Charlotte Edith Gresham
Charlotte Edith Gresham, 68, of Ojai, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002 at her home after a lengthy illness. She was born April 12, 1934 in Arcata, Calif., and moved with her family to Ojai at the age of 4. She attended Ojai schools, graduating from Nordhoff High School in 1952.
She worked for several years at Security Bank, both in Ventura and Ojai. She met and married James "Jim" Gresham and together they built and worked at Double J Market in Meiners Oaks from 1971 until they sold it in 1993.
Mrs. Gresham was known by many as she spent hours daily working alongside her husband in all aspects of running the market. Her smile and hospitality are remembered by all who shopped at Double J Market.
She is survived by her husband, James V. Gresham of Ojai; brother Leonard Taylor of Colfax; sisters Gail E. Hansen of Easton, Evelyn J. Wallace of Tulare, and Karen Liller of Ventura; and a niece, Sarah Liller of Ventura, who Charlotte helped raise as her own; and other nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her care giver of six years, Nancy Vernand of Ojai.
Visitation will be at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai on Friday, Nov. 8, from 2 to 8 p.m.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Dora Constance Tracy
Dora Constance Tracy, 88, of Ojai, died Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 1, 1914 in Stoughton, Mass.
She was a supervisor for Prudential Insurance in Boston, Mass., for 12 years. Shortly after retiring, she moved to Ojai with her family, and was a resident of Ojai for 20 years.
Mrs. Tracy was a volunteer at the Oak Tree House in Ojai. Her interests included movies, shopping, cooking and knitting.
She is survived by her daughter, Carol Tracy; daughter and son-in-law Diane and Butch Dykeman; sons and daughters-in-law Kenneth and Karen Tracy, and Paul and Leone Tracy; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many more relatives.
There will be an informal reception to celebrate Mrs. Tracy's life and share memories on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. at her granddaughter's house, 818 Jose Drive, Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Marti Cadenasso
Marti Cadenasso, 58, of Ojai, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002 at her home.She was born April 4, 1944 in Portland, Ore., and had lived in Ojai for one year, coming from Laguna Hills, Calif.
Mrs. Cadenasso was a sales manager for Encore Corporation.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Tamra and Greg Mundia of San Clemente, Calif., and Stacy and Kevin Davis of Ojai; parents Dave and Eleanor Reynolds; five siblings; and four grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai, with Pastor Paul Bergmann officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to Ojai Valley Community Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Ann Winston
Ann Winston, one of the first members of the Meditation Mount group, and the accountant for many years, died Sept. 22, 2002 in Santa Maria, Calif.
There will be a memorial celebration of her life on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. in the auditorium at Meditation Mount, located at the top of Reeves Road in Ojai. All are welcome.
Grayce W. Crowder
Grayce W. Crowder, 92, of Ojai, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital after a lengthy illness. She was born Aug. 23, 1910 in Craig, Neb., and lived in Ojai for 63 years, coming from Kansas.
Mrs. Crowder had been a court clerk for the County of Ventura.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Victor L. Crowder, of Ojai; sisters Evelyn Blue of Visalia, Calif., Lois McCormick of Knoxville, Tenn., Arlene Nelson of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Doris Bridge of Tampa, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service is being held today at 11 a.m. at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo, with Pastor Lyn Thomas officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Noreene Frances Plett
Noreene Frances Plett, 82, of Ojai, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002 at her son's home in Ojai, after a lengthy illness. She was born March 4, 1920 in Sacramento, Calif., and lived in Ojai for five years, coming from Placerville, Calif.
Mrs. Plett was the co-owner of P & M Market and she was a real estate agent. She had been the secretary at Cold Springs Golf and Country Club, where she was a charter member and 10-time club champion. She was also a bowler. Her last employment was with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Plett is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Albert J. and Judith Gonelli, of Ojai; several siblings; four grandsons; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai, with the Rev. William V. Olivas, O.S.A., officiating. Inurnment will be at Placerville Union Cemetery.
The family requests no flowers.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Afra Mattraw
Afra Mattraw, 87, of Greeneville, Tenn., died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002 at the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital, following a brief illness. She was a native of Orwell, N.Y., and was a longtime resident of Ojai, before moving to Greeneville in 2001. She was the daughter of the late George S. and Alice Hilton Petrie.
A reception for her friends will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 at 10 a.m. at Carrows Restaurant in Ojai.
Mrs. Mattraw was a homemaker and a former elementary school teacher. She received her degree in education from Cortland State Teachers College, Cortland, N.Y.
Mrs. Mattraw was a member of the Ojai Valley Woman's Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a life master bridge player. She was Episcopalian.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Harold C. and Doris Mattraw Jr., of Greeneville, and Frank L. and Janet Mattraw, of Westlake Village, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law Alice Faye Mattraw and Jackie Sachs of Menlo Park; grandchildren Renee Furman of Boone, N.C., Bryan Mattraw of Leesburg, Va., and Matthew Sachs of Menlo Park; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold C. Mattraw, in 1984, son William Petrie Mattraw and brothers Harry Petrie and Lafay Petrie.
