Paul Anthony Beckley
Paul Anthony Beckley, 90, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003 in Ojai of natural causes. He was born March 28, 1913 in Sterling, Ill. He had lived in Ventura County for 70 years.
Mr. Beckley's interests included motorcycle riding and gardening.
He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Bevilacqua, of Las Vegas, Nev.; son Francis J. Beckley of Marietta, Ga.; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby-Marie Beckley, in 1996.
Burial was at 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13, 2003, at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Marjorie Kilpatrick
Marjorie Kilpatrick, 92, of Ojai, died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003. She was born Dec. 31, 1910 in Los Angeles.
She graduated from Los Angeles High School and married John English in the 1940s. They had one daughter, Joan. They moved to Ojai in 1954 and built their home.
She was a founding member of the Ventura Symphony, which has evolved into the New West Symphony, and remained a member until her death.
Her husband of more than 40 years, John English, died in 1981.
In 1985, she married Marshall Kilpatrick, and they traveled to many foreign lands and throughout North America, Canada and Mexico.
Mrs. Kilpatrick is survived by her husband of 18 years, Marshall Kilpatrick, of Ojai; and daughter and son-in-law Joan and Russell Thompson, also of Ojai.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either the Alzheimer's Association or the Doris Day Animal League.
Mary Lou Smith
Mary Lou Smith, 87, of Oak View, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003 at Glenwood Care Center, following a lingering illness due to a hip injury. She was born Aug. 12, 1916 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and had been an Ojai Valley resident for 50 years, living in Ventura County for 55 years, coming from Milwaukee, Wis.
Mrs. Smith was a secretary for the Ventura Unified School District. She was a member of the Oak View Women's Club, past president of the Parent Teachers Association, and volunteered as a "pink lady" at Community Memorial Hospital.
She is survived by Rob S. Smith of Pahrump, Nev., Dennis and Nancy Clark of Ventura, Calif., and Celia S. Rabinowitz of Davis, Calif.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Julia Beatriz Ramos
Julia Beatriz Ramos, 27, of Ventura, died unexpectedly Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003 in Ventura. She was born on July 25, 1976 in Guatemala City, and lived in Ventura County for 10 years.
She worked as a nurse's assistant and her interests included spending time with her family and dancing.
She is survived by three children; her parents, Juan and Beatriz Ramos, of Ojai; brothers Jose and Edgar Ramos of Ojai; and grandmother Julia Ramos, also of Ojai.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 23 and 24, 2003 from 1 to 8 p.m. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003 at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ojai, with Father Michael McFadden, O.S.A. officiating. Interment
at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Julia Beatriz Ramos Memorial Fund will be at Ojai Valley Bank.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
James D. Loebl
Former Ojai mayor and Ventura lawyer James D. Loebl, 76, died of cancer October 19, 2003 at his Ojai home. Born July 4, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, Jim graduated from Princeton Univrsity and Stanford Law School. His lifelong interest in politics took him to Sacramento to work in the administration of former Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown. He ran for Congress in 1974 in a district covering Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. He worked tirelessly in public service more of his adult life, serving on the Ojai City Council from 1968 to 1996, including four terms as mayor. His vision and leadership were instrumental in preserving Ojai's unique character.
Jim's extensive civic involvement included 10 years on the board of the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation, raising funds for the county's public hospital, numerous terms on regional government agencies, and a term as president of the Ventura County Bar Association. In 1996, Jim received the Ben E. Nordman Public Service Award.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dorothy Hirsch Loebl, daughter Ellen, son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Laura, daughter Susan and son-in-law Chris Grasso, and four grandchildren, as well as his sister, Nancy Zuraw, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial is private. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family would welcome contributions to the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation at 250 Citrus Lane, Oxnard, CA 93036, the Ventura County Community Foundation at 1317 Del Norte Road, Camarillo, CA 93010, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Piarre L. Reed
Lifelong Ventura County resident, Piarre L. Reed, 43, of Ojai, died suddenly Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 in Ojai. He was born Jan. 8, 1960 in Ventura.
