Miscellaneous Yolo County, California Obituaries

CEMSEARCH  -  OBITUARY CENTRAL  -   OBITUARY LINKS PAGE  -  MORTALITYSCHEDULES.COM  -  SURNAME SEARCH UTILITY  -  MARRIAGE SEARCH ENGINES


First Name:
Last Name:
Walter G. Cothary
Walter G. Cothary died on May 24, 1998, at his home on Hood Canal, near Belfair, Wash. He was born Aug. 28, 1923, in Olympia, Wash., to Walter J. Cothary and Alma Frances (Coatney) Cothary, both descendants of Washington territory pioneers.
After graduating from Bremerton High School in 1941, he served as a machinist apprenticeship at Keyport Naval Torpedo Station, then immediately entered the Army, serving in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns with the 187th Combat Engineers. Remaining in Germany as part of the army of occupation, he played in a dance band for the musical ``Scanties of '45.''
At San Jose State College, he met Louise Hays and, in 1950, they were married. In 1951, he graduated with a teaching credential in music. He taught first in Hughson, then at Benicia and Davis high schools.
He was active for several years as a church choir director and later as a musical director of the Davis Art Center.
Graduate work for a master's degree in music was completed at the University of Washington -- where he sang in four operas.
In 1965, he was one of 48 German teachers to be awarded an NDEA grant to attend the German Institute at the University of Washington, and the next year, he was awarded a sabbatical from the Davis school district to study at Albert Ludwigs Universitat in West Germany.
After retiring from public school teaching in 1978, he worked in other occupations, including 11 years self-employed as a private piano teacher in the Olympia, Wash., area.
Hobbies and interests included gold prospecting, writing poetry, photography and flying. He was featured on TV as ``Davis' flying teacher'' when he and his wife flew daily from their home in the Sierras, from the fall of 1976 to spring of 1978.
He is survived by his wife, Louise; a daughter, Anita Evans of Juneau, Alaska; three sons, Arthur of Seattle, Wash., Lynden of Ketchikan, Alaska, and Christopher of Pacific, Wash.; three grandchildren, Johanna, Morgan and Rosalie Evans of Juneau, Alaska; and a sister, Jean Cothary of Tenino, Wash.
At his request, there will be no services. A celebration of his life will be planned for a later date. Memorials may be sent to the American Red Cross.

Wilma M. Guthrie
Wilma Mae Guthrie died on May 28, 1998. A 51-year resident of Davis, she was born on March 4, 1927, in LeFlore County, Okla.
After graduating from high school in Whitesboro, Okla., she moved to North Carolina in 1946 and worked for Southern Bell. She moved to Davis in 1947, after she married her husband, Blaine, and began working at Bagley's Grocery Store on the corner of Third and G streets, where she stayed for 12 years.
She obtained a job as clerk for UC Davis, and retired after 25 faithful years of service as senior accountant in charge of payroll.
She and her husband opened Sarah's Place, Fourth and K streets, in 1964 as a rental property for veterinary and viticulture students, a spot that has since become world-renown for the homemade wines made by students who lived there.
Along with Shirley Cogburn and Martha Christianson, she was a member of the Birthday Club and enjoyed getting out every month for dinner and a movie. She divided her time between her beloved house in Tahoe Pines, which she and her husband built over a 20-year period, and her home in Davis, but she also loved to travel -- especially to Hawaii.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Blaine Stephens Guthrie; a son, Stephen D. Guthrie Sr. and his wife Darlene; two brothers, Joe and Archie Singleton; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St., Davis. Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Davis Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held immediately following Wednesday's service.

Harry Mengis
Harry Mengis died May 28, 1998, in his Woodland residence. Born July 2, 1929, to Wolfgang and Lydia (Lebhertz) Mengis, he was 68.
As a young man, Mengis worked for his father, a plaster contractor. Following two years of service in the Army during the Korean War, he worked at Marvin Land Plane. He then took a job as a truck driver for Teichert Construction, retiring after 30 years with the company.
He also was a member of the Woodland Elks Lodge BPOE No. 1299.
He was loved and will be missed by his family, friends, fishing buddies and brother Elks. Family members recalled him by saying, ``Dad, you taught us all that nice guys finish first. You were the champion.''
Mengis was preceded in death by his mother and father, as well as a sister, Janet Vidales, and a granddaughter, Jordyn Kester.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, David and Robin Mengis of Sandy, Utah; a daughter and son-in-law, Debi and Phil Kester of Carpinteria; grandsons Nicholas Mengis of Sandy, Utah, and Erik Kester of Carpinteria; a brother, Kurt Rudy Mengis of West Sacramento; and dearest friend, Joann Ehrke of Woodland.
Friends are invited to attend a graveside service at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Woodland Cemetery, 800 West St. in Woodland.
McNary's Chapel of Woodland is assisting the family with arrangements.

