Nadea Butler Middleton
Nadea Butler Middleton, 79, died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002 after a brief illness in Virginia Beach, Va. She was born June 8, 1923 in Southampton, N.Y., to Dr. Charles Terry and Dorothy Powell Butler. The family moved to Ojai in 1930, where Nadea Butler attended the Ojai Valley School (Class of '37). She was a graduate of Smith College (Class of 1945), majoring in landscape architecture and architecture. She was married to Dr. David Middleton in 1945, and raised four children in Concord, Mass., where she cultivated her interest in the outdoors, music, painting, drawing and architectural rendering.
In 1979, Mrs. Middleton moved to Virginia Beach, where she completed a master's degree in communication studies at Regent University. At the same time, she was involved in the alternative energy movement, and an active participant in Norfolk Club 686 of Toastmasters International. Mrs. Middleton was a member of the Kempsville (Virginia) Presbyterian Church, where she taught second-grade Sunday school and served on numerous committees.
She is survived by her daughters, Susan Terry Middleton of Ashfield, Mass., and Leslie Butler Middleton of Charlottesville, Va.; two sons, David Blakeslee Middleton of New York City, and George D.P. Middleton of Carlisle, Mass.; two granddaughters, Lauren Kathleen Middleton of Littleton, Mass., and Kaya Lindsay Middleton of New York City; and her niece, Aletheia Meredith Mystea, of Fort Collins, Colo.
Funeral services were held Sept. 29 at the Kempsville Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach. A memorial service in New York City is being planned for the spring of 2003. Donations in her memory may be made to the Concord Family and Youth Services of Acton, Mass., or the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Kenneth Clark "Bud" Adams
Kenneth Clark "Bud" Adams, 81, of Ojai, died Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 at Acacias Care Center in Ojai, following a long illness. He was born Nov. 12, 1920 in the San Fernando Valley, and lived in Ojai for 17 years, coming from Hawthorne, Calif.
Mr. Adams was a carpenter for the Los Angeles School District for 25 years. He was a member of the Ojai Masonic Lodge No. 663 F. & A.M., and a member of the Ojai Eastern Star Lodge No. 528.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Lillian, of Ojai; daughter Beverly Toby of Simi Valley; stepdaughter Nancy Nordstrom of Ojai; stepsons Ronald Briggs of Ojai, James Briggs of Grants Pass, Ore., Frank Briggs of Las Vegas, Nev., and Howard Briggs of Vancouver, Wash.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with the Ojai Masonic Lodge officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
George Carpenter
George Carpenter, 96, of Oak View, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 at his home with family and friends at his side. He was born March 11, 1906 to Donald and Minnie Carpenter, who chose to leave their Michigan home and move to the open prairies of Saskatchewan in western Canada when he was a small boy. Repeated crop failures forced his parents to abandon the homestead and they moved to Montana to try again. Loading their household goods and four children into a covered wagon, they made the arduous, three-week journey southwest. They arrived in Havre, Montana, in September of 1914, where they filed for another homestead. Carpenter grew up in this environment, where your horse was your only transportation.
When he was 19, the family moved back to Michigan, and he had various occupations there, including several years with the Michigan State Police. He always had the urge to return west, and did so in the late '30s, going to work for the Department of the Interior as a predatory animal hunter for six and a half years.
He came to California in 1940, and eventually became a foreman for part of Casitas Ranch. He saw Lake Casitas become a reality on land where he had raised hay. In later years, he worked at the lake, becoming its first ranger. Mr. Carpenter retired in 1968 and moved to Oregon. Upon the death of his wife, Jessie Carpenter, he moved back to California in 1991 to be with his sister and family, where he lived until his death.
He is survived by two daughters and two sons: Thelma Smith of Castle Rock, Wash., Clara Borden of Redmond, Ore., Nelson Smith of Castle Rock, Wash., and Verle Smith of Graham, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
At his request, there were no services, just a family gathering with prayers of gratitude and celebration of his life.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Annie Barclay (MacPherson) Dixon
Annie Barclay (MacPherson) Dixon, 87, of Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002 at her home. She was born May 15, 1915 in Vancouver, B.C.
Mr. and Mrs. Dixon and their children moved to Ojai in 1958, and then relocated to Qualicum Beach in 1968.
Mrs. Dixon is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dana and William Huffman of Ojai; son Donald Dixon of Victoria, B.C.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Dixon, on Sept. 2, 1996.
Memorial donations may be made to Smart Start Child Development Center, P.O. Box 1208, Ojai, CA 93024, or to the Vancouver Island Regional Library, 101-660-Primrose, Qualicum Beach, B.C., V9K 2G5.
Emery Brandt
Emery Brandt, 82, of Ojai, died Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 at his home. He was born Feb. 14, 1920 in Elmhurst, Ohio, and had been a lifetime resident of Ventura County.
Mr. Brandt was a self-employed lemon rancher and business entrepreneur for more than 60 years.
He was a past member of the Scottish Rite of the Masonic Lodge and the Historical Society, and a past board member of the Chicago Rawhide.