Suzanne Wofford
Suzanne Wofford, 69, of Ojai, died Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 in Oxnard. She was born July 8, 1933 in Tulare, Calif., and lived in Ojai for eight years.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Roy and Lory Griffith, of San Luis Obispo; daughter and son-in-law Robin and Jay Kerley of Santa Cruz; brother Jerry Corvey of Arroyo Grande; sisters Ann Swisher of San Luis Obispo, Jeanie Wical of Waterford, Calif., and Jo Ramirez of Tollhouse, Calif.; grandchildren Kyle and Morgan Griffith, Sybil Thompson, Ann and Jeff Jensen, and Aubrey Graves; and five great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Nov. 12 in Arroyo Grande, with burial at Arroyo Grande Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Lady Family Mortuary in Arroyo Grande.
Terry Charlton Cole
Terry Charlton Cole, 55, of Ojai, died Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 of a heart attack. He was born Sept. 23, 1947 in Washington, Pa., to Stanely Paul and Mary Goroncy Cole.
He spent his youth in his birthplace, then served in the Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1969. After that, he returned to Washington, Pa., and married Bernadette Zelenka. He lived in Pittsburgh, Pa., briefly and in 1974, moved with his wife and daughter to Ventura County.
Mr. Cole spent his career in the transportation industry, working in brokerage or freight, managing claims and dispatching. His interests included the Steelers, KFI talk radio, the California coastline and barbecueing with friends.
He is survived by his daughter, Loree Cole, of Ventura; mother Mary Cole of Ojai; sister Victoria Cole of Santa Barbara; brothers Stanely Cole of Washington, Pa., and Jim Cole of Virginia.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 at 2 p.m. at the home of John and Shauna Rupp, 607 Signal St., Ojai. His acquaintances are welcome. Mr. Cole's daughter will be posting a Web site with photos, those interested in viewing them may contact her at locole@yahoo.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Terry L. Billings
Terry L. Billings, 46, died Friday, Nov. 8, 2002 at his home in Oxnard. He was born Jan. 31, 1956 in Birmingham, Ala. He had lived in Ojai for 15 years, coming from Birmingham.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Terrance and Lisa Billings, of Paw Paw, Mich.; mother Ruby Billings of Ojai; sister Tammy Billings of Memphis, Tenn.; and grandmother Rose Fancher of Ojai.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Irene Sheets
Irene Sheets, 94, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, after a short illness. She was born Oct. 24, 1908 in Alton, Kan. She lived in Ojai for one year, in Truth or Consequences, N.M. for 33 years, and 30 years in Nebraska.
Mrs. Sheets was a homemaker. She attended the Methodist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Gloria Telecky, of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Keith and Maryalice Sheets of Lincoln, Neb., and Dean and Jean Sheets of Kersey, Colo.; sister Imogene Gaede of Wagoner, Okla.; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd, in 1996, son Robert in 1969, parents William and Roetta Knoll, and three brothers.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, in Arnold, Neb., with interment
at the Arnold Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Tamima Michelle Al-Awar
Tamima Michelle Al-Awar, beloved daughter of Khaled and Sheryl Al-Awar, beloved sister of Tania and Tarek, passed away at home on Saturday, November 9, 2002.
Tamima was born in Ojai on December 16, 1983. She was a graduate of The Thacher School where she discovered her passion for painting. She had planned to pursue a degree in Fine Arts at The Academy of Art College in San Francisco starting in January 2003. This fall, Tamima had been living at home while working at the Ojai Playhouse and at the Primavera Gallery. She was enrolled in a painting course at Santa Barbara City College and painted actively at her home studio.
Tamima was deeply loved by her friends. She touched many lives and she will be dearly missed.
Family services will be private and a Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 17, at The Thacher School Outdoor Chapel at 11:00 a.m.
Lucy Y. "Skip" Komura
Lucy Y. "Skip" Komura, 68, of Ojai, widow of Robert Komura, D.D.S., M.S., died suddenly Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. She was born Nov. 30, 1933 in Lomita, Calif., the third daughter of Frank T. Tanaka and Mary Okamoto Tanaka. She grew up on family farms in Southern California and Arizona. She graduated from Excelsior High School in Norwalk, and continued her education at the University of Southern California, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology. She remained a lifelong fan of Trojan football, and was a member of Sigma Phi Omega sorority.
Mrs. Komura taught kindergarten in public schools in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oxnard and Ventura. In 1966, she and her husband, Bob, moved permanently from Oxnard to Ojai, and two years later, she left kindergarten teaching to raise her own children. She want on to serve as a public member of the Gifted and Talented Education board, as a trustee for the Monica Ros School and as a Girl Scout leader. She was a deacon and a session member at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, and also taught Bible Study Fellowship and Life Design courses in Ventura.
Active in the civic sphere as well, Mrs. Komura served for two years on the Ventura County Grand Jury and, later, as a public member of the Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). She volunteered with the Children's Home Society, chaired the Ojai Tennis Tournament Tea Tent, and was a member of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary.