Norma Bryan
Norma Bryan died on Feb. 2, 1998, in Davis.
She was born in Social Hill, Ark., on Nov. 30, 1923. She worked as a file clerk.
She is survived by a sister, Jessamine D. Adams of Davis; and two nephews, Phillip Deal of San Francisco and Michael Deal of Sacramento.
Burial took place at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Kansas City, Mo. The North Sacramento Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Sara Mortensen
Sara Mortensen died on June 2, 1998, in Davis, at the age of 88. She was a Davis resident for the past 15 years and also previously lived in Clovis and San Mateo.
She loved her family and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl J. Mortensen, and daughter, Mildred Hendryx. She is survived by her three daughters, Vivian Woods of Sacramento, Nancy Bilbao of Reno, Nev., and Christine Connolly of Redwood City. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She leaves behind two sisters, Karen Bazuik of Fresno and Ruth Gay of Santa Rosa.
Private family memorial services will be held. Donations may be made to Yolo Hospice in Davis. The Neptune Society of Northern California in Sacramento is handling the arrangements.

Marcel F. Laventurier
Marcel Laventurier, 76, died peacefully at his Guinda home on May 21, 1998, following a long illness.
Born in Cleveland Ohio, he had lived in Yolo County for 20 years. He spent his youth in Belgium, and served for six years in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a medic, earning commendations for his work on the African bubonic plague and the naval air evacuation programs.
In 1951, he graduated from the University of California School of Pharmacy, and received its Alumnus of the Year Award in 1974.
He was elected vice president of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and was the co-founder of the Pharmaceutical Society of California and the first president of University of California Pharmacy Alumni Association.
After a career in retail pharmacy, he accepted an appointment as assistant clinical professor at UC San Francisco. He also served as a consultant on drug utilization programs to private and governmental agencies and on the advisory committee to the Knox-Keen Health Service Plan.
He was a senior vice president and director of professional services for Paid Prescriptions.
He is survived by his wife, Constance Cecil of Davis; daughter, Connie Desiree of Berkeley; and two sons, Mark Cecil of Mendocino and Gordon Steven of San Francisco.
Private funeral services were held last Thursday in Mendocino.
The family requests that memorial donations to be sent to the Marcel Laventurier Student Scholarship Fund at UC San Francisco or to Yolo Hospice in Davis.

Hilda E. Weiss
Hilda Edith Weiss died on May 28, 1998, in Davis. Born Hilda Billing in London, England, she was 91.
She came to the United States in 1932 and had lived in Davis since 1986.
She was devoted to her family and enjoyed gardening and flowers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry T. Weiss, in 1986, and by 11 brothers and sisters.
She is survived by a son, Harry Weiss of Arnold; two daughters, Linda Martin of Davis and Joan Jinneman of Wash.; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Betty Fuller of England. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held today at the Davis Cemetery. Ben Salas Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Margaret A. Hays
Margaret Augusta Hays died on May 31, 1998, at Aldersons Convalescent Hospital, at the age of 94.
She was born in Red Bluff, on Feb. 14, 1904, and was a resident of Yolo County for 50 years. She was employed for 20 years by Flickert Furniture.
She is survived by her brother, George Ebenhack of Sacramento; two grandchildren, Patty Summes of Bellevue, Texas, and Barbara Rhine of Bowie, Texas; a great-grandchild, James Dominy of Bellevue, Texas; and three stepchildren, Alice Gibbons, Don Hays and Wayne Hays Jr.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Don Bartholomew, on Dec. 31, 1985; her second husband, Wayne Hays Sr., on Nov. 23, 1992; daughter, Joan Rhine; two brothers, Elwood Ebenhack and Robert Ebenhack; and sister, Loris Palanca.
A funeral will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. Interment will follow at Monument Hill Memorial Park, Woodland.

