Salvador M. Bonilla
Salvador M. Bonilla, who worked for Almaden Vineyards, died Nov. 17. He was 79.
Mr. Bonilla was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, where he met and married his wife, Abelina. They were married 54 years.
Mr. Bonilla is survived by his wife, Abelina Bonilla of Hollister, his children, Manuela Bonilla of Hollister, Estela Gurrola of Hollister, Antonio Bonilla of Hollister, Jose Luis Bonilla of Hollister, Maria Elena Sanchez of Hollister, Ofelia Sanchez of Hollister, Reyes Bonilla of Davis and Paula Bonilla of Hollister. He also is survived by 19 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and his great-great grandchildren.
Mr. Bonilla came to this area from San Fernando in 1974 and also worked for San Tran, the local transportation service. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church and The United Farm Workers Union.
The vigil services were Nov. 19, followed by a mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed the Mass at IOOF Cemetery. Donations are preferred to The American Cancer Society.
Don R. Gargano
Don R. Gargano, the founder of Pop Warner Football for San Benito County, died Nov. 11. He was 57.
Mr. Gargano was born in Marysville and has been in San Benito County since 1969. Mr. Gargano received B.S. Degree at Cal Poly in Pomona, received a Masters’ Degree at Oregon State and did graduate work at the University of Hawaii. He has been a member of the Hollister Elks Lodge for 30 years, the Sons of Italy, California AG Production Consultants, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Beaver Society, the Insect, Plant Disease and Weed Societies, Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities and member of the Tres Pinos Boosters.
Mr. Gargano’s hobbies were Billfish fishing, salt water fishing, gourmet cooking, bird hunting, duck decoy and seashell collecting, photography and traveling outside United States. Mr. Gargano was research and development manager for Monterey Chemical Company and he has worked in agricultural chemicals for more than 30 years.
Mr. Gargano is survived by his son Michael Gargano, son Dario Gargano of Rocklin, father Henry "Hank" Gargano of Westminster, and sister Carli Gargano of Laguna Beach.
A private memorial services will be held with arrangements for cremation and private inurnment under the direction of Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home and Crematory in Hollister.
Alta M. Martin
Alta M. Martin, owner of Martin & Son Trucking Company in San Jose, died Nov. 26. She was 86.
Mrs. Martin was born in Oklahoma and came to the San Benito County 14 years ago from San Jose. Mrs. Martin owned the trucking company with her late husband Lester L. Martin. Her interests were horses, motorcycles and fishing. Her family said she was a real outdoors person.
Mrs. Martin is survived by her son Norman L. Martin of San Jose, grandson Michael Martin of San Jose, grandson Steven Martin of San Jose, grandson Daniel Martin of San Jose and great grandson Danny Martin of San Jose. Ms. Martin was preceded in death by her husband, who died in 1994.
At Mrs. Martin’s request a private cremation will take place at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Crematory and interment of the cremains will take place at the Grangeville Cemetery, Armona.
John Morgan
John Morgan, an accomplished South Valley horseman who used his knowledge of animals to bring together divergent groups of people, died Nov. 22 after a long illness. He was 74.
Mr. Morgan was a founder of the Pacific Penning and Sorting Association and, on July 15, became its first Hall of Fame inductee, according to a plaque, for the "knowledge and skills you have shared with others.’’ He was a proficient rider in both roping and team penning events and claimed countless trophies, ribbons and belt buckles for his riding skills. His favorite was a buckle awarded to him at the 1989 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, where his team took the championship.
Mr. Morgan taught team penning at the Vieira Ranch and at Mosby’s in San Martin and competed in events in California, Nevada and Arizona.
Mr. Morgan was diagnosed this past summer with cancer, which Claudia Morgan, his wife of 40 years, blamed on his ever-present cigarettes. When his health failed, Mr. Morgan stopped riding and entrusted his beloved horses to his close friends and family members.
Mr. Morgan was born in Oklahoma on October 26, 1926, came west with his family during the Dust Bowl Migration and settled in Campbell. When he was 16 he lied about his age to join the U.S. Navy, where he piloted one of the LCVD beach craft that delivered troops to Iwo Jima. Mr. Morgan was an avid hunter and traveled to Wyoming and Idaho on expeditions. That is until Mrs. Morgan began caring for orphaned wildlife and Mr. Morgan helped bottle feed orphaned fawns.
"After that, he didn’t want any part of it anymore,’’ said Mrs. Morgan. "He was afraid he’d shoot one of his babies."
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan met each other at a roping event in San Jose. After they married, they lived briefly on the Renz Ranch in San Benito County before settling 40 years ago in a farmhouse on the Gilroy-San Martin line. Mr. Morgan was honored several years ago in an article in the San Jose Mercury News’s West Magazine as one of the few people who continued to cowboy and maintain early California traditions as Silicon Valley became more and more industrial.
Through horses and his natural knack for mechanics, Mr. Morgan established lifelong relationships with his grandchildren, Chris, Corey, Dakota, Danniele, his son, John Jr., his daughter, Jacqueline "Pepper" Nilmeyer, wife Claudia and countless friends whose riding skills he helped improve. He also helped local Santa Clara law officers train for horseback search and rescue missions.
"John enjoyed giving of his knowledge,’’ said Mrs. Morgan. "He didn’t hesitate to share his knowledge of riding with other people.’’ Mr. Morgan died peacefully at home with his wife and children at his bedside. His faithful dog Merced, a Border Collie who was his constant companion, was curled beside him by the bed.
In addition to his immediate family, Mr. Morgan is survived by children Dan and Sharon, brothers Glen and Herb Stephens, and sisters Lucille, Marie, Ada, Marlene, Marsha and Nita. His sister Zelma preceded him in death.
