Margaret Doran
Margaret Doran, 100, of Ojai, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003 of natural causes. She was born Aug. 13, 1902 in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to California in 1964.
She was a parishioner at St. Joan of Ark in West Los Angeles until 1990, before moving to Ojai, where she attended St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
Mrs. Doran is survived by her sons, John, Edward and Alex; daughters Mary and Betty; sons-in-law Robert Lewis and Tony Cunningham; daughter-in-law Maria; 25 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Doran.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Continuing Care Center for their kindness and attention.
Friends may call today from 4 to 7 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.
Funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, Aug. 14, at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai, with Father Patrick Keane, O.S.A., officiating. Interment
will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Helen Leighton
Helen Leighton, 86, of Ventura, died in her sleep Friday, Aug. 8, 2003, surrounded by her husband and family members. She was born Aug. 5, 1917 in Nebraska. She married Eddie Leighton on Feb. 14, 1969 in Ventura.
Mrs. Leighton was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1679 Ladies Auxiliary, the Ojai Valley Grange, and the American Legion Auxiliary. Her interests included camping, fishing, flower gardening and garage sales.
She is survived by her husband, Eddie Leighton, of Ventura; children Carl and Rollyce Nichols of Veneta, Ore., Louise and Joe Ellenberg of Kamian, Idaho, and Larry and Sally Nichols of Palmdale; sisters Fern Collins of Santa Paula, and Gladys Bell of Nebraska; brother Merlin Kieborz of Phoenix, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
When Helen and Eddie married, they combined families. Mrs. Leighton is also survived by the following stepchildren: Frank and Barbara Saragosa of Rosarito Beach, Mexico, Tom and Gladys Saragosa of North Dakota, Richard and Mary Zaragoza of Ventura, Dottie Leighton Goldman of Oxnard, Eddie and Emily Leighton of Ventura, Bill Leighton of Texas, Stan and Rita Leighton of Santa Clarita, and Kenny and Brenda Leighton of Texas; 29 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Leighton was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Lois Kieborz, of Ventura; brothers Amos Kieborz of Texas, and Orvin Kieborz of Nebraska; sister Leona Harris of Minnesota; and grandsons David Nichols of Palmdale, Tommy Saragosa of Minnesota, and Steven Saragosa of Ventura.
A memorial service is being held today at 10 a.m. at the Joseph Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura. A reception in her honor will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 3801 Market St., Ventura, immediately following the service.
Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.
Dr. David R. M. Harvey
Dr. David R.M. Harvey, 81, of Ojai, died Thursday, July 21, 2003. He was born Jan. 9, 1922 in Oklahoma, and was a retired physician.
Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula.
Jeanne Dorothy Wood
Jeanne Dorothy Wood, of Ojai, went to be with God on Monday, August 4, 2003. She was a 27-year resident of the Ojai Valley. She was born on May 11, 1934 in East Los Angeles.
Mrs. Wood was a member of the Church of the Living Christ in Meiners Oaks, where she helped teach children's church. She spent most of her time helping and caring for elderly people. She will be missed by her family and many friends.
There will be a private family service at home.
Harold Richmond Rice
Harold Richmond Rice, 92, died in his sleep Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003 in Grove, Okla. He was born Oct. 1, 1910 in Bentonville, Ark., to Sidney and Maude Rice.
He was married to Hattie Evans on Jan. 5, 1935 in Jay, Okla., and came to California shortly after their marriage. They resided in Ojai from 1947 to 1993.
After Hattie's death in 1993, Mr. Rice married Claudene Fullerton of Noel, Mo., and they resided in both Missouri and later in Oklahoma.
Mr. Rice attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He was a member of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 484 for 60 years, as well as being an officer. He also served an apprenticeship instructor at Ventura College for several years. Mr. Rice was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for 67 years. His interests included off-road motorcycling, RV traveling and dancing.
He is survived by his wife, Claudene Rice, of Grove, Okla.; son and daughter-in-law Sidney and Jane Rice of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Marcia and Jim Hall of Ojai; brothers Rex Rice of Ellensburg, Wash., and Dale Rice of Bentonville, Ark.; sister Hazel Bright of Vaughn, Ark.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Mary Lou Locklier, Joyce Hawthorne, Patty Peacher and Eddie Peacher.
Mr. Rice was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Hattie Rice; his sister, Ruby Sims; and his brother, Dane Rice.
Services will be held Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Interment
will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Sara McRoberts Rowlson
Sara McRoberts Rowlson, 98, of Ojai, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2003. She was born July 6, 1905 in St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from Washington University in 1926.
She married Robert C. Rowlson Jr. in 1928 and they lived in Michigan for 30 years. Mrs. Rowlson taught third grade for the Rochester School District for 17 years. The Rowlsons retired and moved to Ojai in 1974. Mrs. Rowlson was active in the Ojai Valley Garden Club and was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist.
She is survived by her son, Thomas V. Rowlson, of Paris, France; daughter Ellen J. Rowlson-Hall of Lynchburg, Va.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Robert Clark Rowlson Jr., in 1983, and her daughter, Ann R. Myhre, in 1995.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Jack Lucas Robertson
Jack Lucas Robertson, 81, of Ojai, died in his sleep Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003. He was born March 18, 1922 in Fremont, Neb., and his itinerant childhood took him to Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
After graduating from high school in Laramie, he joined the National Guard. He moved to Los Angeles in 1940 to work in the aircraft industry, and in 1942 joined the Navy for pilot training.
