Ursula Ann Tubutis Coffin
Ursula Ann Tubutis Coffin, 95, died Wednesday, March 19, 2003 at her home in Upper Ojai. She was born to immigrant Lithuanian parents Nov. 7, 1907 in Chicago, Ill., the fifth child of eight. She graduated as a registered nurse from Grant Hospital in 1928.
After her marriage to Frederick G. Coffin in 1929, she lived a nomadic lifestyle while raising three children. Her husband, a civil engineer and master mariner, worked in the merchant marines, U.S. Navy and for every major oil company in the Middle East.
Mrs. Coffin embraced the principles of Religious Science.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary Bryan of Upper Ojai, and Elizabeth Coffin of Huntington Beach; son-in-law Marvin Bryan and grandson Joseph F. Bryan of Upper Ojai; nephews Conrad Mueller of Atlantic Beach, Fla., and Bernard Dikselis of Florida; and nieces Elizabeth Jane Barnes of Fayetteville, Ga., and Frances Tubutis of Orlando, Fla.
She was preceded in death by husband Frederick Coffin in 1969 and son Charles Frederick Coffin in 1965.
Visitation was held Sunday, March 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Services and interment
will be held Tuesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Clausen Funeral Home of Ojai is assisting with the arrangements.
Stanley Koval
Stanley Koval, 91, of Ojai, died Saturday, March 15, 2003, after a lengthy illness. He was born Nov. 26, 1911 in New York City, N.Y.
During his career he worked as a construction supervisor on large skyscrapers and public buildings on the East Coast and in Bermuda.
His interests included numerous environmental and animal causes and classical music, especially Chopin. He was an active volunteer in Ojai's RSVP organization. He volunteered as a Meals on Wheels driver for more than 20 years and served on the Security Patrol for more than 12 years. Mr. Koval taught English as a Second Language for the Laubach reading program, and was a charter member of the Polish National Alliance and the Kosciuszko Foundation for Polish Culture. He was also an active member of the Ojai Valley Democratic Club and the Ojai Valley Retired Professional and Business Men's Club.
He is survived by his wife, Alice White Koval, of Ojai; stepchildren Judith Pugh of Ojai, and Gerald White of Redondo Beach; sister-in-law Grace a'Becket of Bar Harbor, Maine; brother-in-law Henry Andrews (spouse Carol) of New Jersey; nephew Eugene Andrews of New York City; and several cousins in the United States and in Poland.
The family wishes to thank the physicians, nurses and staff of Ojai Valley Community Hospital, St. Joseph's Skilled Nursing Facility and the hospice nurses from Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association.
It was Mr. Koval's wish that no service be held. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.
Patrick C. Smith
Patrick C. Smith, 90, of Ojai, died Sunday, March 23, 2003 at his home, following a brief illness. He was born Nov. 25, 1912 in Hazlehurst, Ga., and had lived in Ojai for 20 years.
Mr. Smith was a fire captain for the Los Angeles Fire Department for 30 years and served in the U.S. Army in France during World War II. He was a longtime Nordhoff High School football fan. His interests included bird watching, and he was a master carpenter and craftsman.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sylvia Smith, of Ojai; daughter Pam Smith of New Mexico; daughter and son-in-law Marilyn and Jack Smith; two granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Jeff Holland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave. #101, Ventura, CA 93003, or to Help of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Belle Lillian Gabrielsen
Belle Lillian Gabrielsen, 98, of Ojai, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003. She was born Sept. 18, 1904 in Minnesota, and has lived in Southern California since 1933. She was a resident of Whispering Oaks in Ojai.
Mrs. Gabrielsen is survived by two sons, Chester Jones and Bruce Gabrielsen; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services are being held today at 3 p.m. at the Wesleyan Church of the Ojai Valley.
Cremation will be done by the Neptune Society.
Carole Marie Martinsen Collins
Carole Marie Martinsen Collins, 70, of Ojai, died Saturday, March 22, 2003, at home with her five children at her side. She was born Oct. 12, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to the Ojai Valley 20 years ago.
Mrs. Collins was an artist and earned her living as an accountant.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Christine and Thomas Ringo of Northville, Mich., Lisa and Butch Lee of Santa Ana, Calif., and Laura and David Biedebach of Franklin, Tenn.; son and daughter-in-law Patrick and Beth Collins of Ventura, Calif.; son Thomas Collins of Ojai, Calif.; sister Genevieve White of Costa Mesa, Calif.; and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at Ojai Valley Community Church, 907 El Centro St., Ojai.
Memorial contributions may be made to Help of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Zella Harmonson Balch
Zella Harmonson Balch, 88, of Ojai, died Saturday, March 29, 2003. She was born May 13, 1914 in Archer County, Texas. She had lived in Ojai at Krotona Institute since 1984.
Mrs. Balch was manager of the Krotona Quest Book Store at the institute here in Ojai. She also lived at the Theosophical Headquarters of the American Section in Wheaton, Ill., for several years. In 1975, she went to Adyar, India, for one year, and later again for one year to work at the international center of the Theosophical Society.
She is survived by her son, Robert W. Balch, of Visalia, Calif.; daughter Joyce McDavid, of San Antonio, Texas; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceeded in death by her husband, Tony Balch, in 1970.
A requeim mass is being held today at 10 a.m. at the Liberal Catholic Church of Our Lady of All Angels, 1502 E. Ojai Ave. A reception follows the mass. An informal memorial service will be held at the library/main hall at Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Ojai on Thursday, April 3, at 3 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDermott-Crockett Mortuary in Santa Barbara.
Madeleine Nichols Watkins
Madeleine Nichols Watkins, 90, of Ojai, died Tuesday, March 25, 2003. She was born Dec. 28, 1912 in Boston, Mass.