Daniel Axelrod
A memorial service will be held Friday for Daniel Isaac Axelrod, a professor emeritus of botany at UC Davis. Axelrod died June 2, 1998, in his Davis home at the age of 87.
Axelrod was a renowned paleobotanist who studied the evolution of plant life, particularly the ancient forests of North America, as chronicled through the fossil record. He was an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Born on July 16, 1910, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of Russian immigrants Morris and Augusta Axelrod, and the oldest of five children. He was raised in Guam and Honolulu, coming to California at the age of 14.
His family settled in Oakland and that same year, Axelrod earned his Eagle Scout badge. He worked summers delivering telegrams in San Francisco for a penny a piece, and later watched the construction of the Golden Gate and Oakland Bay bridges.
He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in botany and master's and doctoral degrees in botany and paleontology, all from UC Berkeley. While at the Berkeley campus he served as a junior forester, mapping vegetation in California and Nevada for the university's forest and range experiment station.
In 1942, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and became part of the Far East Air Forces, serving in photo intelligence. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations in the Philippines.
In 1946, he joined the geology and botany faculty at UCLA, where he would teach for 21 years. In 1967 he transferred to UC Davis, with a joint appointment in the botany and geology departments.
Colleagues have noted that in an era marked by increasing specialization in science, Axelrod carried on ``creatively individualistic'' research, tackling broad issues in the field of paleobotany by generating research data and ideas essentially by himself.
Through his studies, he reconstructed changes in western North American vegetation, climate and landscapes through the past 60 million years by interpreting fossil impressions of terrestrial seed plants.
``He liked to be called, `Ax' or `Prof Ax,' as the license plate on his white convertible reads,'' said Michael Barbour, a professor of botany, who recalls arriving at UC Davis the same year and in the same department as did Axelrod.
``He was always part of the landscape to me sometimes engaging, sometimes thorny. He would often pull me aside during a hallway or walkway encounter to relate something ecologically new that he'd seen in the field, hoping to convince me, other faculty or graduate students to drop whatever research we were currently doing in order to follow through on his observations,'' Barbour recalled.
Axelrod's sometimes gruff, blunt demeanor was simply a bluff, Barbour said.
``It was part of his sense of humor, and beyond it was a kind, generous, helpful friend,'' he noted. ``A friend who took others on field trips to show them new things feeding them well at his expense and who shared his knowledge and his enthusiasm for life. He is a friend who suddenly is no longer there.''
Axelrod received numerous awards that recognized his research accomplishments, including election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1981. He received the Hayden Geological Award and the Outstanding Educators of America Award in 1971, the New York Botanical Garden Award in 1972 and the Palaeobotanical Society International Medal in 1985.
He also was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and in 1986 was selected by his UC Davis colleagues as the Faculty Research Lecturer. As recently as 1993 he was presented a Merit Award from the Botanical Society of America in recognition of his ``impressive contributions to botany and science in general.''
Professor Axelrod retired from the university in 1977, but was recalled to duty at the university as a research botanist. He remained active in his field of research until his death.
His wife, Marilyn Gayler Axelrod, notes that along with a passion for his work, Axelrod highly valued family and his country. He would frequently quote the words of Abraham Lincoln, his favorite president, to underscore his own beliefs in personal freedom and the importance of sharing with those who are less fortunate.
In addition to his wife, Axelrod leaves a stepdaughter, Hillary Gayler; a son, Peter Axelrod; a brother, Walter Axelrod; and a sister, Dorothy Axelrod.
A memorial service will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Recreation Pool Lodge at UC Davis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial gifts be sent to the Wall of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors' Project, P.O. Box 2393, Davis, CA 95617-2393.

Jessica D. Mendez
Baby Jessica died on June 2, 1998, at Woodland Memorial Hospital in Woodland.
She is survived by her mother, Dianna Mendez of Woodland; grandmother, Esperanza Mendez of Woodland; grandfather, Alfredo Mendez of National City; and uncle, Rudy Mendez of Woodland.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Woodland. Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors is assisting with the arrangements.

