Eugene D. Bonturi
Eugene D. Bonturi, a Realtor, cattleman and farmer, died July 28, 2002 in Hollister. He was 62.
Mr. Bonturi was a member of Sacred Heart Church, B.P.O.E. of Gilroy, the Sportsman Lodge of Los Banos, was president of the Future Farmers of San Benito County, was a member of the San Benito Cattlemen's Association was enjoyed the outdoors.
He is survived by his longtime companion Lisa Campisi of Hollister, siblings Alfred J. Bonturi of Hollister, Marian Roccucci of Burlingame, Lillian Overton of Palo Alto, Doris Dunphy of Sunnyvale, Elmer Bonturi of Hollister, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The mass is today at 10 a.m. at St. Benedicts Church. Arrangements for cremation are through Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home and Crematory with private interment at Calvary Cemetery.
Donations are preferred to the Heart Fund c/o the mortuary chapel.
Frances Gansberger
Frances Gansberger died on July 3, 2002 due to complications after breaking her pelvic bone. She was 83.
Mrs. Gansberger was born on Oct. 22, 1918. She was a longtime resident of San Benito County and was living in Rouge River, Ore.
She is survived by her husband, John Gansberger, children Arnold Penrice, Pamela Garat, Allen Gansberger and Terry Gansberger, siblings, Clara Lou Melendy of Paicines, Geraldine Oates of San Jose, Millie Hurst of Sunnyvale and Don Mesquita of Petaluma, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Her body will be cremated. There will be no services at this time.
Steven VanKirk
Steven VanKirk died of cancer in Modesto Memorial Hospital on July 16, 2002. He was 52.
Mr. VanKirk was born in Hollister and attended schools in Patterson, where he graduated from Patterson High School in 1968. After high school he attended Modesto Junior College.
He is survived by his two sons, Patrick Kent VanKirk of Modesto and Matthew Eugene VanKirk of Eureka, parents Bonnie and Patrick Moore of Patterson, his brother, Kevin Moore and sisters, Susan Frias and Patricia Poot all of Patterson and one grandson. He is the nephew of Beverly and Leonard Poletti of Hollister. He was preceded in death by his father, Gene VanKirk.
Arrangements and cremation are through Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home and Gavilan Hills Crematory. Private family committal services will be held at the IOOF Cemetery in Hollister.
Arthur L. Weatherly
Arthur L. Weatherly died at his Hollister home July 23, 2002 after a lengthy illness. He was 92.
Mr. Weatherly had been a longtime resident of Hollister after moving from Selma in 1926. During most of his adult life he was a self employed farmer in San Benito County. He was a member for 59 years of the Hollister Elks Lodge and a member of SIRS and the Lunch Bunch.
He and his wife, Margaret, were married in Reno in 1954.
Mr. Weatherly is survived by his wife, Margaret Weatherly of Hollister, his siblings Laurence Weatherly of Castro Valley, May Barry of Hollister and John Weatherly of Hollister.
The memorial was Saturday at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. Donations are preferred to San Benito Home Health Care or The American Cancer Society. E.S. "Cush" Cushingham
E.S. "Cush" Cushingham
E.S. "Cush" Cushingham of Aromas died on May 11, 2002 at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. He was 85.
Mr. Cushingham was born on April 7, 1917 in Honolulu, Hawaii to John Dervine Cushingham and Marie McVeigh Cushingham. He moved to Southern California as a young man and served in the US Army during WWII. After moving to Hollister he worked at Teledyne McCormick Selph and than Almaden Vineyards until his retirement in 1984.
Mr. Cushingham is survived by his wife, June Reece Cushingham of Aromas, sons John D. Cushingham of Cathedral City, Steven K. Cushingham of Hollister, Stanley Cushingham of Los Angeles, brother William M. Cushingham of Los Angeles, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Services were under the direction of Wiefels and Son Funeral Directors of Palm Springs.
George Henry Hurst
George Henry Hurst, a retired tractor mechanic, died July 27 at Hazel Hawkins Northside Convalescent Hospital. He was 84.
Mr. Hurst was born in Fairmont, Neb., and moved to California in 1936. He enlisted in the Army and spent the war years with the Army Engineer Corps in the Pacific. Upon retiring from the service he worked for Cornell Tractor as a tractor mechanic and later for John Deere Co. in Watsonville, Gilroy and Salinas until he retired. George was an avid golfer and held membership in Bolado Park Golf Course. He was also a very good bowler and was a member of Mound Lodge #166 IOOF for over 50 years.
Mr. Hurst is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Jeanie Hurst of Hollister, nieces and nephews Bill Hurst of Newman, Charles Hurst of Arizona, Cathy Spaulding of Gilroy, Bruce Hurst of Fresno, Lon Hurst of Mountain View, John Hurst of Folsom, Linda Todd of Poway and Rebecca Duffey of Fresno.
The funeral was Wednesday interment and graveside services at the IOOF Cemetery with military rites being performed by VFW Post 9242.
Kousaku Kay Yamaoka
Kousaku Kay Yamaoka died at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto July 25, 2002. He was 87.
Mr. Yamaoka was born in San Juan Bautista and had lived in San Benito County for most of his life along, except for 14 years spent in Japan. Mr. Yamaoka served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a 442 Combat battalion. He received the Purple Heart Medal.
