Maria Mercedes Mota
Aug 13, 2009
Maria Mercedes Mota was born in Guanajato, Mexico on September 24, 1911. She was orphaned at the young age of 11. She married the love of her life, Bonifacio Mota at the age of 14. Together they raised 11 children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. While they spent several years in El Paso, Texas, they lived most of their lives...
Jose Alfredo Bedolla
Aug 2, 2009
Bedolla, Jose Alfredo Jan. 9, 1932 – Aug. 2, 2009 Jose was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, to parents Teresa Tenorio and Bernardo Bedolla. At a young age, he began his agricultural career laboring throughout California and Texas. Jose finally decided to reside in California and live in the county of Santa Barbara where he lived for 45 years. He first...
Juan Galvan Oceguera
Jul 31, 2009
Juan Galvan Oceguera of Lompoc died Friday, July 31, 2009, at the age of 90. Juan was born March 1, 1919, in El Quiringual, Jalisco, Mexico to Trinidad and Jovita Oceguera. He immigrated to the United States in 1943 as a participant in the brasero program. He traveled throughout the country working primarily in agriculture. He learned various trades to...
Rita C. Schembeck
Jul 31, 2009
A memorial mass for Rita Schembeck, 85, of Lompoc, will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, August 14, 2009 at La Purisima Catholic Church with Rev. Tom Cook officiating. Inurnment will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. Rita was born September 24, 1923 in New York, New York to Charles and Mary Smullen Schembeck. After she earned her bachelors degree, Rita pursued...
Clotilde G. Trancoso
Jul 31, 2009
Mrs. Clotilda G. Trancoso, born on February 10, 1910 in Douglas AZ, passed away, on July 31, 2009 at the age of 99. Tillie, as she was lovingly known to her family & friends, moved to Fresno, Ca from AZ in 1932 and resided there for 3 years. Then moved to Fillmore in 1935 a small town in Sespie to...
Dick Lee Dewees
Jul 30, 2009
Richard Lee DeWees It is with great sorrow I write of the passing of our much beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, in 1948, and died July 30, 2009. Dick always said that being Mayor of Lompoc was the perfect job for him. Our home has stacks of books on American history and...
James Harrison Brown, Jr.
Jul 26, 2009
James "Jim" H. Brown, Jr., 83, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2009, at his home in Lompoc, California. He is survived by his loving wife, Erna Toevs Brown, his two daughters, Susan Anne Brown Matsumoto (Mark) and Catherine Mary Brown Iwaki (Steve), and four grandchildren, Anna Iwaki, Alex Iwaki, Ashley Matsumoto and Darin Matsumoto....
Katie Renee Valla
Jul 25, 2009
Katie Renee Valla passed away on July 25, 2009. Katie was born in Lompoc on July 27, 1984. She was diagnosis at 18 months of age, with Tuberous Sclerosis, a very rare debilitating disease. Katie exceeded the doctors life expectancy by almost 15 years. Katie was a fighter and proved it by overcoming many obstacles that the doctors stated were...
Harold Christopher Van Coops
Jul 24, 2009
Harold "Harry" Van Coops passed away peacefully at his home in Camarillo, California, on Friday, July 24, 2009, with his wife and family at his side. Harry was born on October 1, 1919, in Napa, California, to Harold. Sr., and Dorothy Dobbel Van Coops. He attended Sonoma, California, schools and graduated with honors to attend the University of California, Berkeley,...
Billie M. Matthew
Jul 23, 2009
A memorial tribute honoring the life of Bill M. Matthew, 89, of Lompoc, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2009, at the Lompoc Church of Christ, 138 North O Street. Mr. Matthew was born December 17, 1919, in Hughson, California, to Richard and Lena Matthew. After graduating from high school in Modesto, California, he entered mechanical aeronautics school....
Cheryl Denise Maltman
Jul 22, 2009
Cheryl Denise Maltman passed on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 after a long illness. She was born 1961 in Mountain Home AFB Idaho. Cheryl traveled extensively and lived in various countries as an Air Force dependent. The family settled in Lompoc in 1977. Cheryl graduated from Lompoc high school in 1978. After graduation Cheryl received her certified nursing assistant certificate. For...
John C. Peterson
Jul 21, 2009
John C. Peterson of Lompoc died unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at the age of 48. John was born in Iowa on April 15, 1961, graduating from East High School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1979. A resident of Lompoc since 1999, John was an equipment operator at Baroda Farms and worked many years on the oil...
Shirley E. Bellrose
Jul 21, 2009
Shirley Elizabeth Bellrose of Lompoc passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at the age of 74. The visitation will be on Tuesday, August 4, from 9-10 am and the funeral service at 10 am in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, with the Pastor Robert D. (Bob) Robison of North Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen...
Tilden Brughelli
Jul 20, 2009
Tilden was born in Cayucos, Calif. to Flora and Constant Brughelli on June 10, 1913. The family moved to Jalama Valley in 1917. Tilden was a farmer until he sold his ranch in 1966 and moved down to Lompoc. His joy was his Model T Ford that he raced on Seventh Street back in the 1940's. He won many trophies...
Harold L. Moore
Jul 19, 2009
Harold Moore of Lompoc died Sunday, July 19, 2009, at the age of 79. Harold was born June 7, 1930, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He honorably served his country in the United States Air Force. He worked as a corrections officer and counselor at the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons for over 25 years, retiring in Lompoc in 1980....
Diego Anthony Calles
Jul 18, 2009
Diego Anthony Calles of Lompoc died Saturday, July 18, 2009, at the age of 4 years. He was born on April 20, 2005, in Goleta, California. Diego was a happy child who loved life. He was full of energy and loved being included in all family activities. He enjoyed trains, animals and the beach. Diego is survived by his mother...
Joe Manfrina
Jul 11, 2009
Joe Lawrence Manfrina, 94, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, in Lompoc. Joe was born in Lompoc on May 17, 1915, on his parents' dairy on the El Jaro section of the San Julian Rancho to Lorenzo and Erminia Guidotti Manfrina. His ancestry was in Switzerland – his father was a native of Camedo, and his mother was from Monte Carasso....
Jean Middleton Ostaggi
Jul 10, 2009
Jean Middleton Ostaggi October 15, 1916 - July 10, 2009 Jean Ostaggi joined her creator after a tragic fall at home with a subsequent short convalescence. She was born in Oakland, California to Annie and Robert Middleton. Her father was a British sea captain whose home was in Glasgow, Scotland. Jean and her parents spent much of her first eight...
James David Nigh
Jul 7, 2009
James David Nigh was called to rest in his heavenly home on July 7, 2009 at the age of 78, in Santa Barbara. He was born March 29, 1931 in Fredonia, Kansas to Norval Charles and Blanche (Alderson) Nigh. He grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he graduated from Ft. Smith High School in 1948. It was a great...
Lorraine Reitmeier
Jul 4, 2009
Lorraine Reitmeier born June 29, 1921 in Buffalo, New York passed away July 4, 2009 at the age of 88. She came to Lompoc in 1947 where she lived until 1992 when she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward Reitmeier in 1987. Survivors include two daughters, Arlene Nething and Darlene (Dolly) Myers,...
