Sandra "Sandy" Jane DeShan
Sandra "Sandy" Jane DeShan, 54, of Ojai, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003 at UCLA Medical Center, following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 27, 1948 in Bell, Calif.
She lived most of her life in the Ojai area, and was a 1966 graduate of Nordhoff High School. She worked as a Realtor. Her interests included animals, interacting with people, fishing and walking on the beach, watching the dolphins.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and April Ramage of Oroville, Calif., and Cory and Leah Ramage of Ojai; sisters Sharon Berzins, Susan Farrell, Sheila Bibby, and Shelly DeShan; brother Ken DeShan; sister-in-law Tina Sheets and her husband, J.R.; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her longtime husband, David Ramage.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to an account for her grandchildren to Susan Farrell, 3250 Pleasant Valley Road, Camarillo, CA 93012.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Margaret Brammer Thomas
Margaret Brammer Thomas, 75, of Ojai, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 at her home after a brief illness. She was born June 1, 1927 in Sharpsburg, Ky., the daughter of French Monroe Brammer and Cora Ellen Burke.
After graduating from Sharpsburg High School in 1944, she attended the Fugazzi Business College in Lexington, Ky. Upon college graduation, she returned to her hometown, where she taught shorthand and typing at Sharpsburg High School. She moved to Los Angeles in 1950 and worked as an administrative assistant for 20 years. She and her late husband, William H. Thomas, moved from Los Angeles to Ojai in 1970. They were married on Feb. 1, 1970 at their new home on the Hermitage Ranch.
Mrs. Thomas was involved in many local activities, including the Ojai Music Festival, the Ojai Tennis Tournament and the Ojai Valley Museum.
She is survived by her son, William French Jackson, of Oxnard.
A memorial service was held Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. A graveside service will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Ky., where she will be interned beside her husband, Bill, who preceded her in death on Feb. 28, 1995.
Her son has requested that any memorial donations be made to the Ojai Valley Museum, 130 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023, Attn: David Mason.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Darthey "Dot" Riggs
Darthey "Dot" Riggs, 77, of Ojai, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital, following a lengthy illness. She was born Feb. 26, 1925 in LaGrange, Ga., and had lived in Ojai for 34 years, coming from Santa Barbara. In 1947, her family moved to California, where she met and married Olen Riggs.
Mrs. Riggs was a seamstress. She was a member of the Optimist Club of Ojai, the Elks Lodge No. 1538-Santa Maria, and a bowler.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Gary Orm, of Oak View, and Kerry and Jack Kirk of Zalma, Mo.; grandchildren Sandra Orm, Tamara Orm, Shawn and Tammy Orm, Joseph and Tammy Franck, John and Jennifer Franck and James Lee Kirk; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Floyd J. Freudenthal
Floyd J. Freudenthal, 90, of Oak View, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003 after a short illness, surrounded by his family. He was born Dec. 12, 1912 in Charlton, Mass.
He married Hazel Eddy on Feb. 23, 1935 at the Greenville Baptist Church in Rochdale, Mass. He moved his family to California in 1952, and worked for Cooper Tracking in the San Fernando Valley for 20 years, retiring in 1973. He spent his retirement in Medford and Klamath Falls, Ore. His interests included traveling, dancing and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Freudenthal moved to Oak View in 1999 to live with their daughter and son-in-law.
He is survived by his sister, Virginia Loranger, of Oxford, Mass.; son and daughter-in-law Floyd and Candy Freudenthal of Medford, Ore.; daughters and sons-in-law Marilyn and Robert Chase of Newhall, Calif., Mary and J.C. McCubbins of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Joyce and Donald Overbaugh of Oak View; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Hazel Freudenthal, and daughter Judith Cook of Boise, Idaho.
The family would like to thank Dr. Fred Fauvre and the staff at Ojai Valley Community Hospital for their care.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 N. Foothill Road, Ojai. Graveside services will follow at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to Ojai Presbyterian Church or Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
Arrangements are under the direction of Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary, Newhall.
LaVona J. Daines
LaVona J. Daines, 79, of Ojai, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2002 in Ojai Valley Community Hospital, following a lengthy illness. She was born Jan. 23, 1923 in Meadow Grove, Neb., and had lived in Ojai for 12 years, coming from Phoenix, Ariz.
