04-05-02obituaries

Lester James John "Pete" Petersen, 84, of Ojai, died Friday, March 29, 2002, following an extended illness, at St. John's Medical Center in Oxnard. He was born Nov. 18, 1917, in Cotesfield, Neb., and his early years were spent in that rural area.
After graduation in 1934 from Ord High School, he entered the military. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska in a remote place for most of five years. During this time, he manned a 6-inch gun which shot out about 30 miles into the ocean to keep the Japanese at bay and prevent invasion through Alaska. The concussion from these guns was so great that when fired it would blow earplugs out of his ears and buttons off his shirt.
Mr. Petersen and his brother hopped a freight train to Seattle where he found work in an uphostery shop and received training. This became his life's work. He met his first wife, Ruth, there and they had a daughter, Kathy.
Later, he moved to Southern California, where he met and married his second wife, Rosemary. He was a member of the Ventura Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rosemary, and their two daughters, Leslie Clark, of Oxnard, and Leanne Philpott, of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter Kathy Rohrbach, of North Bend, Wash.; and six grandchildren.
Visitation was held Tuesday, April 2, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Charles Carroll Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Ventura.
Services are being held today at noon at Ventura Baptist Church, 5415 Ralston Ave., Ventura. Interment will be at Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village.
Arrangements are under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura.

Judy Ann Smith

Judy Ann Smith, 52, passed away at home March 22, 2002 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
She was a daycare provider in Ojai for 30 years (Smith's Family Daycare). Many children came through her door, and she loved them all. She was a very caring person.
Actively involved in the American Legion in Ojai, she would help whenever needed. She helped organize the annual Christmas Boutique.
Judy will be missed by her many friends. The parents of children she took care of, and the children who loved her.
Judy was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia Margaret Willis. She is survived by her daughter, Jamie Rowe, and her husband, Richard, and four grandchildren Noah, Hattie, Breal, and Sydnie Rowe of Ojai; and her son, Kevin Gates, also of Ojai. She leaves her beloved companions Buford and Goose.
A Memorial Service will be held at the American Legion Hall in Ojai, 821 E. Ojai Ave. Saturday, April, 6 at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Hospice or American Cancer Society.