His interests included model trains, his plane, golfing, gardening, working with heavy equipment and orange-colored cats.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline Brandt, of Ojai; daughter Grace Emery Brandt of Ventura; daughters and sons-in-law Terrell Brandt and Bobby Wilson of Grass Valley, and Tobey Brandt and Bruce Tabor of Ventura; stepdaughter Sonja Kaye Treader and her husband, Bobby, of Ojai; stepsons Michael John Miller and Gene Edward Miller; sisters Betsy Armstrong of Santa Barbara, and Helen McGrew of Glenn's Ferry, Idaho; and and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura, with Pastor Dan Hull officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Nancy R. Brandt, Auxiliary of the Assistance League of Ventura County, 913 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura, CA 93001, or Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, Building Fund, P.O. Box 908, Santa Paula, CA 93060.
Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.
Richard A. Smith
Richard A. Smith, 77, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 after a short illness. He was born April 20, 1925 in Riverside, Calif., and had lived in Ojai for nine years. He was a 37-year Ventura County resident.
Mr. Smith was an entomologist. He was a founding member of the California Agriculture Pest Control Advisors Association and was considered a foremost specialist in biological control of insects.
Mr. Smith was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy and the Marine Corps. In July 1945, he married Helen Irene George.
He is survived by his daughter, Irene Smith, of Madres, Ore.; sons Steven Smith of Santa Paula, and Andy Smith of Ojai; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Irene George, on July 29, 2001.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Ann Skeeters
Ann Skeeters, 83, of Oak View, passed from this life on Monday, October 14, 2002, at her home.
Ann was born February 2, 1919, in Scamon, Kansas, and has been a resident of Ventura County for 67 years. She graduated high school in her home town, and immediately moved to Ventura where she met and married Cline Skeeters, her husband of 60 years. After raising her family, Ann joined the work place, having careers at the U.S. Post Office, County of Ventura, and owning her own Stained Glass Overlay business where she loved to express her considerable artistic talent. She was loved and admired by her family and many friends.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Cline. She is survived by her sister, Avis J. Schmidt; son Jim Skeeters and daughter-in-law Pamela; daughter Karen McEntee and son-in-law George; grandchildren Kimberly, Kendall, David, Annie, Kerri, Chris and Miranda; and great-grandchildren Lauren, Ryan, Makaio and Hannah.
There will be an informal reception to celebrate Ann's long and happy life Saturday, October 26, at 4:00 p.m. at her home, phone 649-2858. Interment
will be private.
Steven George Harlock
Steven George Harlock, 51, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2002 at his home. He was born Jan. 17, 1951 in Glendale, Calif.
His family moved to Ventura County and he attended school in the Ojai Unified School District. He joined the U.S. Marines in 1968 and served one tour in Vietnam. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Ventura County for a few years before moving to the island of Hawaii in 1977. He returned to California in 1983 before moving permanently to Fort Dodge in 1986. He worked for The Draymen at the intermodal ramp until it closed in 2000.
Mr. Harlock was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His interests included playing the guitar, songwriting, computers, politics, movies, history, gourmet cooking, Cubs baseball, Vikings football, fishing, music, reading and science fiction.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Robert Ballard, and granddaughter Sydney Ballard, all of Henderson, Nev.; mother Patti Evans of Fort Dodge; father Robert Harlock of Morristown, Ariz.; brothers James Harlock of Fort Dodge, and Charles Ashe of Fullerton, Calif.; sisters Susan Anderson of Clarinda, Iowa, Colleen Williamson of Victorville, Calif.; and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Alma Harlock, and Daniel and Irene O'Grady; his nephew, Daniel Anderson; and his uncle, Melvin O'Grady.
His body was cremated. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Fort Dodge.
His family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in Mr. Harlock's name to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Lydia Frances Fitzgerald
Lydia Frances Fitzgerald, 91, of Ojai, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. She was born Aug. 21, 1911 in Kearney, Neb., and had lived in Ojai for 54 years.
Mrs. Fitzgerald was owner and operator of Fitzgerald Painting and co-owner of Fuller Paint and Glass.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Rolland "Ron" and Barbara Fitzgerald, and Floyd "Dee" and Charlene Fitzgerald, all of Ojai; sister Helen Leibfarth of Nebraska; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Lee Fitzgerald, in 1983.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai on Sunday, Nob. 3, from noon to 6 p.m.
Services will be held Monday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home, with Pastor Scott Harrell officiating. Interment
will follow immediately at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Inez Blumberg Berry Thorpe
Lifelong Ojai resident Inez Blumberg Berry Thorpe, 95, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital after a brief illness. She was born Jan. 7, 1907 in Nordhoff (now Ojai), the daughter of early settlers to the Nordhoff Valley,
Mrs. Thorpe was a homemaker and a member of the Ojai Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Inez and George Russell of Arizona, Mary and James Kelley of Oxnard, and Ginger and David Morgan of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Bud and Donna Thorpe of Oxnard, and Larry and Joanne Thorpe of Ojai; 22 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai on Sunday, Nov. 3, from noon to 6 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home Monday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m., with Pastor Paul Bergmann officiating. Private interment
will be at Nordhoff Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
