Verne A. Peyser
Verne A. Peyser, 67, former editor of the Ojai Valley News, died April 15, 1998 in Phoenix.
He was editor at the Ojai Valley News from October 1987 to March 1990 when the publication was owned by Wick Communications and was run by publisher Darrow "Duke" Tully.
Peyser was born May 10, 1930.
Peyser's last job was managing editor of the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Ariz. He went to Bullhead City in April 1990 as managing editor of The Booster newspaper and helped turn the twice-a-week shopper into what is now the Mohave Valley Daily News.
He is survived by three sons, Bernard of Kingman, Ariz., Donald of Phoenix and Kenneth of Phoenix; two daughters, Terry Minnis of Phoenix and Brenda Fuselier of Black Canyon City, Ariz.; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
A service was held Monday at 6 p.m., in the chapel of the veteran's hospital in Phoenix. Donations in his name may be made to the University of Arizona Department of Journalism.
Leonard Hunt
Leonard Hunt, 82, of Ojai, died Friday, April 17, 1998, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
He was born Jan. 22, 1916 in Olenda, Calif. and had lived in Ojai 52 years, coming from Anaheim, Calif.
Mr. Hunt was a plant operator for Santa Fe Energy. He was an avid traveler.
He is survived by his wife Rosalynn Hunt of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Richard and Joleen Hunt of Goodyear, Ariz. and Ronald and Peggy Hunt of Fremont, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law Linda and John Mewbourn of Humboldt, Tenn.; sister Lucille Nack of Newport Beach, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held April 21, 1998 at 10 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, with Richard Hunt officiating.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association, Ojai Affiliate.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Daniel Tremaine Carnessale Knapp
Daniel Tremaine Carnessale Knapp, 16, of Ojai, died Monday, April 13, 1998.
He was born Sept. 25, 1981 in Downey, Calif. and lived in Ojai for four years, coming from Shingle Springs, Calif.
He attended Matilija Junior High School and Nordhoff High School.
Knapp was a special and courageous young man who lived 16 years with cystic fibrosis. In September 1997, he received the gift of a double lung transplant, which gave him six wonderful months. He was an inspiration to everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his parents Catherine and Steven Knapp of Ojai; step-brother Mike Knapp of Huntington Beach, Calif.; step-sister Angela Knapp of Bloomsburg, Pa.; grandparents Faye and Dante Carnessale of Ojai; and grandmother Maxine Knapp of Cameron Park, Calif.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai with David Knapp and Tom Carnessale officiating.
Contributions in Daniel's memory may be made to the Landon Pediatric Foundation, 3400 Loma Vista, Suite 1, Ventura, CA 93003.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home.
Chris Wayne Thomsen
Chris Wayne Thomsen, 41, died May 4, 1997, in the Pilot Mountain Range, southeast of Mina, Nevada.
He was born Oct. 6, 1955, in Los Angeles, Calif. and graduated from Oxnard High School in 1973. He joined the Army after graduation from high school and spent three years serving his country.
Mr. Thomsen had his pilot's license and loved exploring - the sky, the deserts, mountains, old mines and ghost towns. He worked as a house painter for 15 years.
He is survived by his mother Sally Thomsen of Ojai; brothers and sisters-in-law Carl and Patty Thomsen of Oxnard, and Charles and Heather Thomsen of Canada; sisters Sherilyn Glass of Felton, Calif., and Sheila Stubbe of Ventura; grandmother "Nana" Mellon of Oxnard; nephew Elias Stubbe, niece Jessica Ford and great-nephew Dane Ford, all of Oak View.
A graveside service for family and friends will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, 2052 Howard Road in Camarillo.
Arrangements were under the direction of Gunter's Funeral Home in Hawthorne, Nev.
Andrew Patton Happer Jr.
Andrew Patton Happer Jr., 70, died of natural causes Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at his home in Ojai.
Mr. Happer was born in Detroit, Mich. April 24, 1927. He graduated from St. Mark's School and served two years in the U.S. Navy.
He went on to receive a degree in architecture from Princeton University in 1951.
Mr. Happer spent 35 years with Caltex Oil Corporation, serving in Asia, East Africa and Australia.
He retired from Caltex in 1988 as manager for government relations and moved to Ojai in 1997.
He is survived by his wife Paula Happer; daughters Stephanie Happer and Miranda Gordon; four step-children; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai Saturday at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Shirley Anne Hall
Shirley Anne Hall, 61, of Ojai, died Sunday, April 19, 1998 at Ventura County Medical Center.