Mr. Reed was the director of engineering for the Ojai Valley Community Hospital for 11 years. He then began his own business, Ojai Aire, which he owned and operated for the past 10 years, as well as being a consultant to the hospital.
He is survived by his sons, Piarre L. Reed and Preston L. Reed of Oxnard; his lifelong friend, Stacie L. Reed, of Oxnard; parents Bud and Frances Reed of Ventura; brothers and sisters-in-law Allen and Jackie Reed of Ventura, and Darren and Gloria Reed of Harrodsburg, Ky.; brother Robert Reed of Ventura; sister Vickie Householder of Ventura; three nieces and three nephews.
Services will be held today at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 196 N. Ashwood Ave., Ventura, with Pastors David Hall and Jon Christenson officiating.
Contributions may be made in his memory to any organization that protects the welfare of animals and birds.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.
Bettee Louise Thomas
Bettee Louise Thomas, 77, of Ojai, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003. She was born May 31, 1926 in Santa Monica, Calif., to Anis and Helen Meek. She had been a resident of Ojai for 44 years.
Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 57 years, Raymond Thomas, of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Ron and Jackie Thomas of Oregon; daughters Pamela Laws of Ventura, and Linda Austin of Fresno; daughters and sons-in-law Susan and Matthew Bowers of Ojai, and Sheryl and Jim Campbell of Thousand Oaks; brother and sister-in-law Philip and Arlene Meek of Escondido; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her mother, sister Lorelei Wallis, and son John Thomas.
There will be a private family memorial celebration of her life. Her ashes will be scattered at sea with her mother and son.
May Louvain Stokes
May Louvain Stokes, 89, of Oak View, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003 in Ojai of natural causes. She was born Aug. 25, 1914 in Trimsaran, Wales, Great Britain. She lived in the Ojai Valley for 14 years, coming from Ventura where she had lived with her husband since 1959.
Mrs. Stokes was a homemaker and an artist with a natural talent. She was a member of the New Hope Christian Center and in Great Britain she belonged to the VHF, assisting doctors with medical care and providing medical provisions to children's clinics.
She is survived by her daughter, Hilary Y. Gagnon of Oak View; stepdaughter Cleo Friddle and husband Carl of Santa Paula; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Lowel Stokes, in 1983.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home today from 2 to 8 p.m. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 at the New Hope Christian Center, 590 Old Ventura Ave., Oak View, with Pastors Tom and Patty Morris officiating. Interment
will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Edward James Callender
Edward James Callender, 96, of Ojai, died at his home Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003. He was born April 8, 1907 in Effingham, Ill., and raised in Indianapolis, Ind. A star athlete in high school, he lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball, was selected to the all-state basketball team in 1926, and attended DePauw University.
Mr. Callender was a dancer and musician, performing with ballet companies and touring the Midwest with his own band.
In 1937 he moved to California and settled in Ventura where, in 1939, he married Juanita Rodriguez, a member of a pioneer Ventura County family. He worked in the furniture business in Oxnard and played in dance bands around the county. During World War II he served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific.
The Callenders moved to Ojai in 1950 where he and his wife established a furniture business, Callender's Interiors.
Mr. Callender had a lifelong interest in helping others. He organized English classes for Mexican workers, providing them with materials and transportation to school. He was a Jaycee Man of the Year in 1967, a founding member of Help of Ojai, member of the Ojai Planning Commission, chairman of the Ojai School Attendance Review Board, and a recipient of Rotary and Optimist Club awards. He was instrumental in the development of Soule Park Golf Course and mentored young golfers, coaching golf at Villanova until he was 80 years old. The Sundowners League at Soule Park Golf Course yearly awards the Callender Cup to the winner of team competition.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Susana and Robert Arce, of Ojai; grandsons Tomas Arce of Santa Barbara and Peter and Samuel Arce of Ojai; grandaughters Gi Sook Arce of New York City, and Ynez and Amalia Arce of Ojai. Amalia was his caregiver in his final months of life. He also leaves great-grandaughters Carissa and Alexandra Arce of Oxnard, sister-in-law Ynez Rodriguez of Ventura, and nephew, Maurice Emerson Callender of Westfield, Ind.
