and son-in-law Aldine and Paul Hennigan of Oak View; sister Margaret Allen of Oxnard; sisters and brothers-in-law Lena and Robert Ware of Auburn, Anne and Buzz DeBord of Washington, and Nell and Chet Miles of Oregon; brother and sister-in-law Arthur and Viola Crowley of Riverside; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Howard, in 1995.
Visitation was held Thursday, April 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with the rosary recited at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be today at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai, with Father Gary Sanders, OSA, officiating. Interment
will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Catholic church of choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Nell D. Wojnas
Nell D. Wojnas, 94, of Ojai, died Sunday, April 14, 2002, in Ojai after a brief illness. She was born Oct. 25, 1907, in Poland, and had lived in Ojai for 33 years.
Ms. Wojnas worked as a payroll agent for the New York State School System in Rome, N.Y., and moved to Ojai when she retired in 1969.
Her interests included reading, tennis and playing bridge.
She was the oldest of four sisters and a brother. All her siblings predeceased her.
She is survived by four nieces and one nephew.
Visitation was held Thursday, April 18, at noon, followed by a service at 1 p.m., at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Father Michael McFadden, OSA, officiated. Interment
followed at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
