09-06-02obituaries

Enerest Preston Proffer, 100, of Oak View, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, after a long illness. He was born Jan. 29, 1902, in Cooper, Texas, to Peter Preston Cooper and wife Fannie A. Scott Preston.
He lived in Texas the first 56 years of his life. In 1958, he and his wife, Nellie, moved to Ventura. A few years after Nellie's death, he moved back to Texas. For the past three years, he lived in Oak View with his daughter and son-in-law.
Mr. Proffer was an entrepreneur and started businesses in Texas and California. He was a member of the Oak View Church of Christ.
He is survived by his only daughter and son-in-law, Joan Marie and C.E. Bonner, of Oak View; grandsons Danny Preston Proffer and Lonnie Jo Proffer, and granddaughter Susan Blovin, all of Paris, Texas; six great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Nellie Pauline Staggs Proffer, in 1977, and his only son, Haden Preston Proffer, in 1995.
Visitation was held Aug. 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Charles Carroll Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Ventura. Graveside services were held Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements were under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura.

Eelen Nancy Selby

Eelen Nancy Selby, 76, of Ojai, died Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002. She was born Nov. 13, 1925, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Eelen Steffens and Albert Weiser. She was a longtime resident of the Ojai Valley
Before moving to Ojai, she lived in Guatemala where she worked for the Institute of Nutrition for Central America and Panama and was part of the team that developed the corn-soya meal for combating malnutrition in children. She was a woman of the world and had lived in France with her family and also traveled extensively to Mexico and Asia.
Mrs. Selby was an active member of the Ojai Valley community. She served on the board of directors of the local Red Cross Chapter. As a longtime Republican, she was the chairman of the Ojai Valley Republican Women Federated. She also worked as a Pink Lady at the hospital and at the Humane Society.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Francois and Bonnie de la Roche; her son, Jean de la Roche; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Aimee and Mark Levin; and her granddaughter, Marie de la Roche.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Humane Society of Ventura County, 402 Bryant St. Ojai, CA 93023.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Thomas 'Tom' James Benbrook

Thomas "Tom" James Benbrook, 89, of Ventura, died Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002, at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura after a brief illness. He was born Oct. 20, 1912, in Rush County, Colo. He had lived in Ventura for four years, coming from Tucson, Ariz.
Mr. Benbrook worked in heavy construction as a general superintendent.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Nanette Benbrook, of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Pat and Wayne Van Story of Santa Cruz; sisters Esther (husband Bill), Evelyn and Mary Lou; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Private family services will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ojai United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Arvid Erickson

Arvid Erickson, 71, of Ojai, died Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002, with his family at his side after a battle against cancer. He was born March 8, 1931, to Signe and Gordon Erickson.
He graduated from Coalinga High School, Ventura College and the University of California at Santa Barbara before serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He also earned a master of business administration from Pepperdine University.
Mr. Erickson worked for Title Insurance and Trust Company (later Ticor Title) for 35 years in a number of capacities, retiring as manager of the Northern California Division in 1986. He and his wife, Gwen, then returned to Ojai and bought an orange grove on McNell Road and he began a second career as a grower.
He was founding president of the Ventura County Chamber Orchestra, served as an elder of Ojai Presbyterian Church, and finished raising two granddaughters following the death of his son, Mark. He was an original member of Ojai Camerata and sang with the Ventura College Master Chorale and the Ojai Presbyterian Church choir.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Gwen Erickson, of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Ned and Jeanene Erickson of Frederick, Md.; sister Beverly Brewer of Kailua, Hawaii; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. at Ojai Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jeff Holland officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Ojai Camerata, P.O. Box 733, Ojai, CA 93024. Donations may also be made to the OPC Organ Endowment Fund. Checks for this fund may be made to Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation for Acct. #52-OA19-34, and mailed to Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 N. Foothill Road, Ojai, CA 93023.

Dorothy 'Dottie' Irene Farmer

Dorothy "Dottie" Irene (Glover) Farmer, 89, of Ojai, died Friday, Aug. 23, 2002. She was born Aug. 19, 1913, in Tulare County, Calif., the last daughter of 11 children.
She attended school in Strathmore, Calif., then moved to Pasadena, Calif., where she completed cosmetology school and continued in that profession for 25 years.
She married R. Chisholm Farmer in August 1934, and they had two children, Jerry and Karain. They moved to Yuba City, Calif., in 1953, where their son and daughter completed high school.
After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Farmer traveled throughout the United Stated in their recreational vehicle before settling in Ojai, where they participated in the activities of the community and Ojai Villa Estates. Mrs. Farmer was a china painter and was a member of Seashore Porcelain Artists of Ventura for 10 years.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karain and Chuck Soules, of Alameda, Calif.; daughter-in-law Lila Farmer of Grover Beach, Calif.; five granddaughters; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, R. Chisholm Farmer, son Jerry Farmer, and eight of her brothers and sisters.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at 11 a.m. at the Lindsay Community Church of the Brethren in Lindsay, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lindsay Community Church of the Brethren, 20220 Road 196, Lindsay, CA 93247, or to your favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura.