Charles Kovacic
UC Davis Professor Emeritus Charles Kovacic died peacefully on May 22, 1998, at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento.
Born on Aug. 21, 1917, in Chicago, Ill., he was 80 years old.
Kovacic received his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Illinois, his master's degree from Ohio State University and his Ph.D. from Columbia University.
Before World War II, he taught as an associate professor at the University of Illinois. During the war, he served in the U.S. Air Force, where he headed the rehabilitation training program and was a flight instructor in Coral Gables, Fla.
After the war ended, Kovacic taught at Ohio State University, but remained active with the Air Force Reserve until the late 1970s, when he retired as a lieutenant colonel.
In 1957, he came to UC Davis to chair the physical education department. During his 30-year tenure with UCD, he was responsible for bringing such people as Jim Sochor, Bob Hamilton and Jill Carlson to the university. He was also responsible for the construction of the UCD Recreation Hall.
He was very committed to bringing non-scholarship, true student athletes to UCD. In the 1940s, he was known as a world class athlete. He came to a crossroads in his life when he had to decide whether to become a professional athlete or take the academic route, which he ultimately chose.
He retired in 1981 from UCD and was past president of the University Club. He enjoyed tennis, squash, badminton and was an avid scratch golfer, even into his advanced age. He was a member of the El Macero Country Club and a Davis resident for over 40 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Frances T. Kovacic, in 1994.
He is survived by his daughter, Loretta Kovacic, and her husband, Arthur Enriquez, of the Sacramento area, and a son, Charles R. Kovacic, Jr. He also leaves a brother, Robert Kovacic, of Connecticut.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St., Davis. An evening vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Davis Cemetery, 820 Pole Line Road in Davis. Remembrances may be made in his name to the Alzheimer's Aid Society, P.O. Box 1824, Sacramento, CA 95812.

Norest `Doc' Spear
Norest ``Doc'' Spear died the evening of May 22, 1998, at the Katherine Convalescent Hospital in Salinas. He was born March 27, 1908, in Los Angeles.
Raised in Cranmore and schooled in Woodland, he worked from 1924 to 1949 as a heavy machinery mechanic, where he gained his nickname ``Doc'' and helped build many of California's highways and infrastructure.
In 1949, Spear went to work for the Department of Corrections as a prison guard at the Soledad State Prison until he retired in 1971.
He was active in the Loyal Order of Moose in Salinas, serving in many of the Order's positions both on a local and statewide level. He was a past state governor of the Order.
Spear is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Etta Koebel Spear of Carmichael; a son, Francis R. Spear and his wife Claire of Carmichael; and three sisters: June Vandenburgh of Hawthorne, Nev., Pat Ziglinsky of Portland, Ore., and Barbara Fredericks of Reno, Nev.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Colleen Morrison-Manzer and Julie M. Sparks of Woodland; Joyce L. Bisson of Sacramento; and Stacey and Cassie Spear of Carmichael. He also leaves behind his great-grandchildren, Michelle and James Morrison, and Melissa and Randy Sparks, all of Woodland, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in the Woodland area.
Spear was preceded in death by his parents, Norman Franis and Esther Moran Spear; a brother, Frank Spear; and sister, Vivian Koebel, all of Woodland.
A vigil service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Rosary Church, 318 Court St., Woodland. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Lucille E. Rodgers
Lucille Elizabeth Rodgers died on May 20, 1998, at Woodland Health Care in Woodland.
Born in Estelline, Texas, on Nov. 28, 1915, she was 82 and had lived in Yolo County for 57 years.
She met and married her husband of 60 years, Frank, when she moved to California. They shared in a partnership that included working together daily in ranching, gardening, quilting, canning and caring for the family. Her special contributions in these areas are known well by all those who loved her.
She never refused or was too tired to assist those she loved. Her morals, ethics, values and devotion to family and qualities of a simple life are a credit to her memory, family members said.
She was a homemaker all her adult life. She is survived by her husband, Frank O. Rodgers of Woodland; her son, Frank J. Rodgers of Woodland; and three brothers, Jack Minyard of Oregon, John Minyard of Washington; and James Minyard of Oregon.
She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Andrew, Todd, Jennifer and Jonathan Rodgers, all of Woodland.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Estelle White and Violet Hughes, and by two brothers, Bobby and Jay Minyard.
Vigil will be at 7 p.m. on Monday at Kraft Bros. Funeral Chapel, Woodland. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Rosary Church, Woodland.

Victor E. Gilleste
Victor Edward Gilleste, 56, died from brain cancer on May 20, 1998, at his Davis home. He was born Nov. 4, 1941, in Newcastle, Pa.
A Davis resident for 18 years, Gilleste worked as an automobile finance manager.
He is survived by his wife, Pamela, of Davis, and four sons: William of Lomita, Edward of Davis, Andrew of Woodland, and Nicholas of Davis. He is also survived by his father, four brothers and one sister, all of Pennsylvania.
In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral. Interment at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Sacramento will be private.
To honor Gilleste's appreciation and respect for the Davis Police Department, the family requests donations to the Davis Police Officers Association in lieu of flowers.