She belonged to local tennis clubs and traveled to other clubs to play doubles. In addition, she played bridge, read mystery and suspense novels, skied, and traveled widely with her family. After her husband, Bob, died in December 2000, she continued to take sewing and Japanese cooking classes, participated in the fellowship and activities at the Ojai Little House Senior Center, and recently joined the Ojai Valley Woman's Club.
Mrs. Komura is survived by two daughters, Jill, a teacher in Seattle, and Jan, a dentist in Ojai; sisters Betty Shibuya, Lily Bryant, and Peggy Tanaka; brothers Tom, Terry and Frank Tanaka; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 N. Foothill Road in Ojai. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to Little House Senior Center, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024, or Monica Ros School, 783 McNell Road, Ojai, CA 93023.
Arrangements were under the direction of Fukui Mortuary of Los Angeles.
Walter H. Kister
Walter H. Kister, age 80, of Ojai died in his sleep Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002. He was born March 11, 1922 in Merrill, Neb., and lived in Ojai for a year, coming from New Cuyama, where he had lived for 19 years.
Mr. Kister was a truck driver for most of his life and had many interests, including the outdoors and working with horses. He was a scout master and served in the Navy during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Eulalia Kister, of Ojai; sons Walter Ray Kister, of Germany, and David Jay Kister of Joliet, Mont.; daughters Rebecca Starr, Molly Michelle Kister, and Patricia Jean Kister of Billings, Mont.; stepsons Chuck Martinez of Santa Maria, Calif., Vladimir Martinez of Ventura, and Herb Martinez of Stockton; stepdaughter Juliet Flannigan of Oxnard; 24 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Harry Kister of Grants Pass, Ore.,Warren Kister of Tucson, Ariz., Rollan Kister of Douglas, Wyo., and Talfred Kister of Tucson, Ariz; sisters Gladys Dietz of Ventura, and Norvella Hogan of Gardnerville, Nev.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Pearl Kister; brothers Robert and Harley Kister; sister Ruth Kister; and granddaughter Sarah Starr.
Visitation is being held today at 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. today with the Rev. Herb Martinez and Dr. Wilbur Skeels officiating. Interment
will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Delleen R. Enge
Delleen R. Enge, 82, of Ojai, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 at her home surrounded by loved ones after a struggle against cancer. She was born Jan. 24, 1920 in Redlands, Calif., and had been an Ojai resident since 1960.
She received a master's of science degree from the University of Oregon in 1956, and continued her studies in other fields, including psychology and special education.
Mrs. Enge taught children of all ages, and many became lifelong friends. She taught at Nordhoff High School for 17 years.
After retiring, she became owner of Grandma's Cottage, an antique shop on Ojai Avenue, and then became owner of Franciscan Dinner Ware Matching Service. She became an internationally known researcher and lecturer on California pottery and wrote three books on the subject of Franciscan pottery.
Mrs. Enge is survived by her daughters, C. Kathleen Tacchini of Central Point, Ore., and Merrianne Metzger-Baby of Boulder City, Nev.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Carlleen Spencer, and her husband, Glen A. Enge.
Friends are invited to a memorial celebration of her life and a potluck, planned at Camp Comfort on Dec. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. Bring three things: your favorite potluck dish, a "Delleen story" and $3 for parking. A no-host bar and a main course will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to A Worthy Student Memorial Scholarship. Funds to be deposited at Los Padres Bank, 110 S. Ventura St., Ojai, CA 93023.
Maxine Rinaldi
Maxine Rinaldi, 86, an 11-year resident of Ojai, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 at the Ojai Continuing Care Center. She was born Feb. 3, 1916 in Rush County, Ind., and came to California in 1967, at which time she married Disney animator and writer, Joe Rinaldi.
During her lifetime, she was a medical receptionist, both in California and Ohio. Her interests included golf, oil painting, bowling, pool, bingo and cooking.
Mrs. Rinaldi is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Steve Olsen and granddaughter Anna, of Ojai; daughter-in-law Jenny Wantz of Indiana; sister Thelma Swain, and brothers Eugene, George and Fred Gardner, all of Indiana; grandson John McLean and wife Sarah of Castaic; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son, Philip Wantz, husband Joe Rinaldi, and brother Morris Gardner.
Internment will be in Arlington, Ind., with family services. Arrangements are under the direction of McDermott-Crockett Mortuary in Santa Barbara.
Larry David Heitz
Larry David Heitz, 63, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 31, 1939 in Glendive, Mont., and grew up in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was a longtime resident of Ojai.
He attended the University of California at Los Angeles, and then worked as an electrical engineer supporting the Apollo space program.
Mr. Heitz moved his family to Ojai in 1969, and began a new career as a teacher and artist, first at the Ojai Valley School, then at The Thacher School and, most recently, at Monica Ros School. He was an active member of the Ojai community.
His wife, Lily You Heitz, and children, David, Eric and Rebecca Heitz, will hold a memorial gathering Saturday, Nov. 23, at noon at Larry's property in Ojai. For more information, call Joe Zorsky at 646-3285.