Norman E. Hiatt

Norman E. Hiatt, 73, of Ojai, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2002, in Ojai. He was suffering from lung cancer. He was born June 12, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa, and had lived in Ojai for 40 years.
He and his father owned and operated Hiatt's Chevron in Ventura for many years, and he owned and operated Norm's Locksmith in Ojai for more than 12 years. Mr. Hiatt served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. His interests included meeting every day with friends at the Donut Hole in Meiners Oaks, fishing, gardening and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jeanne Hiatt, of Ojai; son and daughter-in-law Steve and Robin Rutherford of Bear Valley; daughter and son-in-law Jamie and Steve Madden of Ventura; daughter Pam Cablayan of Ojai; sister and brother-in-law Bernadine and Ted Brown of Camarillo; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Mr. Hiatt was preceded in death by his son, Larry Rutherford, and brother Vern Hiatt.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Sept. 6, at 3:30 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Community Church, with Pastor Paul Bergmann officiating.
His family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Hospice of Oxnard.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Josephine Vergara

Josephine Vergara, 82, of Ojai, died Sunday, Aug. 11, 2002, at the Skilled Nursing Facility of Ojai Valley Community Hospital. She was born March 5, 1920, in Andorra, Spain, to Josefa and Alexander Ardao. She was raised in Galicia, Spain, and Havana, Cuba.
She finished her education in Miami, Fla., and became an interpreter for Florida's Department of Justice, where she worked under Janet Reno. After a brief marriage and a move to New York, she returned to Miami to live and work. She met Ricardo Vergara, a Cuban living in Miami, who had been a real estate agent and was active in the Theosophical Society, as she and her family were. They married and adopted a daughter, Donna.
After 25 years of marriage, Mr. Vergara died suddenly. Mrs. Vergara then worked at the Theosophical Society headquarters in Wheaton, Ill., for a while, and then moved to Ojai.
Her interests included music, traveling, writing mysteries (some were published) and attending classes at Krotona School and Little House.
She is survived by her daughter, Donna Babbath; brother Manolo Ardao; four grandchildren; and two nephews.
A memorial service was held Aug. 17 at Our Lady and All Angels Church in Ojai.
Arrangements were under the direction of McDermott-Crockett Mortuary, Santa Barbara.

Gertrude 'Trudy' Bruley

Gertrude "Trudy" Bruley, 80, of Ojai, died Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2002. She was born May 12, 1922, in Ogden, Utah, to Dirk and Octavie Kleiman, the youngest of seven children.
She moved to Los Angeles and attended Polytechnic High School. She married Charles Bruley in 1941, and moved to the Antelope Valley in 1954.
As a homemaker, she reared four children, and then worked for 16 years in a clerical position for Desert News Company. Mrs. Bruley moved to Ojai in 1987.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Charlene and Bill Brannan, of Ojai; sons Charles Bruley Jr. of Torrance, Craig Bruley of Bloomington, and Casey Bruley of Tempe, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give special thanks to the Ojai Valley Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit for their care.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Neptune Society of Santa Barbara, and her ashes will be scattered at sea.

Douglas B. Hanks

Douglas B. Hanks, 76, of Grants Pass, Ore., died Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2002, at Three Rivers Community Hospital. He was born May 14, 1926, in Nebo, Ill. He graduated from high school at the age of 17 and because of the war situation was given permission to teach for one year. He then worked for the Borg-Warner Company as parts manager. From 1950 to 1960 he was also district commissioner of the Boy Scouts.
In 1963, he graduated from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. He was employed by the Ojai Unified School District, where he taught fourth grade or combination classes for 23 years. For several years, he took his entire class to California's Gold Country, so that they could experience panning for gold and see the sites they had studied in their textbooks.
Mr. Hanks was master of the Ojai Masonic Lodge in 1978. He was also president of the Oak View Sanitary District and helped unify the neighboring districts. He was a member of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, and his interests included restoring old cars and tractors, nature and travel. He moved to Grants Pass from Ojai in 1991.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Hanks, of Grants Pass, Ore.; daughter Debra Nott of San Jose, Calif.; sisters Vernita Rothberg of Levittown, Pa., and Maurita Franklin of Illinois; two granddaughters; several nieces and nephews and many cousins.
A memorial service is being held today at 1 p.m. at Lundberg's L.B. Hall Funeral Home in Grants Pass, with Gorm Svendsen of the Grants Pass Masonic Lodge officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lundberg's L.B. Hall Funeral Home, Grants Pass.