David S. Podesta
David Stephen Podesta died of cancer at Woodland Memorial Hospital on May 25, 1998, at the age of 58. He was born June 26, 1939, in San Francisco and came to Yolo County at the age of 7. He attended Sacramento State University, majoring in accounting.
He began his work career at the Kordite Corp., which later became Mobil Chemical Co. He retired as plant accountant in 1994 after 34 years of service.
Throughout his life, he was very active in local athletics. Highlights of his athletic career included playing in the 1957 Optimist All-Star football game; playing as a member of Jack's Del Mar team, which placed ninth in the 1962 slo-pitch World Series in Cleveland, Ohio; and playing on several old timers' exhibition softball teams.
After his playing days were over, he coached Texas League and Little League. He also spent many years umpiring ASA and USSSA slo-pitch softball games throughout Northern California. He was umpire-in-chief of the Woodland Officials' Association, and interim director of Woodland Adult Sports Association.
He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading and coin collecting.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Marilyn Podesta of Woodland; and four children, Joni of Winnetka, Trudi of Antelope, Robert and his wife of Atascadero and Jennifer of Woodland.
He also leaves behind four step-children, Lisa Hollander of Greencastle, Ind., Jennifer Burk of Antioch, Michael Heeg of San Francisco, and Gretchen Dobson of Franklin, Mass.; and eight grandchildren, California and Millie Podesta of Templeton, David Westfall and Danielle Crocker of Antelope, Vanessa Pena of Woodland, Nicholas and Stephanie Burke of Antioch and Jack Hollander of Greencastle, Ind.
Other survivors are three sisters, Michelle Anderson of Woodland, Monica Podesta of Mascotte, Fla., and Melissa Castaneda of Woodland; an aunt, Francis Dwyer of San Francisco; uncle, Jack Nightingale of San Francisco; former spouse, Rose Torres; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Podesta, in 1983, and mother, California Podesta, in 1995.
A funeral mass is set for noon Friday at Holy Rosary Church, Woodland. A gathering will follow at Holy Rosary Parrish Hall with interment to follow at Monument Hill Memorial Park.
The family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Woodland Adult Sports Association (WASA), P.O. Box 2021, Woodland, CA 95776.
McNary's Chapel is assisting with the arrangements.

Richard W. Chiles
Richard William Chiles died peacefully at his Davis home on May 27, 1998. Born July 4, 1922, in Woodland, to Richard F. Chiles and Virginia Chiles, he was 75.
He was a lifelong resident of Davis, graduating from Davis High School in 1940. He attended UC Davis for two years before entering the Marines in 1942, and served in the Marines until 1945.
He worked for the California State Board of Equalization in Sacramento as an appraiser for 22 years. He was a lifelong member of the Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Virginia Chiles; brother, Roger E. Chiles; and two sisters, Francis B. Pleasants and Joann Schultz.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ermyl Chiles of Davis, and four children, Priscilla Schultz of Santa Rosa, Richard F. Chiles of Davis, Joe Chiles of Ukiah and Maribeth Ristad of Concord. He also leaves behind six grandchildren and a sister, June Bowker of Santa Paula.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. James Catholic Church, 200 W. 14th St., Davis. Burial will follow at The Davis Cemetery.
Remembrances may made in his name to the American Heart Association, 2007 O St., Sacramento, or to the charity of the donor's choice. The Davis Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.

Hielke B. Sheneman
Hielke Brugman Sheneman died on May 26, 1998, after a long and heroic fight with leukemia. She was born in 1926, in Amsterdam, Holland.
As a young teen, she worked in the Dutch underground to help in the resistance against the German occupation of Holland. Her many courageous acts were inspired by her belief that all individuals should act as Jesus did to love one another, relatives said.
She came to the United States in her 20s, attending Michigan State University, where she met her husband, Jack Marshall Sheneman. Her careers included medical social work, special education, private tutoring and college-level instruction.
Her volunteering activities were too vast to list for she made a difference in so many lives. Her gift of love and time was a part of her life until the very end. ``Her belief in God and her faith in humanity gave us all the gift of selflessness that we hold dear to our hearts,'' relatives said.
She was an active member of the Davis Community Church since 1969.
It was as a devoted, committed wife of 40 years, mother of two and grandmother of three that she found her best and most rewarding success.
She was an unyielding support to her children. Her first child, Jack Eric Sheneman, died of a brain tumor in 1993. He was a hard-working, intelligent and special individual, whom she raised to the age of 23, relatives said.
The loss of a child is something that touches individuals forever, but his mother felt that his memory was best served in the loving acts of caring for others, relatives said.
She is survived by a sister, Johanna Delamar of Grand Rapids, Mich., and brother, Jan Brugman of Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. She also leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law, Elisa and Christopher Stone of Davis; and three grandchildren, Tayler, 5; Jaeger, 2; and Ally, 1.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Davis Community Church.
Donations may be made in her memory to The Mustard Seed School for Homeless Children, 1321 N. C St., Sacramento, CA, 95814.