Mr. Yamaoka was a member of the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, J.A.C.L. of San Juan Bautista, San Juan Howa Kai and a member of the Teamsters Union. He worked until his retirement for 20 years at the Hollister Cannery and he was a local farmer.
He is survived by his sons David Y. Yamaoka and Bryan M. Yamaoka of Hollister, four grandchildren, one great grandchild and one brother and sister who reside in Japan. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alyce Akaye Yamaoka.
The funeral was Tuesday at Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home on Tuesday afternoon. Cremation at the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Crematory with private inurnment and graveside services at San Juan District Cemetery will be held at a later date. Contributions preferred to your charity of preference.
Louis Joseph Avalli
Louis Joseph Avalli died August 11, 2002 in Greensburg, Penn., while on business. He was 52.
Mr. Avalli was born in San Gabriel and has lived in San Benito County all his life. He attended Sacred Heart School, Palma High and graduated from the University of Pacific Pharmacy School. Mr. Avalli was a member of Sacred Heart Church.
He was the former owner of Hollister Pharmacy, he co-owned Garden Valley Foods and South Valley Cheese Company. He was presently the owner of Della Casa Foods. He enjoyed sports, vacationing in Lake Tahoe and traveling.
Mr. Avalli is survived by his wife, Johnette Marie Avalli of Hollister, children Francesca Angela Avalli of Redondo Beach and Fred Anthony Mario Frank Avalli of San Francisco, siblings Mario Frank Avalli, Fred Louis Avalli and Joanna Marie Avalli all of Hollister, and mother in-law Adelaide Castello of Hollister.
He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Mary Avalli and his father in-law John Castello.
Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Family and friends will leave the chapel of the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home Friday at 12:30 p.m., to go to Sacred Heart Church for a mass beginning at 1 p.m.
Private cremation will be at Grunnagle Ament Nelson Crematory. Donations are preferred to Palma High School c/o the mortuary chapel.
Donald W. Gruver
Donald W. Gruver, a Priest Valley farmer, died suddenly at his ranch on Aug. 11, 2002. He was 75.
Mr. Gruver was born Nov. 26, 1926 in Fresno and lived in San Benito County all of his life. He attended Priest Valley School and Coalinga High School.
Mr. Gruver worked for the Merrill Ranch before working for CalTrans for 28 years. After work, he tended his own ranch in Priest Valley, were he dry farmed and raised cattle.
He enjoyed visiting friends at the Priest Valley Store, playing Keno, watching the Raiders and Cowboys and being with his family.
Mr. Gruver is survived by his wife, Carole Gruver of Priest Valley, children James W. Gruver of Grover Beach and Steven D. Gruver of Santa Barbara, sister Sonjia Sportsman of Van Nuys, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sister Gloria Roby.
Arrangements for private cremation an inurnment are through Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home and Crematory. A celebration of Mr. Gruver's life was held in Priest Valley. Donations are preferred to the Cancer Society c/o the mortuary chapel.
Antonio Moitoso Sr.
Antonio "Tony" Moitoso Sr. died suddenly on July 29, 2002 in Faial, Azore Islands, where he was on vacation. He was 74.
Mr. Moitoso was born in Faial and came to San Benito County in 1956. He was a member of Sacred Heart Chuch, the I.D.E.S., and the Portuguese Hall Committee. After coming to SBC he became a foreman and co-grower for the John Furtado and the Freitas Brothers Ranch, which grew apricots, walnuts and prunes.
He later worked for Shelton Vacationeer as a cabinet assembler, and when the company closed moved to Semi-Fab. Upon his retirement from Semi-Fab he became a self-employed landscaper and gardener. He had a keen interest in horticulture, planting and growing flowers and vegetables for himself and others. Mr. Moitoso enjoyed family gatherings and fishing with Botelho's and Louie Freitas, camping with the Alvernaz' and Silvas and making his own wine.
He is survived by his children, Tony S. Moitoso Jr., of Hollister and Lidia Moitoso Champion of Sacramento, one granddaughter, Kristen Maria Champion of Sacramento, siblings Augusto Moitoso of Canada, Manual Moitoso of San Jose, Bill Moitoso of San Jose, Joe Moitoso of Marina, Maria Faria, Lucy Faria and Eva Soares all of San Jose, Ann Silva and Teresa Vais of Hollister. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Maria L. Moitoso, in October 2001.
A rosary was held on Monday evening at the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home, a mass was held on Tuesday at the Sacred Heart Church, interment followed at the Calvary Cemetery. Donations preferred to the Breast Cancer Research c/o The Mortuary Chapel.
Guadalupe T. Verdusco
Guadalupe T. Verdusco died Aug. 7 at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 61.
She was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, came to Hollister from Imperial Valley and has lived in Hollister for 22 years, working in the garlic production business for Christopher Ranch. She is a member of Sacred Heart Church and was married in 1961 in Mexicali to her husband, Felix.
She is survived by her husband, Felix Verdusco of Hollister, children Rosalba Topete, Alicia Martinez, Felix Verdusco Jr, Patricia Verdusco, Joe Valdemar Verdusco and Mario Verdusco all of Hollister, siblings Victoriano Topete of Mexicali, Erminia Flemate of Mexicali, Preciliana Rodriguez and Rosario Covarubias both of Guadalajara. She is also survived by her six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
The Rosary was Aug. 12 with cremation at Gavilan Hills Crematory.