She was born Jan. 29, 1937 in Orrville, Ohio.
She had been a Ventura County resident for six years, coming from Garden Grove, Calif.
Mrs. Hall was affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Ojai and the World University Church.
She is survived by her daughters Melissa Hall and Audrey K. Harris, both of Eugene, Ore.; son and daughter-in-law Richard Hall and Michelle Seaking-Hall of Good Hope, Calif.; and three grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local Red Cross chapter.
Arrangements are under the direction of Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors & Crematory of Oxnard.
Phillip "Phil" McCullough
Phillip "Phil" McCullough, 58, of Oak View, died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at the University of California-Los Angeles Medical Center from myelodysplastic syndromes and complications of a bone marrow transplant.
He was born Jan. 15, 1940 in Oakland, Calif. and had lived in the Ojai Valley for 30 years.
Mr. McCullough was the attendance coordinator for Nordhoff High School, a member and deacon of the Ojai Presbyterian Church and a member of the Ventura County School Attendance Review Board.
He is survived by his wife, Paula McCullough, of Oak View; daughter Megan McCullough of San Luis Obispo; son Jonathan McCullough of Oak View; brother Clint McCullough of Ojai; mother Ruby McCullough of Ojai; mother-in-law Lorene Waymack of Ventura; sisters-in-law Kathy Poncia of Ventura and Cheryl Waymack of Escondido, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Ojai Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Peter Whitelock and Rev. Steve Steele officiating.
Memorials may be made to Myelodysplastic Syndromes Research, c/o Aplastic Anemia Foundation, P.O. Box 613, Annapolis, MD 21404; Project Impact at Nordhoff High School; or the Children's Music Program at Ojai Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Sheila Evans
Sheila Evans, 88, died Feb. 18, 1998, at her home in Phoenix, Ariz. after a brief illness. She was an Ojai resident from 1945 to 1990.
Mrs. Evans was born Sept. 21, 1909 in Norfolk, England.
She is survived by her daughters Ann Medina, Bea Churchill, Judy Evans and Ruth Evans; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Her family and friends will gather at Camp Comfort May 10, 1998 from 1 to 6 p.m. to celebrate her life. All friends are welcome to attend.
If you would like to contact the family, call Judy Evans at (602) 847-7470.
Arrangements were under the direction of A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuaries in Phoenix.
Ruthe Dixon
Ruthe Dixon, 83, of Ojai, died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital's Skilled Nursing Facility after a short illness.
She was born Sept. 16, 1914, in New York City, and lived in Ojai for four years, coming from Camarillo. She was a 20-year Ventura County resident.
Mrs. Dixon, a nursery school director, was the director of the curriculum for the first Small World Child Care Center. She had studied with the Maria Montessori program, and was an honorary life member of the California Parent Teacher Association. Mrs. Dixon also served as Santa Monica's first civil defense director.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Roger and Judie Dixon of Newbury Park; sons Jay Dixon of Phoenix, Ariz. and Robert Dixon of Reno, Nev.; daughter-in-law Rhonda Dixon of Los Angeles; several brothers and sisters; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Saturday, April 25, 1998, at 1:30 p.m. at the Shiloh Community Church in Moorpark.
Mrs. Dixon's ashes will be scattered at sea off the coast of Ventura.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Forest Keith Van Pelt
Forest Keith Van Pelt, 79, of Ojai, died Monday, May 4, 1998, at his home after a long illness. He was born Jan. 20, 1919 in Cocker City, Kan., and had lived in Ojai 47 years, coming from Whittier, Calif.
Mr. Van Pelt was a retired maintenance man for Caltrans. Camping and gardening were his favorite pastimes.
He is survived by his wife Laura Van Pelt of Ojai; daughter Nancy Van Pelt of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Ross and Mary Van Pelt of Bay Point, Calif.; sister-in-law Mary Capital of Ojai; sister-in-law and husband Kathy and Larry Foster of Ojai; brother-in-law and wife Charles and Barbara Rockenbaugh of Las Vegas; brother-in-law Richard Rockenbaugh of Ojai; mother-in-law Caroline Rockenbaugh of Ojai; and four grandchildren.
Mr. Van Pelt was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amanda Dawn, in October of 1997.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai today from noon to 8 p.m.
Graveside services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, with Pastor Donald Moore officiating.
Memorials may be made to Families of SMA, P.O. Box 196, Libertyville, Ill. 60048-0196.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Gyneth Merle "Gay" Cawlfield
Gyneth Merle "Gay" Cawlfield, 83, of Ojai, died Tuesday, May 5, 1998, at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.
