Ruth Clausen

Ruth Clausen, 88, of Ojai, died Thursday, May 1, 2003 in Baker, Ore., following a brief illness. She was born May 15, 1914 in Chicago, Ill., and lived in Ojai since 1937, coming from Atascadero, Calif.
Ruth and her husband, Harold, founded Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai in 1937. They also provided an ambulance service to the Ojai Valley.
Mrs. Clausen was a member of the Ojai Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Old-Time Fiddlers Association, and Phi Alpha Kappa Sorority (holding national offices). Along with her husband, she was a member of the Ventura County Funeral Directors Association.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jerald and Barbara Clausen of Ojai; son Robert Clausen of Cave Junction, Ore.; daughter and son-in-law Marie and Gene Marks of North Powder, Ore.; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Clausen, in 1975.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai on Friday, May 9, from 2 to 8 p.m.
Services will be held Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home. Pastor Scott Harrell will officiate, and the Old-Time Fiddlers Association will provide musical selections. Private interment will be at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Family services were also held in Baker City, Ore., on Saturday, May 3.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Robert Elwood Chelsey

Robert Elwood Chesley, 71, of Ojai, died Monday, May 5, 2003 at his home. He was born April 23, 1932 in Hamilton, Texas, to Joseph Theodore and Lois Cameron Chesley.
After the death of his father, he came to the Ojai Valley at age 16 to attend The Thacher School. Following Thacher, he received a bachelor of science degree in physics and a master's in education from Stanford University. While at Stanford he met Alice McKinney, and they married and raised a family.
After a short stint in the U.S. Army, Mr. Chesley returned to The Thacher School in 1957 to teach physics and math. Over the next 13 years he passed on his knowledge of physics, astronomy, photography, the outdoors, flying and ham radio to the students and faculty of Thacher. As his experience in education grew, he was able to expand his horizons in conjunction with Harvard Project Physics and teach in India, Chile, and the Philippines.
Mr. Chesley left the Ojai Valley in 1970 to begin work for the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., ultimately managing the Educational Research Information Center (E.R.I.C.). While there, he was able to provide flight instruction to his three sons and see them solo.
Mr. Chesley returned for the third time to the Ojai Valley in 1983, to become business manager of The Thacher School. After retirement, he built his own airplane, which he first flew in 1999. His son, Matthew, continues to fly the plane. During retirement, Mr. Chesley began his service to many organizations in the Ojai Valley, including the Ojai Rotary Club, and serving on the boards of Ojai Valley School and Concerned Resource and Environmental Workers (C.R.E.W.).
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Alice; sons John and Matthew; daughter-in-law Julie; and grandchildren Peyton, Michael and Cole.
He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Michael, in 1975.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in the outdoor chapel of The Thacher School. His family would like to thank all those who provided comfort in the last months and Hospice, who helped in the final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ojai Valley School, The Thacher School, Ojai Rotary Education Foundation or Rotary International Foundation.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Beverly Ann Meador

Beverly Ann Meador, 75, of Ojai, died Sunday, May 4, 2003, after a battle with congestive heart failure. She was born July 11, 1927 in Tulsa, Okla., and had lived in the Ojai Valley for the last 42 years.
She and her husband, Don, celebrated 58 years of marriage in February. Mrs. Meador worked as a nurse in Ojai and Ventura. Her interests included cooking and baking bread for family, friends and neighbors.
She is survived her husband, Don C. Meador, of Ojai; daughters and sons-in-law Carolyn and Don Luttrell, Linda and Mike Coffey, and Susan and John Cahill; son and daughter-in-law David and Margie Meador; and five grandchildren.
Friends may call at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Services will be held Thursday, May 8, at 10 a.m. at Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai, with Father Michael McFadden, O.S.A., officiating. Interment will be immediately following at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Gladys O. Kirkwood

Gladys O. Kirkwood, 88, of Ojai, died Thursday, May 1, 2003. She was born Gladys Benedict on Sept. 30, 1914 in Marlon Township, Minn.
She married Lawrence J. Kirkwood on Dec. 23, 1933, and they raised three children, LaVonne Ruth, Shelley Rae, and Jon Dennis. The family moved from Minnesota to California in 1951 and eventually settled in Burbank, where they lived for 26 years. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkwood were active in the Burbank First United Methodist Church, and also did a great deal of traveling.
After her husband's retirement in 1976, Mrs. Kirkwood retired from the Auto Club of Southern California in 1977. She and her husband then moved to Ojai, where she has resided for the past 26 years.
Until the last few years, Mrs. Kirkwood was active in the Ojai United Methodist Church and could frequently be spotted on various tennis courts in Ojai. Her interests also included cooking and horses.
She is survived by her daughter, LaVonne Allison; son Jon Kirkwood; son-in-law Mark Allison; daughter-in-law Pam Kirkwood; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Kirkwood, daughter Shelley, sister Violet Johnson, and her parents, Mabel Jefferis and Ray Benedict.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Help of Ojai, P.O. Box 621, Ojai, CA 93024.
Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai is handling the arrangements for a private family service. Inurnment will follow at Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai.

Donna L. Honer

Donna L. Honer, 74, of Ojai, died Monday, May 5, 2003. She was born Nov. 20, 1929 in Santa Monica, Calif., to Lewis and Leota Schutt. She was raised and educated in southwest Los Angeles.
She married Richard Honer 55 years ago; together they raised five children in Montalvo. Mrs. Honer worked at Ventura County Hospital for 15 years. She moved to Orange County when her husband was transferred.
Upon moving back to Ventura County and settling in Ojai, Mrs. Honer became a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. She volunteered time at St. Joseph's Health and Retirement Center in Ojai, where she was past president of the Women's Auxiliary.
She is survived by her husband, Dick Honer; children Linda Laws, Patti and Bill Figge, Jim and Lisa Honer, Ricky Honer, and Rocky and Dorothy Honer; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Health and Retirement Center, P.O. Box 760, Ojai, CA 93024-0760.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

Richard C. Booth

Richard C. Booth, of Ojai, died Sunday, April 27, 2003. He was born Aug. 2, 1917 in Ohio. He came to California in 1948, where he met and married his wife, Jean. Together they raised their family in South Pasadena, Calif., eventually moving to Ojai in 1980.
Mr. Booth was a builder of custom homes and was past master of the Ojai Masonic Lodge. His interests included barbershop singing, sailing, hunting and golf.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Booth; his children, Deborah, Teri, Jacalyn and Gary; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his son, Rick.
The Booth family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Ojai Valley Community Hospital for their care during his last days.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Francis Michael Mandulay

Francis Michael Mandulay, 78, of Ojai, died Monday, May 5, 2003 in Ojai of natural causes. He was born Oct. 1, 1924 in Youngstown, Ohio, and lived in Ojai for 50 years, coming from the Los Angeles area.
Mr. Mandulay was the Ford franchise dealer in Ojai for many years. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was inducted into the UCLA Football Hall of Fame. His memberships included Association of Retired Secret Service Agents, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (50 years), board member of the Association of Ford Motor Car Dealers and he was a 50-year member of the Ojai Valley Inn. He also had obtained his law degree.
He is survived by his daughters, Michelle Mandulay of Ventura, and Jennifer Mandulay Poelking of Grover Beach, Calif.; sister Eleanor McCandless of Ojai; niece Marilyn McCandless of Ojai; and son-in-law Michael Poelking of Grover Beach.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ojai, with Father Bill Olivas, O.S.A., officiating. Interment will be at Santa Clara Cemetery, Oxnard.
Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.