A memorial celebrating Mr. Morgan’s life will take place Thursday at 11 a.m. at San Martin Presbyterian Church, 13200 Lincoln. Cremation was handled by The Neptune Society.
It was Mr. Morgan’s wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the John Morgan Memorial Pacific Penning and Sorting Association college scholarship fund through Bank Of The West Account # 018265611 OR to Project Ride, which teaches physically and mentally challenged children and adults to ride horses,. The address for Project Ride is 8850 Southside Ave., Elk Grove, CA, 95624.
Raymond Pagaran
Raymond "Packrat" Pagaran, a veteran and employee of National Refractories for 25 years, died suddenly Nov. 28 of a heart attack. He was 59.
Mr. Pagaran was a graduate of San Justo Grammar and San Benito High schools, served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War in the 199th Light Infantry Division, and was a member of Leslie L. Garratt Post #6359. He enjoyed the out-of-doors, fishing and was an avid Bingo player, especially at the Filipino American Center in Marina. He enjoyed making woodcraft items for family members.
Mr. Pagaran is survived by his wife, Cindy Pagaran, son Raymond Pagaran Jr., brothers Fred and Danny Pagaran, a granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.
The rosary will be Friday at 7 p.m. at Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home. Friends and family will leave the mortuary on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. to go to the Old Mission San Juan Bautista for a 10 a.m. mass. Interment with military honors will follow at San Juan District Cemetery.
Donations are preferred to Post #6359 through the mortuary chapel.
Florence Paterson
Florence L. Paterson, who used her gift for knitting to make countless blankets, lap robes and dish towels for local club fundraisers, died Nov. 27. She was 94.
Mrs. Paterson, a long-time Hollister resident, was born in Santa Clara. She taught school for the Hollister School District for many years after graduating from what is now San Jose State University. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Mrs. Paterson was wife of the late Thomas Paterson, who died in 1996. She was preceded in death by two children, Robert Paterson and Helen Apsley. She is survived by her grandchildren.
A memorial service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollister with the Rev. David Rodriguez officiating. Arrangements and cremation are through Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home and Gavilan Hills Crematory. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery.
Donations are preferred to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of the Central Coast care of the funeral home.
Katherine Vochatzer
Katherine Vochatzer, a former Hollister resident who moved to Reno, died Nov. 23. She was 63.
Mrs. Vochatzer was born in San Francisco. She is survived by her husband, Don Vochatzer of Reno, children Bill Mendoca of Reno, Cindy Miller of Bend, OR, Rhonda Bishop of Carson City, NV, and Clifford Mendoca of Lake Tahoe, her mother Andrea Ames of Hollister, brother David Ames of Hollister, three grandchildren and several niece.
A celebration of her life was held Nov. 25.
Week of November 23, 2000 Pinnacle Newspaper Best in San Benito County!BackPinnacle Newspaper Best in San Benito County!
Donald L. Holmes
Donald L. Holmes, the owner of Holmes Trucking, died Nov. 20. He was 63.
Mr. Holmes was born in Ohio, and he and his wife, Donna, were married in 1956 in Fresno. They moved to Hollister from South Lake Tahoe more than 20 years ago and Mr. Holmes owned and operated Holmes Trucking with his sons.
He was a member of Mound Lodge #166 IOOF, The San Juan Service Club, the 7:30 Club, the California Dump Truck Owners, San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association and the San Benito County Gunowners Association.
Mr. Holmes is survived by his wife Donna Holmes of San Juan Bautista, Don Holmes of San Juan Bautista, Jim Holmes of Auburn, Tom Holmes of Hollister, Robert Holmes of San Juan Bautista, and several grandchildren.
Friends and family paid their respects until 8 on Tuesday evening at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. Funeral services were held on Wednesday at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. Rev. David Rodriguez of The First Presbyterian Church officiated. Interment and graveside services followed the funeral at San Juan District Cemetery in San Juan Bautista.
Donations are preferred to The San Juan Service Club c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home.
Peter Martinez
Peter Martinez, a Teledyne McCormick Selph employee, died Nov. 20. He was 45.
Mr. Martinez was born in Fabens, Texas. He served in the US Army in the 1970’s and had worked for Teledyne McCormick Selph.
Mr. Martinez is survived by his mother Manuela Jimenez of Hollister, father Juan Martinez of Hollister, brother Martin Martinez of Lake Station IN, sister Isabel Lujan of LaQuinta, brother Luis Martinez of Merced, sister Pauline Zeitler of Puyallup, WA, brother Randy Bueno of Hollister, brother Joseph Copado of Hollister and he is also survived by his aunts, uncles and cousins.
Rosary and vigil services were held Wednesday evening at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. The mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Friday, November 24, 2000 at 9 a.m. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Charles T. Clark, Jr.
Charles T. Clark, Jr., a WWII veteran, passed away November 7. He was 81.
Mr. Clark was born in Los Angeles, where he and his wife Leta were married in 1946. He served in the US Navy during WWII, and had worked for Lockheed Aerospace as a financial planner for many years. He and Leta came to San Juan Bautista 10 years ago to be close to their children. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Hollister, served with the Community Pantry in the San Juan Bautista area and loved his green house and raising plants. He had been a member of the Orchid Society.
Mr. Clark is survived by his wife, son John Clark of San Juan Bautista, son Jim Clark of Winetka, son David Clark of Gilroy, daughter Linda Bergstrom of Longmont, CO, sister Ruth Strand of Southern California and sister Louella Stevens of Southern California. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren.
Gravesides services are Friday, November 10, at 1 p.m. at San Juan District Cemetery in San Juan Bautista. Pastor Larry Ball of Calvary Baptist Church will. A reception will follow at the home of Leta Clark.
Donations are preferred to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home, 363 7th St. Hollister, CA 95023.