Louise B. Morris

Louise B. Morris, 78, of Oak View, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2002, at Ojai Valley Community Hospital's Continuing Care Center. She was a resident of Ventura County for 51 years. She was born Nov. 23, 1923, in Earlimart, Calif., to Benjamin and Letitia Bagley.
She was employed by the Ventura Unified School District for seven years, having been the kitchen manager before retiring. She was known as the "Ventura High Wrestling Mom."
She is survived by her children and their families, Bennie and Barbara Morris of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Gwen and Bill Chartrand of Rhinelander, Wisc., D. Lee and Ruth E. Morris of Ventura, Luticia Morris and husband Joel Mabon of Lancaster, Calif., and Duane Morris of Oak View; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira D. Morris, in 1989.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff at the Ojai Valley Continuing Care Center for their care.
Memorial services are being held today at 10 a.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, with Dwight Clements of Oak View Church of Christ officiating.

Nina Norris

Nina Norris, 95, of Ojai, died Monday, Sept. 2, 2002, at Acacias Care Center following a lengthy illness. She was born March 15, 1907 in London Mills, Ill., and lived in Ojai for 52 years and in Ventura County for 71 years, coming from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Ms. Norris was a bookkeeper for AARP at the Ojai office and she taught grade school in Illinois for two years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ojai and Ventura.
She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Joanne Norris Woolley and husband Dale, of Costa Mesa, Calif.; granddaughter Nina Jo Woolley Smith of San Francisco, Calif.; and brother Dr. Daniel Fullmer of Honolulu, Hawaii.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Norris, of Ojai; grandson Alan Norris Smith of Costa Mesa; brother Dr. Ethan Fullmar of Huntington Beach; and sisters Catherine Johnsen and Virginia Berggren of Ojai.
Visitation was held Thursday, Sept. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.
Graveside services are being held today at 1 p.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, with Dr. Wilbur Skeels officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

David Stewart Ramage Jr.

David Stewart Ramage Jr., 55, died Saturday, Aug. 17, 2002, in Oroville, Calif., after a long-term illness. He was born Aug. 17, 1947, in Fullerton, Calif. He had been a longtime resident of Ojai and Ventura.
Mr. Ramage had been a meat cutter in Ojai, and retired as a professional hunting and fishing guide. His interests included sports; he was a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan and had a large collection of Nascar memorabilia.
He is survived by his ex-wife and mother of his two sons, Sandy DeShan, of Ojai; his sons and daughters-in-law, Randy David and Apryl Ramage, of Oroville, Calif., and Cory and Leah Ramage of Ojai; grandchildren Tylar and Travis of Oroville, and grandson-to-be Zachary of Ojai; sister and brother-in-law Tina and J.R. Sheets and their son, "Little David," his namesake. He also leaves many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
In celebration of his life, there will be a gathering of family and friends on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. For location and information, call Sandy DeShan at (805) 646-1032.
In lieu of flowers there is a fund set up to help defer funeral costs. Please send all donations to: Randy Ramage, 5669 Old Olive Highway, Oroville, CA 95966.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Scheer Memorial Chapel in Oroville.

Russell Robert Wagner

Russell Robert Wagner, 69, of Ojai, died Monday, Sept. 2, 2002. He was born to Henry William and Anna Belle Wagner on Jan. 21, 1933, in Jersey City, N.J. He grew up in the communities of Brooklyn, N.Y., and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Mr. Wagner served in the Army and the Navy and retired as a decorated chief petty officer after 20 years of service. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a paratrooper, a Naval recruiter, and a department leader aboard ships of the Pacific Fleet. He worked for the State of California at the Camarillo State Hospital as a locksmith. He was a member of the Meiners Oaks Lions Club and served in several officer positions. He was active in organized events in his neighborhood and always made time to help in anyway he could.
He is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 40 years; five children, daughters and sons-in-law Marie and Terry Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jane and Alan Martin of Quartz Hill, Calif., sons Bob Goudy and Ken Wagner of Ventura, and son and daughter-in-law Vernon and Terry Wagner of Oak View; brothers Roger, Bill, Wayne, and Steven Wagner from New Jersey, and Allen and Greg Wagner from Florida; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Barbara, and brother, Henry.
Viewing will be at the Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai today, from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. at the Ojai Valley Baptist Church, 11642 N. Ventura Ave., Ojai, with the Rev. Scott Harrell officiating. Graveside service will be held immediately following at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mr. Wagner's memory be made to the Salvation Army or the Ojai Valley Baptist Church Building Fund.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.