She was born Oct. 9, 1914, in Chanute, Kan. and had lived in Ojai for 21 years.
Mrs. Cawlfield is survived by her husband Samual Vern Cawlfield of Ojai; daughters and sons-in-law Nancy and Bill Dick of Torrance, and Linda and Curt Peterson of Garden Grove; daughter Cheryl Eades of Westminster; sister Madelyn Sweany; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service was held Saturday, May 9, 1998, at Soule Park in Ojai.
Arrangements were under the direction of McDermott Crockett Mortuary in Santa Barbara.
Alice M. Herman
Alice M. Herman, 94, of Ojai, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998.
She was born May 17, 1903 in Indianapolis, Ind. and had lived in Ojai 77 years, coming from Huntington Park, Calif.
Mrs. Herman was an elementary and high school teacher, in addition to being a home teacher.
She was active in the Ojai Valley Tennis Association and past secretary of the Ojai Art Center.
Mrs. Herman was a member of the Ojai Shakespeare Club, Ojai Valley Woman's Club and the Ojai Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her daughter Marilyn Blair of Danville, Calif.; son William Herman of Ashland, Ore.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 1998, at the Ojai Presbyterian Church with Rev. Steve Steele officiating.
Inurnment will be at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Harlan T. Kelley
Harlan T. Kelley, 83, of Ojai, died Thursday, May 14, 1998, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital after a lengthy illness.
He was born Nov. 8, 1914 in Del Rio, Texas, and had been a resident of Ojai 53 years, coming from Long Beach, Calif.
Mr. Kelley was an operating engineer for Lang Transportation, which later became Reed & Lang Construction.
He was a former member of the Ojai Lions Club and had been in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934.
He is survived by his spouse of 53 years, Carmelita Kelley of Ojai; son and fiancé Milton Kelley and Anita Muller, both of Ojai; brother Charles Kelley of Sacramento; sister Peggy Preston of Los Gatos, Calif.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 19, 1998, at Clausen Funeral Home with Rev. Patrick J. Keane, O.S.A., officiating.
Interment
services will be held at Santa Margarita Cemetery at 1 p.m. today.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
Harry "Earl" Newell
Harry "Earl" Newell, 95, of Oak View, died Thursday, May 14, 1998 after a lengthy illness.
He was born July 11, 1902, in Royce City, Texas, and had been an Ojai Valley resident for 27 years, coming from Compton, Calif.
Mr. Newell was president of Union Truck and affiliated with Union Engineering. He was a member of Petroleum Pioneers.
He is survived by his wife Grace Newell of Ojai; daughter Donna Newell of Porterville, Calif.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Private family services have been held.
Mary Teresa Hahn Froerer
Mary Teresa Hahn Froerer, 91, of Ojai, died Monday, May 11, 1998. She was born Jan. 8, 1907, in Italy.
She was the daughter of Carlo Hahn and Teresa Ferro Hahn, who came to Ventura around 1911.
Mrs. Froerer graduated from Ventura High School and married Arthur Froerer in 1932.
In 1945, they moved to Alameda with their two children. Mrs. Froerer worked for the Alameda County Juvenile Probation Department, Boys' Division for more than 20 years.
After retirement in 1976, the Froerers moved to Ojai. Though she had Parkinson's Disease for more than 25 years, Mrs. Froerer enjoyed playing the piano and guitar and playing gin rummy.
She is survived by her son Arthur Froerer; daughter Liane Froerer of Ojai; and three grndchildren, Lorilyn, Kim and Michael.
Mrs. Froerer was preceded in death by her husband Arthur in 1982.
Services were held May 16 at Reardon's Funeral Chapel and the Ferro Mausoleum at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.
Memorial contributions may be made to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032.
Arrangements were under the direction of Joseph Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.
Mark D. Potter
Mark D. Potter, 42, died Wednesday, May 20, 1998. He was born Oct. 11, 1955, in Ord, Neb.
He had lived in Ojai for the past seven years and was employed at Ventura College for the past 15 years. He loved the ocean and backpacking.
He is survived by his wife Johanna Potter of Ojai; father Warren Porter of Oxnard; mother Norma Bachman of Camarillo; sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Howard Miller of Meiners Oaks; brother Paul Porter of Ventura; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 23, at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Living Christ, 190 E. El Roblar Drive in Meiners Oaks.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund of Church of the Living Christ.
Arrangements were under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.