After World War II, he worked as a marine engineer, and in 1949 married Carmen Breazale Johnson, an actress. In 1953, they moved their family to Ventura, and in 1961 they moved to Ojai. They raised their five children on East Matilija Street and, apart from a year and a half spent in Las Vegas in 1964 and 1965, that was their home for more than 40 years.
Mr. Robertson worked in the oil fields from 1953 to 1969. For the remainder of his life, he worked as a carpenter, building boats, houses and furniture until his retirement, but remaining active in his workshop until the last few years.
Mr. Robertson is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sydney and George Pratt; sons and daughters-in-laws Cullen and Karen Robertson of Ojai, Winslow and Anna Robertson of Palisade, Colo., Drew and Kate Robertson of Corvallis, Ore., and Nick and Norma Robertson of Arlington, Va.; one brother; four sisters; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Carmen Johnson, in 2000.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Help of Ojai or the Ojai Center for the Arts.
Family and friends will gather for a memorial service in September; the date is still to be determined.
Leon Riggs
Leon Riggs, 65, of Ojai, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003. He was born Dec. 11, 1938 in Kansas City, Mo., and had lived in Ojai for 17 years.
Mr. Riggs worked in graphic composition for the Los Angeles Times for 30 years. He retired in July 1987.
He is survived by his wife, Lauwrina Riggs, of Ojai; mother Georgia; brother John; sister Jeannie; sons Michael, David and Darren; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at his residence Sunday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Neptune Society.
Winifred Mary Dennis
Winifred Mary Dennis, known as "Winnie" to friends and family, passed away on the morning of Sunday, August 24, 2003, after living a full life of 89 years.
Born Winifred Mary Soden on May 6, 1914 in Chicago, she was raised by relatives after the early deaths of both parents, and attended various boarding schools in the Midwest, as well as business school in Chicago.
Winnie met and married Branton Dennis. They had two sons, Tim and Bob, and moved to California. They eventually settled in Pomona, where they lived for many years. Together they participated in various community groups and events. Winnie worked at General Dynamics while Brant had his own business, the Dennis Home Show. They attended the Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Claremont.
After the passing of her husband and two brothers, Winnie moved to Ojai three years ago to live with her son Bob and family. During the last six months of her life, she lived in the Mountain Vista Manor, also in Ojai.
Friends and family will best remember Winnie for her delightful sense of humor. She gave and received strength through her many friendships, and her unique way of listening and providing emotional support touched many throughout her life.
Winnie is survived by her son Tim Dennis and his wife Judy of Upland; her son Robert Dennis, his wife Amy, and their two children Jessie and James Dennis, of Ojai; her in-laws Robert and Norma Griffith of Ojai; and her many friends.
Winnie's family would like to thank Dr. Jim Halverson and Ms. Megan Rodda and the staff at Mountain Vista for their loving and excellent care in her final days.
Services will be handled by Todd Memorial Chapel of Pomona.
Noel Benjamin Girard Jr.
Noel Benjamin Girard Jr., 41, of Kingman, Ariz., died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2003 after a brief illness. He was born Oct. 14, 1961 in Anaheim, Calif., to Noel B. Girard Sr. and Carolyn Margaret McNulty.
He moved to Ojai in 1972 and attended Matilija Junior High School and graduated from Nordhoff High School with the class of 1979. He was quarterback for the NHS varsity football team, which went on to the CIF finals that year. After graduation he began working in the construction field, where he continued for 25 years.
He is survived by his sons, Jason (Meador) Girard and Kyle (Meador) Girard, both of Bakersfield, Calif., and Dylan Girard of Marysville, Calif.; his parents, Noel Girard Sr. of Lake Havasu, Ariz., and Carolyn McNulty of Sutter Creek, Calif.; sister Sherrie Swearingen of Marianna, Fla.; brother Steven Girard of Reno, Nev.; grandmother Elizabeth Soden; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Girard was preceded in death by his grandfather Alvarez Girard and maternal grandparents George and Virginia McNulty.
A viewing was held Thursday, Aug. 28, and funeral services are being held today at 1 p.m. at Berge-Pappas-Smith Chapel of the Angels in Fremont, Calif.
Herman Iles
Herman Iles, 51, of Sour Lake, Texas, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 of a heart attack. Memorial services were held in Beaumont, Texas, on Aug. 11, 2003 at Calder Baptist Church, where he was a member.
A former Ventura County resident of Somis and Ojai, Mr. Iles spent 10 years in California learning the building trade. At one point, he handled maintenance for The Thacher School. With his wife and family, he was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Ojai in 1995 and 1996 before moving to Texas. Mr. Iles owned a home construction company in the Beaumont area and was a member of the National Homebuilders Association.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbi Gail Iles, son Herman Reginald "Reggi" Iles, and daughter Kerri Nickole Iles, all of Sour Lake; his parents, Herman and Mary Iles of Beaumont; brothers Blanchard Frank Iles of Beaumont, and John Stuart Iles of Elgin; sister and brother-in-law Mary Carolyn and Guido Hanak of Beaumont; and sister Elizabeth Ann Blakeley of San Antonio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