Ms. Daines was a homemaker and a member of the Ojai United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her sons, Charles Garbarino, of Anaheim, Calif., Jim Garbarino of Sahuarrita, Ariz., and Michael Daines of Arizona; daughters Jeanne Black of Orange, Calif., Janet Fouch of Green Valley, Ariz., and Patricia Overcash of Hudson, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Private family services will be held.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Betty Jo Strong
Betty Jo Strong, 78, of Ojai, died unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002. She was born March 5, 1924 in Canadian, Texas, to Hal and Pearl Buckner, and moved with her parents to Ojai in 1928. A resident of Ventura County for 74 years, she lived 66 of those years in the Ojai Valley.
She attended Ojai Elementary School and Nordhoff Union High School, graduating cum laude in 1942 with a lifetime membership in the California Scholarship Federation. She was involved in Quill and Scroll, an international honorary society for high school journalists, as well as the Rangerettes, a girls' honorary service group acting as official school hostesses. She placed first in a drama competition sponsored by the Ojai Shakespeare Club, playing the part of Ophelia in "Hamlet." She began playing the piano by ear at age 3 and often invented her own renditions throughout her life. She also played the organ.
As a youngster, she worked at the family business, Buckner's Cleaners, located in the Arcade. The family built their first home (which later became The Herb Garden) on Montgomery Street. While Mrs. Strong's father was instrumental in the planning and building of the Church of Christ in Meiners Oaks, she chose to attend the Ojai Presbyterian Church, where, at the age of 15, she taught Sunday school to preschool children for three years.
Her first "real" outside job was as a cub reporter for Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kilbourne, owners and editors of The Ojai (now the Ojai Valley News). From 1942 to 1943 she worked as a receptionist for Dr. C.G. Grace, the only medical doctor in the valley at the time. For four months in 1943, she studied commercial art at the Los Angeles Art Center, but returned home to work as a private secretary at Port Hueneme.
On June 13, 1944, she became the first female from Ojai to enlist in the military service, in the Air WAC. She was sent to Fort Des Moines, Iowa, for basic training, and was later transferred to the 2619th AAF Base Unit (Bombardier School) in Carlsbad, N.M., where she served as a field locater.
During this time, she met and married Robert E. Mack from Hillsdale, Ind., also stationed at the bombardier school. They would later return to Ojai to raise their family of three children. She joined the Ojai Junior Women's Club and also worked part-time for the Ojai Water Company, located in the Arcade.
In 1954, she married her high school sweetheart, Courtland R. Strong Jr. The family lived in Ventura for seven years. They had three children, and Mrs. Strong was a member of the Ventura Junior Women's League.
Returning to the Ojai Valley, she worked for AARP, the Ojai Valley Youth Employment Service and Grey Gables. Mrs. Strong also joined the Ojai American Legion Post 482, where she acted as post chaplain and finance officer. She marched in one of the Ojai Valley Fourth of July parades with other veterans and also spoke at Memorial Day services held at the Nordhoff Cemetery. The Ojai Valley Museum has included photos of Mrs. Strong in its current exhibit, a tribute to local men and women who served their country during wartime.
Her interests included art and writing. She often wrote letters to the editor and compiled a small booklet of thoughts and poems for her family one Christmas.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ivy Lynne and Stephen Hovley, of Ojai; son John Hal Strong of Washington; son David William Strong and his friend, Mary Ann, of Upper Ojai; daughter Patrice Suzanne Strong of Ojai; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Hal and Pearl Buckner, brothers John and Patrick Buckner, and sons Forest Robert Mack and Richard Elliott Mack.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion Post 482, Fund for Disabled and Needy Veterans of the Ojai Valley, or the Ojai Humane Society.
Private family services will take place at a later date.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
O'Keith Keller
O'Keith Keller, 78, of Ojai, died suddenly Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003 at his home. He was born Sept. 4, 1925 in Goshen, Bingham, Idaho, the 12th child of Heber Theodore Keller and Josephine Nelson, of Mink Creek, Idaho.
He was raised in Idaho Falls before entering the U.S. Navy to serve in World War II, followed by two years of U.S. Air Force service during the Korean War.
Mr. Keller graduated from Utah State University in 1951, majoring in civil engineering. He married LaConna Mae Foster on Sept. 16, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of his married life was spent in Ojai, where he was active in church and community service.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, LaConna Keller, of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Dr. Keith Lincoln and Murlie Elizabeth Keller of Omaha, Neb., and Christopher David and Lori Michelle Keller of Ojai; sister Roma Jensen of Idaho Falls; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was buried in the Whitney Idaho Cemetery Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 at noon.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held today at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 411 San Antonio Drive, Ojai.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Joseph Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.
