Eddie Brent Colson

Eddie Brent Croson, Ph.D., 66, of Ventura, died Thursday, March 6, 2003 at his residence, following a two-month illness. He was born April 27, 1936 in Bakersfield, Calif., to Eldo and Dorothy Croson. When he was young, his family moved to Ojai, where he graduated from Nordhoff High School.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, he graduated from Fresno State University. He then completed his master's in science in 1979, and his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering in 1990, at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Mr. Croson spent 34 years of his engineering career at the Point Mugu Naval Missile Test Center, before retiring in 1994. While working for the government, he developed the microcircuit capabilities and facility for the U.S. Navy and holds several patents in that related field. He was selected Federal Engineer of the Year in 1985.
Following his retirement, Mr. Croson maintained his own computer engineering business in Ventura and Oregon. He also taught computer science at UCSB, California Lutheran University, and at the Rogue River College in Grants Pass, Ore.
His children are Cara Teri and Edward from his previous marriage to Dorothy Stallings. Then in September 1987, he married Sharon Johnston and became a second father to Derek, Matthew and Courtney Johnston.
His interests and hobbies included photography, gardening, gourmet cooking, reading, classical music and fly-fishing.
Mr. Croson is survived by his wife of 15-1/2 years, Sharon; daughter and son-in-law Cara and Rob Basile of San Diego; daughter Teri Hartshorn of Portland, Ore.; son Edward Croson of San Diego; stepsons Derek Johnston of Grand Junction, Colo., and Matthew Johnston of San Francisco; stepdaughter Courtney Johnston of Ventura; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Joyce and Don Enders, Rosemary and Norby Beilschmidt, Jeanne and John Hibbs, Hank and Dee Moon, Bonnie and Robert Netteland, Bruce and Boni Moon, and Linda B. Thorn; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly, and brother Tom.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 13, at 3 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Eugene Clifford Cliff" Webb

Eugene Clifford "Cliff" Webb, 87, of Whidbey Island, Puget Sound, died in his sleep Monday, March 3, 2003, at home.
An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was also a civic volunteer during his working years, and even more so in retirement. For more than 20 years, he was a member of the Auburn Noon Lions Club in Auburn, Wash., and a former "King Lion." Mr. Webb worked for Auburn Mental Health, and will also be remembered in Auburn as a prime mover behind the forming of a sister city relationship with Kasuga Cho, Japan.
After moving to Santa Barbara, he was again an active member of the church and a volunteer at the seniors' "Little House," his favorite lunch spot.
Mr. Webb is survived by his fiancée, Alice Hahn, of Whidbey Island; daughter Carmel Chandler; son Mark Webb Sr.; his former wife and lifelong friend, Lucille Hogensen; 10 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, DeloraLee Tindall, his first wife, Beryl M. (Miles); and his later wife, Bertha M. (Pulley).
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 15, at 3 p.m. at Whidbey Island Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, Wash.

Pauline Ruth Brandt
Pauline Ruth Brandt, 56, died Wednesday, March 5, 2003 in Ventura, surrounded by her family, after a 10-year battle with lung disease. She was born March 3, 1947 in Washington, Iowa, and was a 43-year resident of the Ojai Valley.
Mrs. Brandt had a child-care center in Ojai for many years and was also known for her pies.
She is survived by her sons, Michael and Gene Miller; daughter Sonja Treder; son-in-law Robert Treder; grandchildren Brayden Ellis, Daisey Miller, Michael Miller, and Paulina Treder; sisters Kaye Burton, Vickie Johnson and Barbara Van Pelt; brothers John Orndorff and Bill Orndorff; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emery Brandt; mother Dorothy O'Rear; and son Bryan Miller.
Her wishes were that there would be no services.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura.