Patricia B. Devendorf
Patricia Bjorlie Devendorf, 70, died on May 20, 1998, in Davis. She was born Nov. 23, 1927, in Santa Clara.
She attended San Jose State University and worked with special education at the Berkeley Unified School District for eight years. She belonged to the Gem and Mineral Society, Richmond Chapter; the Berkeley Fencing Club; and did modeling for Macy's and The Emporium in the 1950s.
She was instrumental in starting the Santa Clara Whatzit Club and owned a catering and baking service in Berkeley in the early 1970s.
She also attended the Presbyterian Church in El Cerrito.
She leaves behind a daughter, Robin Kanstein of Davis; a son, Theodore L. Kanstein of Berkeley; a brother, Robert Fargo Bjorlie of Los Gatos; and two sisters, Nancy Surrell of Grass Valley and Karen Marion Elliott of Milpitas. She also is survived by an aunt, Helen Rorabeck of Azuza.
Friends are invited to attend a visitation at 10 a.m. Tuesday and funeral at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St.
Donations may be made in her name to the American Heart Association or the SPCA.

J. Mae Silva
J. Mae Silva died on May 26, 1998, at the Meadows Care Center in Napa. Born on Sept. 25, 1906, in Nemaha, Iowa, she was 91.
She graduated from Nemaha High School in Nemaha, Iowa, in 1924. She came to California and settled in Fairfield in 1942. In 1963, she moved to Davis.
She was a 50-year member of the Rebekah Lodge No. 253, a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 6949, the Davis Leisure Hour Club, the Davis Senior Center and Davis Community Church.
She worked for many years for the Solano County assessor's office and then worked for 20 years as a senior accounting clerk for the Public Employees Retirement System. In 1991, she moved to Napa and lived there until her death.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Sherman Best, and her second husband, Manuel Silva. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Betty Lou Paoli, and a granddaughter, Susan Best.
She is survived by her son, James W. Best of Fairfield; five sisters, Mary Thacker of Yakima, Wash., Ruby Brown of Yakima, Wash., Nedra Berger of Seattle, Pearl Logan of Seattle, and Dorothy Fry of Abderdeen, Wash.
She also leaves her five grandchildren, Sherry L. DeZorzi of Twin Falls, Idaho, Edward Paoli of Twin Falls, Idaho, Raymond LaPointe Jr. of Waterbury, Conn., Linda Green of Vallejo and Jill Madren of Vallejo; seven great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 10 a.m. Friday at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. Burial will be private at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento.
Remembrances may be made in her name to the American Heart Association, 2007 O St., Sacramento, CA.

Marion G. Inks
Marion Gertrude Inks died on May 27, 1998, at the age of 85, at her Woodland residence. She was born Nov. 20, 1912, in Pinole.
She was a 48-year resident of Yolo County and was employed for 25 years as the Yolo County tax collector/treasurer. She was very active in the community, belonging to the Business and Professional Women, Toastmistresses, Emblem Club No. 516, Town and Country Club, Care Car, AARP and the Public Employee Retirement System.
She was a pink lady for 20 years at Woodland Memorial Hospital and a volunteer visitor as well as a member of the Sacramento Blood Bank.
She is survived by her son, Tom Inks and his wife Sheila of Sacramento; five grandchildren, Michael Inks of Sacramento, Shawn Inks of Walnut Creek, Kristen Ramirez of San Francisco, Angela Ramirez-Wood of Seattle and Trina Ramirez of Sacramento; and three great-grandchildren, Stephen Inks of Walnut Creek, and Bronwyn Wood and Nikolai Wood, both of Seattle.
The vigil service will be at 5 p.m. Sunday at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. The funeral Mass is set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Holy Rosary Church, Woodland, with burial to follow at Monument Hill Memorial Park, Woodland.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Yolo Hospice, P.O. Box 1014, Davis, CA, 95616, the Emblem Club Scholarship Fund or Catholic Charities.

