Marjorie A. Poling

Marjorie A. Poling, 91, of Ojai, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003 of natural causes. She was born Feb. 7, 1911 in Jefferson City, Mo., and had lived in Ojai for two years, coming from Santa Paula.
Mrs. Poling was a homemaker. She was a member of the Santa Paula Eastern Star, and her interests included fishing, hunting, sewing and cooking.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Marjorie and Cal Carnaham of Laguna Niguel, and Pinky and Gary Belshe of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Martin and Arlene Poling of Thousand Oaks, and Carl and Paula Poling of Thousand Palms; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Leonard L. Poling.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Chapel in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.

Lester "Les" Acosta

Lester "Les" Acosta, 41, of Idaho Springs, Colo., died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, after a long battle with cancer. He died at University Hospital in Denver, with his wife, Katie, and stepson Michael by his side. He was born April 10, 1961 in Ojai.
He grew up and spent most of his life in the Ojai Valley.
Mr. Acosta is survived by his wife, Katie, of Idaho Springs; son Todd of Beaverton, Colo.; stepchildren Elaine, Michael and Christopher, all of Colorado; mother Judy Acosta, and father and stepmother Ernie and Bettye Acosta, all of Ojai; mother-in-law Cammie Conlon of Fort Bragg, Calif.; brother and nephew, Ron and Tyler Acosta, and sister and niece Jennifer and Jessica Ammerman, all of Ojai; maternal grandmother Dorothy Todd of Ojai; paternal grandmother Angelina Hull of Santa Paula; maternal aunts and uncles Jerry and Jack Todd, and JoAnn, Ron and cousin Kelly Hager, all of Ojai; paternal aunts and uncles Richard and Marlene Acosta, Linda and Doug Kaser, Katy and Dick Johnson, all of Ojai, Elaine and Bob Johnson of Sonora, Calif., and Allan and Juanita Acosta of Reno, Nev.; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, C.B. Todd and Manuel Acosta.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Private interment of ashes will follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a cancer fund of your choice.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Richard J. Ortega

Richard J. Ortega, 79, died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003 in Cadet, Mo. He was born Nov. 5, 1923 in Ventura, Calif., a descendant of Ventura County's pioneer Ortega family. He was the son of Joseph and Adelina (Bracamonte) Ortega.
He was in the U.S. Army, 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division during World War II, serving in the European Theater in Ardunnes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was a rail-splitter.
Mr. Ortega volunteered for the Red Ball Express and was awarded the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, and European/African Middle-Eastern Medal. He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ventura Power Squadron.
Mr. Ortega was the owner of Ortega's Tortilla Factory in Ventura during the 1950s, and owned Don Ricardo's Restaurant in Ojai during the 1960s. He retired in 1985 and moved to Missouri.
He is survived by his wife, Loretta Ortega, of Cadet, Mo.; daughters Jacqueline Ortega-Aguirre and Geraldine Romo, and sons Rick and Kirk Ortega, all of Ventura; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, 757 E. Main St., Ventura, where friends may visit from 2 p.m. until the service time.
Arrangements are under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.