Michael Rice

Michael Rice, 19, of Ojai, died Sunday, March 9, 2003 in Chicago, Ill., following a brief illness. He was born Jan. 12, 1984 in Ojai, and had been a lifelong county resident.
He attended Happy Valley School in Ojai, where he played the conga drums in the Jazz Band. He was currently enrolled as a freshman at the Art Institute of Chicago. At age 5, he began his art studies with Kent and Sharon Butler, of The Art Workshop in Ojai. While in high school he continued in art under the direction of Stephen Sylvester, art teacher at Happy Valley School. From ages 15 to 18, he also studied under Eben and Susan Matthews of Infusion Studios. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, Mike studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. He was awarded many scholarships from various Ojai Valley artists' organizations.
Mike also participated in many plays in the Ojai Valley. His interests included mountain biking and road trips with his father.
He is survived by his parents, David and Rachael Rice, of Ojai; fiancée Deanna Kessler of Ventura; and numerous other family members.
Services will be held Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Private interment will take place at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Rachael Rice Memorial Fund for Michael Rice, Ojai Valley Bank, 1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023, or to the Happy Valley School Art Department, 8585 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, Ojai, CA 93023, where a celebration of Mike's life will be held in April.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Leslie Rennie Johnston

Leslie Rennie Johnston, 78, a 37-year resident of Ojai, died in his sleep Thursday, March 6, 2003, after a long battle with emphysema. He was born March 4, 1925 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to John Smith and Ellen Giles Johnston. He showed an early aptitude for science and engineering, and built his own radios and engines and set off explosions in empty lots.
During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Army. He attended the University of Alberta, where he played defensive tackle on the football team, and graduated in engineering in 1951. One of his early jobs was as a highway engineer for a significant portion of the Trans Canadian Highway.
Mr. Johnston immigrated to Kansas in the early '50s, and then received two job offers, one in California, and one in New York. He decided to take the one in California, because a former girlfriend had moved there years earlier. One night at a folk dance exhibit, he spotted that girlfriend, Vera Goshko. They married Aug. 21, 1955, and were inseparable for 46 years.
Mr. Johnston worked for more than 25 years for Johns-Manville as a civil engineer in their pipe division. He was then a partner in Pipeline Materials, Inc. of Ventura County. He retired in 1990.
His interests included science, classical music, opera, cooking and crossword puzzles.
Mr. Johnston is survived by Valerie and John, Vera's children by a previous marriage, and his and Vera's joint children, Janice, Karen and David; and grandchildren David, Kristina and Isaac Bressler, Renee and Ricky Wallace, and Nathaniel Johnston.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Johnston.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.

Eddie Brent Croson

Eddie Brent Croson, Ph.D., 66, of Ventura, died Thursday, March 6, 2003 at his residence, following a two-month illness. He was born April 27, 1936 in Bakersfield, Calif., to Eldo and Dorothy Croson. When he was young, his family moved to Ojai, where he graduated from Nordhoff High School.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, he graduated from Fresno State University. He then completed his master's in science in 1979, and his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering in 1990, at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Mr. Croson spent 34 years of his engineering career at the Point Mugu Naval Missile Test Center, before retiring in 1994. While working for the government, he developed the microcircuit capabilities and facility for the U.S. Navy and holds several patents in that related field. He was selected Federal Engineer of the Year in 1985.
Following his retirement, Mr. Croson maintained his own computer engineering business in Ventura and Oregon. He also taught computer science at UCSB, California Lutheran University, and at the Rogue River College in Grants Pass, Ore.
His children are Cara Teri and Edward from his previous marriage to Dorothy Stallings. Then in September 1987, he married Sharon Johnston and became a second father to Derek, Matthew and Courtney Johnston.
His interests and hobbies included photography, gardening, gourmet cooking, reading, classical music and fly-fishing.
Mr. Croson is survived by his wife of 15-1/2 years, Sharon; daughter and son-in-law Cara and Rob Basile of San Diego; daughter Teri Hartshorn of Portland, Ore.; son Edward Croson of San Diego; stepsons Derek Johnston of Grand Junction, Colo., and Matthew Johnston of San Francisco; stepdaughter Courtney Johnston of Ventura; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Joyce and Don Enders, Rosemary and Norby Beilschmidt, Jeanne and John Hibbs, Hank and Dee Moon, Bonnie and Robert Netteland, Bruce and Boni Moon, and Linda B. Thorn; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Beverly, and brother Tom.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 13, at 3 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.