Louise Hendrix
Louise Hendrix, 86, died on May 16, 1998, at Woodland Memorial Hospital, following a short illness. She was born on June 16, 1911, in Portland, Ore.
She was a longtime teacher at Live Oak Elementary School in Live Oak, Sutter County. She lived in the Live Oak/Yuba City area for more than 50 years, and moved to Vacaville this past year.
She was active in numerous organizations, including California Retired Teachers, Save the Sutter Buttes Association, of which she was the principal founder, the Sierra Club and the Yuba City Women's Club.
She was a charter member of The National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington D.C., based on her work as an author, conservationist, environmentalist and educator.
She authored several books, including, ``A Land of Histum Yani.''
She was the widow of Edwin A. Hendrix, educator and superintendent of schools of Sutter County for 18 years.
She is survived by a daughter, Lynette Green of Vacaville; son, Edwin Hendrix of Davis; four grandsons, Nathan A. Hendrix of Washington, Chris Green of San Francisco, Andrew Hendrix of Oregon and Steven Green of Berkeley; and two granddaughters, Amy Green of Berkeley and Kathleen Hendrix of Oregon.
A mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church, 14th and B streets in Davis. Father Dan Looney of St. James Church will preside.
Burial will take place at the Chico Memorial Mausoleum in Chico.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Sutter County Museum, Butte House Road, Yuba City, CA, 95991.
The arrangements are being handled by the Vaca Hills Chapel in Vacaville.

Emilia L. Pena
Emilia Lucero Pena, 77, died on May 16, 1998, at Woodland Memorial Hospital. She was born Aug. 24, 1921, in Durango, Mexico.
She had been a resident of Woodland for the last 54 years and was employed by Contadina for 25 years as a line sorter. She is a member of Holy Rosary Church and the Comite Mexicano de Benificencia No. 3 of Woodland.
She is survived by her three daughters, Carmen Pena and Eva Pena of Woodland and Marie Hernandez and her husband Jose of Sacramento; son, Ernesto Pena and his wife Carolyn of Wilmington, N.C.; three brothers, Ignacio, Concepcion and Vicente Lucero, all of Mexico; and six grandchildren, Stacy Aguirre and her husband Jaime of Woodland, Jose Pena Jr. of Wilmington, N.C., Kristina Pena of Jacksonville, Fla., Sonia Hernandes of Morro Bay and Teri and Sophia Hernandez of Sacramento.
She also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Jaime Jr. and Emily Aguirre of Woodland.
A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Holy Rosary Church, Woodland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Rosary Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.
McNary's Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.

Gracie M. Barrett
Gracie Mae Barrett died on May 18, 1998, at Alderson's Convalescent Hospital in Woodland. Born in Calvin, Okla., on July 22, 1903, she was 94.
She was married to Harrison ``Harry'' Fitzpatrick for 40 years until his death in 1962. She later married the Rev. Charles Barrett.
As a member of the Assembly of God Church, she was active in many functions for the church as well as for the rescue mission. She was a resident of Bakersfield for many years before moving to Woodland 14 years ago.
Her flowers, garden and grandchildren were her favorite hobbies and pastimes.
She was preceded in death by her husbands; three brothers, Pat, Lee and John Canon, all of Oklahoma; and a grandson, Michael Etheredge of Bakersfield.
She is survived by her stepdaughter, Mary and her husband Chester Eteredge of Bakersfield; grandchildren, Beverly Mescher and her husband Carl of Woodland, Kenneth Etheredge and his wife Karen of Washington, Donna Norris, Barbara Sherrill and her husband Robert of Bakersfield, and Larry Etheredge of San Francisco; nine great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Greenlawn Memorial Park in Bakersfield.

Michael E. Luttropp Sr.
Michael Eric Luttropp Sr. died at his Woodland residence on May 16, 1998, of cancer. Born on April 30, 1938, he was 60.
He has been a resident of Woodland for 26 years. He graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1956, and entered the U.S. Navy.
He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Abad, at the Old Mission Church in San Luis Obispo on July 3, 1957. They were married for 40 years.
Upon leaving the Navy, he went to work for the state of California, Division of Highways, where he remained for 15 years before transferring to the Department of Water Resources as the chief construction inspector for the State Water Reclamation Board of Flood Projects. He worked there for 26 years before retiring on July 16, 1993.
He spent his leisure time working on his computer, fishing, camping, gardening, barbecuing and card playing. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Chapter at Holy Rosary Church. At the time of his death, he was the Grand Knight.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Patty) of Woodland; daughter, Yvonne Marie of Yuba City; and son, Dr. Michael E. Luttropp and his wife Tamara of Michigan. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Timothy and Sandis Marie of Yuba City; three brothers; and a sister.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Ann, in 1984.
Friends are invited to attend the vigil service at 7 p.m. Thursday at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Rosary Church. Interment will follow at Monument Hill Memorial Park, Woodland.