Donald Roger Fraser
Donald Roger Fraser, 85, of Ojai, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, following a lengthy illness. He was born March 18, 1918 in Ojai, and was a lifetime resident.
Mr. Fraser was a general contractor and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, serving in Saipan. He was a member of the Ojai Architectural Board and attended the First Baptist Church of Ojai.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Josephine J. Fraser of Ojai; daughters and sons-in-law Donna and Russell Miller of Hanford, Calif., and Lu Ann and Jim Campbell of Oak View, Calif.; grandchildren Robin, Roger, Michael, Stacey, Krystal, Tiffany; and four great-grandchildren.
Private family services will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Ojai Affiliate.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
William "Bill" W. Smith
William "Bill" W. Smith, 81, of Ojai, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2004. He was born Jan. 24, 1922 in Hollywood, Calif., to Merle and Florence Smith.
He made his home in San Pedro, Calif., where he attended local schools and graduated from San Pedro High School in 1940. He continued his education at the University of Southern California and was an active alumnus.
Mr. Smith was called into service in 1942 and served as a first class radar technician with the Navy until late 1945. He then returned to USC to complete his college education. Upon graduation, he found employment with Northrop Aircraft, where he worked and traveled extensively.
He married Jessie Ann Ashworth Melville on Dec. 17, 1949.
During the Korean War, Mr. Smith was called back into active duty, where he served with the Submarine Corps. Upon his return, he and his wife lived on Wycliff Street in San Pedro. Throughout the years, the Smith family also lived in Fullerton, Calif., Weston, Mass., and Paris, France. They eventually returned to the San Pedro area in the mid-1960s and settled in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Jessie, and his three children, Tim, Gail and Dawn.
Mr. Smith was also a longtime member of the San Pedro Elks Club #966, where a memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m., followed by a reception to honor and celebrate his life. All friends and relatives are invited to attend.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Guido S. Piesco
Guido S. Piesco, 76, of Ojai, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 at Acacias Care Center in Ojai. He was born June 4, 1926 in Westfield, N.J., to Nicholas and Alma Piesco. He attended schools in New Jersey and joined the U.S. Navy in Sampson, N.Y.
Mr. Piesco taught elementary school in Montclair, N.J. for nine years. He married Mary Jean Ogle in 1950 and came to the Ojai Valley in 1969. He was a teacher in Ojai until 1984.
His interests included nature hikes, cooking and music. He played jazz piano and often entertained at the Sand Dollar Restaurant (now the Golden Moon Chinese Restaurant).
He is survived by sons Ronnie D. Piesco of Santa Monica, Calif., and Barry B. Piesco of Ojai; brothers and sisters-in-law Boris Ubaldo and Ruth Piesco of Brooksville, Fla., and Alfred and Jackie Piesco of Westfield, N.J. ; sister and brother-in-law Olga and Edward Powell of Camarillo; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held today from 2 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan.16, at Clausen Funeral Home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Edwin P. Scanlan
Edwin P. Scanlan, 80, of Ojai, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, following a stroke. He was born Jan. 14, 1922 in New York City to Stephen and Mary Scanlan.
For more than 25 years, Mr. Scanlan was a member of the Augustinian Religious Community and served in parishes in San Diego, Hollywood, Philadelphia, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas in Ojai. Four of those years, he was an Army chaplain, ministering to troops in Korea.
After leaving the religious community, Mr. Scanlan was a counselor with the Los Angeles Public School District, working in some of the most demanding areas of the city.
Upon retirement, he moved to Ojai, where he was active in a number of religious and community programs, including the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Ojai Valley Library, and local music and dramatic productions. He was instrumental in establishing the homeless shelter and Hope House.
In 2001, Mr. Scanlan received, through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, papal recognition, the Benemerenti Award, for many years of service to the church and the community.
In his final months, he resided at St. Joseph Health and Retirement Center in Ojai.
He is survived by his nephews, Mark, Kevin and Brian. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Scanlan.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai. Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Arrangements were under the direction of Callanan Mortuary, Los Angeles.
Lawrence "Larry" Sommer
Lawrence "Larry" Sommer, 94, of Ojai, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002 at St. Joseph's Health and Retirement Center, following a lengthy illness. He was born in 1909 in Austria.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked in forest maintenance with the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s, and was later employed by the John Hancock Insurance Company.