Mr. Callender was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Juanita, in 1999, and his grandson, Juan Arce, in 1973.
Memorial contributions may be made to Help of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home
George Janos
George Janos, 75, of Ojai, died at his home Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 after a short battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born Jan. 26, 1928 in Easton, Pa., son of John and Merope Janos. Mr. Janos had lived in Ojai for 18 years, and had been a Ventura County resident for 40 years.
He graduated from Lafayette College in 1949 with a degree in electrical engineering. Mr. Janos retired from Fuller Paint and Glass in Ventura after working many years in the paint department.
He was a Lakers fan and his interests included sports, bowling, politics, reading and music.
He is survived by his brothers, Paul Janos of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Bill Janos of Easton, Pa.; and sister Callie Olexy of Trenton, N.J.
Mr. Janos was preceded in death by brothers Gus and Alex and sisters Helen and Mary.
No services are planned.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Emily Nicole Alstot
Emily Nicole Alstot, 20, of Ojai and San Luis Obispo, died in the afternoon of Oct. 31, 2003 in Santa Barbara County as a result of a car accident. She was born on Dec. 5, 1982 in Bakersfield, Calif., and lived in Ojai for 16 years.
Emily was a third-year architecture student at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. She worked hard and was very focused in everything she did. She spent time with her family, her soul-mate Nick Acevedo, and the family pet Labrador, Kacee.
She is survived by her father and mother, Creighton and Kathleen Alstot of Ojai; sister and brother-in-law Erika and Charles Venable, and nephews Ayden and Bryce Venable, all of Ojai; grandmother Mary Catherine Alstot of Ojai; grandfather John Marks of Fresno; great-aunts Dorothy Jean Warren and Virginia Bogus of Ojai; and numerous aunts and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Benson Alstot, and grandmother Corky Marks.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003 at 2 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Emily N. Alstot Fund, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Attention Sandy Edar, Building 5, Room 212, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Ed Shields
Ed Shields, 91, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003 at the Ojai Valley Community Hospital's Skilled Nursing Facility. He was born in 1912 in Pensacola, Fla., where he met and married Mary Louise.
After working at many jobs as a baker, barber and roofer, he went into the sheet metal trade. When World War II broke out, Mr. Shields migrated to Los Angeles to find work in the shipyards. He later sent for his wife and four children, who made the trip to California on a troop train.
After the war, he found employment in Bakersfield and commuted from Los Angeles, only returning home on weekends. On one trip home, he took a back way and discovered the Ojai Valley. He immediately moved the family to Ojai and never left.
His interests included fishing off the pier in Ventura, playing card games, shooting pool, playing shuffleboard, gardening and raising rabbits and chickens.
He is survived by his son, Clinton Shields, of Henderson, Nev.; son and daughter-in-law Bob and Trudy Shields of Ventura; daughters and sons-in-law Yvonne and Tom Odle, and Yvette and Mel Krogh, all of Ojai; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise Shields, in January 2001.
The family wishes to thank the nursing staff and CNAs at the Skilled Nursing Facility for their kindness and care.
Funeral Mass will be held Monday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai. Burial will follow at Nordhoff Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Franklin William "Bill" Porter
Franklin William "Bill" Porter, 82, longtime resident of the Ojai-Ventura area, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 in Seattle, Wash. He was visiting his son in Port Townsend when he suffered a fall, with ensuing complications leading to his death. He was born Aug. 23, 1921 in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles, and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a radio operator. After the war he returned home and for the next 44 years he worked at Sawyer Cabinet Company in Glendale, Calif. He was a salesman and worked with many of the prominent housing developers in the San Fernando Valley, Covina, Diamond Bar, Palm Springs and Los Angeles areas/
Mr. Porter was a member of Sheet Metal Union 273, where he was recently honored with 60 years of membership.
Mr. Porter was a participant in community affairs, both in South Pasadena, where he and his wife, Sallie, raised their children, and in the Ojai Valley. In 1984, he served as president of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. His presidency coincided with the Summer Olympics Games in Los Angeles, a portion of which came to Lake Casitas. Mr. Porter volunteered his services and was assigned to drive the venue president to his various responsibilities between Ventura and Los Angeles. Mr. Porter also served on the Mira Monte Water Board and the Highway 33 Improvement Committee.