Josselyn Fairchild
Josselyn Bale Mellon Fairchild, clerk of the Davis Friends Meeting, died on May 16, 1998, in Sutter Davis Hospital, after a monthlong illness. She was born in Inglewood, N.J., on Aug. 6, 1925.
The family moved to Tucson, Ariz., while she and one of her three sisters recovered from tuberculosis, then moved to Pasadena. After graduating from Scripps College in liberal arts, she worked as a teaching assistant there. She found the sciences so interesting that she went back to school to get a bachelor's degree in nursing.
She retired as a public health nurse in Yolo County. She was a peace activist and was often found at silent witnesses and other peace activities. For several years, she did civil disobedience at the Nevada nuclear test site.
In 1995, she spent the academic year at Pendle Hill, the Quaker retreat and study center near Philadelphia. Upon her return, she was asked by her fellow Quakers in Davis to clerk the meeting.
She was involved in Quaker activities, serving on committees in Northern California and the Pacific Yearly Meeting and boards of directors. She was a skilled artist and poet. She had a mask in a juried international exhibit and published several poems. She loved to dance and make music.
She is survived by her three children, Lesley Mellon Heath, Andrea Mellon Schneider and Fred Mellon; four grandchildren, Heaven Burgo, Conner Mellon, Katie Mellon and Julia Schnieder; two great-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Amber Burgo; and her sister, Gretchen Savage.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Davis Friends Meeting House, 345 L St. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that contributions be made to the Friends Committee on Legislation, 926 J St., Room 707, Sacramento, CA, 95814, or the Davis Friends Meeting Memorial Fund.

George B. Alcorn
George B. Alcorn died on May 17, 1998, in Castro Valley. Born April 12, 1910, at Englewood, Colo., he lived in Castro Valley since 1929.
He received his bachelor's degree and master's degree in agricultural economics from UC Berkeley and his Ph.D. in public administration from Harvard University in 1955.
Alcorn was director of the University of California Agricultural Extension for 19 years, and worked closely with many colleagues in the local area.
He retired in 1976 as director emeritus of UC Cooperative Extension. He was a consultant for the State Department for Vietnam and Cameroon and with the World Bank for Malaysia, the Philippines, Sudan, Morocco and Turkey.
Alcorn was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hayward and the Commonwealth Club of California for more than 50 years, and the Ends of the Earth in New York.
He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International and was a member of the Rotary Club in Berkeley. He was listed in ``Who's Who in the West,'' from 1976 to 1979.
Alcorn married Ragnhild Christina Johnson in 1932. She died in 1959. He then married Marie Olivia Johnson, Ragnhild's sister, in 1963. In addition to his wife, Marie, he also leaves two sons, James Alcorn of La Jolla and David Alcorn of Red Bluff; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the First Presbyterian Church of Hayward, 2490 Grove Way, Castro Valley. Memorial gifts may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 2490 Grove Way, Castro Valley, 94546; the Redwood Christian School, 19300 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, 94546; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Sunset View Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

Alan N. Whitten
Alan Nields Whitten died on May 20, 1998, at Sutter Davis Hospital in Davis. Born on July 19, 1952, in Norfolk, Va., he was 45.
He graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco and attended the Town School for Boys in San Francisco. He graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's degree in Latin.
A Davis resident for 25 years, he had been a self-employed painting contractor locally for the last 17 years. He attended the Course in Miracles study group in Davis.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert T. Whitten.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Maxwell-Whitten of Davis; mother, Katherine Whitten of San Rafael; two children, Brandon and Stephen; two brothers, Robert and Kris Whitten; nephew, Todd Whitten; and niece, Sarah Whitten.
Friends may call today from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Interment will be private.

Search this massive database of obituaries, cemeteries, and death records:


CEMSEARCH - OBITUARY CENTRAL - OBITUARY LINKS PAGE - SURNAME SEARCH UTILITY