Mr. Sommer and his wife, Lillian, moved to Ojai in 1971, and he was an active member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lillian Sommer, of Ojai; son Lawrence Sommer of Oregon; granddaughter Sylvia Elliott of Canada; great-grandchildren Adam and Ashley; three sisters; and two brothers.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at 3:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 409 Topa Topa Drive, Ojai, with the Rev. Coryl Lassen officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
Carl Hatfield Jr.
Carl Hatfield Jr., 68, of Palm Desert, Calif., died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003. He was born March 10, 1934 in Omaha, Neb., to Carl Hatfield Sr. and Signa Hatfield.
The family moved to Lakewood, Calif., in 1942, and then moved to Anaheim in 1947, where they opened a dry cleaning business, Hatfield Cleaners. Carl and his two brothers, Robert Lee and John Richard, all graduated from Anaheim Union High School, where Carl was named an All-American baseball player. He was one of the first employees when Disneyland opened, and served as a captain for the Jungle Boat Ride.
Mr. Hatfield entered the Marine Corps Reserve in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1964.
In 1959, he received his bachelor of arts degree in public administration from California State University-Long Beach. This precipitated his long career in city government. In 1960, he married Jeanne Bauman, also a resident of Anaheim.
In 1963, Mr. Hatfield left city government and opened his own public relations firm, which included work on some projects for his brother, Bobby Hatfield, who partners with Bill Medley to form The Righteous Brothers, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2001 (coincidentally, Carl's birthday).
Mr. Hatfield co-founded, co-published and served as editor of Orange County Magazine from 1965 to 1967.
He moved his family to Sandy, Ore., in 1967 and did public relations work for the Agri-Business Council until Sandy advertised for a city manager. On Jan. 1, 1973, he became Sandy's first city manager. The Hatfield family moved to Oakdale, Calif., on Feb. 16, 1976, where he served as the city administrator.
In March of 1979, the Hatfields moved to Ojai, where Mr. Hatfield served as Ojai's city manager until 1985. His wife, Jeanne, worked at The Oaks at Ojai, and later at The Palms at Palm Springs. He then served as city manager of Rancho Mirage from March of 1985 until October 1990.
Shortly after Mr. Hatfield left Rancho Mirage, he began showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and was diagnosed with the disease in February of 1992.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jeanne Ann Hatfield, of Palm Desert; son and daughter-in-law Jay Richard and Sheila Hatfield of San Diego; son Clayton Lee Hatfield of Palm Desert; brother Bobby Hatfield of Newport Beach; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother, John Richard Hatfield.
Memorial services will be held Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. at Desert Springs Church in Palm Desert. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be sent to the Alzheimer's Association of the Desert, and encourages those interested to participate in the Memory Walk for Alzheimer's on Feb. 8.
Arrangements are under the direction of Palm Springs Mortuary.
Rev. Thomas M. Mahoney
Rev. Thomas Martin Mahoney of the Order of St. Augustine, age 85, of Villanova, Pa., died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003. He was born Dec. 11, 1917 in Washington, D.C.
After graduating from Villanova College in 1939, he joined the Augustinians at the novitiate in New Hamburg, N.Y., and was ordained in May 1945. He served in various ministries in the Villanova Province, including fulfilling the position of vice president of financial affairs at Villanova University.
Father Mahoney came to Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai, in 1979, where he served for 14 years in various roles, including teacher, director of the ESL Program, and business and plant manager. In his time at Villanova Preparatory, he was known for his dedication to teaching and the students, especially the resident international students. He was the first recipient of the Ernie Wildcat Award, which is awarded by the school annually to someone who has shown outstanding support of student activities and exemplifies the Villanova ideals of love, truth and community.
He is survived by four nieces, Ann Clark, Sue Hawthorne, Jackie Calabrese and Mary Alice Lynch. His brother, Andrew, died on the same day, Jan. 5, 2003.
A funeral liturgy was held Jan. 13 at St. Thomas Church at Villanova University in Villanova, Pa. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa., in the Augustinian section.
Donations may be made in memory of Father Mahoney to Villanova Preparatory School for the new resident student recreation hall.
Steven Walt Ruffing
Steven Walt Ruffing, 39, of Ojai, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 at his residence. He was born June 7, 1963 in Hollywood, Calif., and had been a resident of Ojai for 10 years.
Mr. Ruffing worked in the motion picture industry as a Local 80 grip and an artist. His interests included writing, fishing, motorcycle riding, making furniture and photography.
He is survived by his parents, John and Anne Ruffing of San Clemente; brother Mike Ruffing of Burbank; and sister Christine Ruffing of Sherman Oaks.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.