She attended Sarah Lawrence College in Chappaqua, N.Y., and graduated from Crafton College in Yucaipa, Calif., in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in medical terminology. She had a career as a real estate broker in Southern California, and also worked as an editor. Her interests included reading.
Mrs. Watkins moved to Ojai in 1998, and attended Ojai Presbyterian Church. She was also a senior volunteer at Little House.
Mrs. Watkins is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 N. Foothill Road, Ojai.
Jean Herrington
Jean Herrington, 85, of Ojai, died Thursday, April 3, 2003 in Ventura. She was born Feb. 7, 1918 in The Dalles, Ore., and lived in Ojai for 18 years, coming from Santa Ana.
Mrs. Herrington had been a secretary. She was a member of The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Ojai.
She is survived by her husband of 18 years, Harvey Herrington, of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Linda and Hal Lyons of Rogue River, Ore.; daughter Becky Daniels of Monrovia, Calif.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and godson Douglas Billings.
Visitation was held April 7 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Services were held April 8 at 2 p.m. at The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. Private interment
will be at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Carmen E. Andress
Carmen E. Andress, 80, of Oak View, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 in Ojai, after a short illness. She was born July 3, 1922 in El Paso, Texas, and lived in Oak View for 30 years.
Mrs. Andress' interests included her home and yard, crossword puzzles, cats and other pets.
She is survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Jim Marcotte of Paso Robles, and Mary Lou and Frank Bacino of Glendale; sister Aurora Kurek of Roseville; brother and sister-in-law Rudy and Sara Garcia of Roseville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Orville T. Andress, in 1992.
At her request, there will be no formal services. Her ashes will be scattered at sea.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
David Greene
David Greene, 82, of Ojai, died Monday, April 7, 2003, at his home as a result of pancreatic cancer. He was born Feb. 22, 1921 in Manchester, England.
He was a four-time Emmy-winning British director, whose work in film and television spanned a half-century and included more than 60 productions.
Greene began his career and trained as an actor in England. He performed with Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh in the New York production of "Antony and Cleopatra." Greene soon moved to Canada and became a TV director for the CBC. He began directing episodes of "Playhouse 90" for American television in the 1950s, and in the mid-1960s directed his first feature production, a thriller, "The Shuttered Room" (1967).
Greene returned to America, and television, in the 1970s, after winning his first Emmy for "The People Next Door" (1970). Following the film adaptation of the musical,"Godspell" (1973), he began a string of successes that included the works for which he is best known. After the popular "Count of Monte Cristo" (1975), he directed "Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976), "Roots" (1977), and "Friendly Fire" (1979). These films earned him three of his four Emmys. He continued directing through the 1990s, winning his fifth Emmy nomination for the mini-series, "Fatal Vision" (1984).
Throughout his career Greene worked with a number of talented and respected actors, from Nick Nolte and Timothy Hutton whose careers he helped begin, to film icons such as Bette Davis and Sidney Poitier.
His interests included music, which he incorporated into his work and daily life, peace advocacy, nature and the universe. Greene was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan.
He is survived by his daughter, Lindy Treasurer, his three sons, Nic Greene, Laurence Donohue-Greene and Linsel Greene, and wife Kelly Gallaher-Greene.
Leon Earl Hembree
Leon Earl Hembree, 78, longtime Oak View resident and recently of Albuquerque, N.M., died Monday, March 31, 2003, after a lengthy illness.
He was born Sept. 20, 1924 in Farris, Okla., and had been a Ventura County resident since the age of 9, living in Ventura for several years and then in Oak View.
Mr. Hembree was a general contractor, owner of Hembree Construction, for more than 40 years, building and remodeling many homes throughout Ventura County, including the Ventura Baptist Church where he was a member for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lois, of Albuquerque, N.M.; daughter Patsy Tatlock of Greenacres, Wa.; stepdaughter and son-in-law Sue and Dick Sutton of Angel Fire, N.M.; stepdaughter Dale O'Donnell of Paradise, Calif.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda Murphy, of Houston, Texas.
Mr. Hembree was a member of Ventura Missionary Church until moving to Albuquerque.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice In-Patient Unit, 8300 Constitution N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87110.
Angela V. (Pfeffer) Humphrey
Angela V. (Pfeffer) Humphrey, 102, died Thursday, April 3, 2003 at the Idaho County Nursing Home in Grangeville, Idaho. She was born March 20, 1901 in York, Neb.
She was married to Charles Malvern "C.M." Humphrey. They moved to Ojai in 1953 from Geneva, Neb. C.M. (who passed away in April 1974) was co-owner of Culligan Soft Water for several years.
Mrs. Humphrey was a member of the Methodist Church and the P.E.O. Sisterhood and had many friends in Ojai. In 1987 she moved to Fresno, Calif. to live with her daughter and they later moved to Grangeville, Idaho.
She is survived by her two daughters, Florence Bosteter and Marian Davidson; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Private family services were held and internment is at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park in Gilroy, Calif.
Kevin Michael Ruskin Fillo
Kevin Michael Ruskin Fillo, 2, of Oak View, died Tuesday, April 8, 2003 at Cottage Children's Hospital in Santa Barbara, after a four-and-a-half day struggle following an accidental drowning. He was born March 7, 2001 in Thousand Oaks.
He is survived by his parents, Heidi and Kevin Fillo; brothers Jason, A.J. and Peter George; maternal great-grandmother; grandparents; aunts; uncles; and cousins.
The family sends thanks to the people on six continents who prayed for their boy. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that memorial donations be made to The Children's Miracle Network, c/o Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 689, Santa Barbara, CA 93102-0689 or by calling Cottage Children's Services at 569-7226.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, 757 E. Main St., Ventura. A funeral Mass will be held Monday, April 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 185 St. Thomas Drive, Ojai.