He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in South Pasadena and Ojai Second Wards. He served the church's youth activities in many capacities over the years.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sallie Gulick Porter; daughters Pamela Thomas of Pasadena, and Cynthia Ellis of Santa Maria; son Jeffery Porter of Port Townsend; sisters Peg Ritchie of Huntington Beach, and Beverly Borgman of Carmel; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Private family services will be held. Friends are invited to a memorial service to be held Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Acacia Fischer Brice Graves
Acacia Fischer Brice Graves, 88, of Ojai, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003. She was born Oct. 19, 1915, and had lived in Ojai for the past 25 years. She was raised and educated in the Philippines, United States and Europe.
Mrs. Graves was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked as a nurse at Acacias Care Center and at the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Skilled Nursing.
Her husband, John Eldred Brice, was a career officer in the U.S. Navy. They did a lot of traveling as they raised their three daughters.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Willa and Charles H. Irwin, and Anita and Tom Owen; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Eldred Brice, in 1990, and her daughter, Jean, in 1993.
No viewing or services are scheduled. Please direct any memorial donations to The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, Ojai 1st Ward, or to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
William "Bill" Palmer
Ojai lost one of its true characters to cancer on Saturday, 8th of November. Bill was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1928, and was raised in a mining camp in Yosemite where his mother, Ruth, was the cook and his dad, Paul, cleared the roads. Later, they moved to La Jolla where schooling and "suburban" life was unappreciated by Bill after the glory of Yosemite. Bill was in the Marine Corps from 1945 to 1949 when the Corps gladly released him with an Honorable Discharge. After many adventures, Bill came to Ventura in 1968 and found his home in Ojai in 1970. He was a member and past president (four years) of The Ventura County Bird Club. He owned and then retired from The Concrete Construction Company in 1991 and in 1992 took over Proex Propane Company. He delivered propane day or night, all over the area, including the rural and rugged parts of Ventura County where few would make deliveries, making friends along the way. He continued working until three weeks before his death. He is survived by his beloved wife, Karen; his three sons, Aaron Palmer of Ojai, Daniel Palmer of Oakhurst, Calif., and Paul "Pete" Palmer of Ojai; nine grandchildren; numerous "adopted" children; and so many friends who call him their "best" friend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill's name to The Ojai Raptor Center, P.O. Box 182, Oak View, CA 93022. Telephone: (805) 667-4727. Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
William "Bill" Bostwick
Born July 2, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. Died on November 4, 2003 at Ojai Valley Community Hospital's Skilled Nursing. William "Bill" Bostwick was a World War II hero and a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Bill moved to Ojai in 1996 from Los Angeles. He loved Ojai, calling it, "The most beautiful place on earth." He took long walks every day with a smile on his face, a heart as big as the Topa Topas, and a "Hello!" for everyone he met. He died, with his family at his side, as a result of complications from an injury sustained when he was hit by a car on Ventura Street and Ojai Avenue.
Bill is survived by his wife of 65 years, Olga, his daughter, Eugenia, son-in-law Raymond, and the joy of his life - granddaughter, Ana Ming and his dog, Ahwahnee. He will be missed and remembered always by his family.
Arrangements are by Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai. A memorial and the spreading of his ashes will be held in Ojai.
Jeannette C. Lewis
Jeannette C. Lewis, 85, of Ojai, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 in Ventura, following a short illness. She was born Sept. 8, 1918 in Lewiston, Maine, and had lived in Ojai for the last 18 years.
Mrs. Lewis' interests included traveling and bowling (which she has done up until this year).
She is survived by her son, Gary A. Lewis, of Browns Valley, Calif.; daughter-in-law Linda Lewis of Ventura; grandson Gary A. Lewis II of Ventura; brother Edward Gagnon of Boulder City, Nev.; and sister-in-law Bertha Gagnon of Ojai.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Guy Lewis, in the year 2000.
Visitation will be at Clausen Funeral Home today from 2 to 8 p.m. with rosary to be recited 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 15, at 9 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home. Interment
will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
