Obituaries

May 02, 2008
Obituaries
Richard (Dick) Motley After a nearly 10-week battle with pneumonia, Dick Motley finally went home April 23, 2008.Dick was born in Ventura on December 9, 1938, grew up in Santa Paula, and graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1956. He was an outstanding gymnast on the parallel bars and loved his hot rods. He graduated from Fresno State with a degree in business.Dick worked for a short time in a bank and discovered that a white-collar job wasn’t for him. He loved working with his hands, so he became an electrician with IBEW-952 until an accident left him a quadriplegic in 1972.In 1979 he married Brigitte Marschall and together they accomplished numerous things, from building his mountain cabin at the beach to being involved in the antique business, first at the Antique Collection in Ojai with Leon Likens, and more recently at Ventura Antique Market with David Marcus. Dick was a weekend fixture at the store, trying to wheedle something from a customer at a bargain price or trying to make a big sale. He was often in the parking lot making sure customers weren’t using his parking spaces while having a burger at The Habit. Although confined to a wheelchair for 35 years, Dick was quite a character with an uncanny sense of humor.His family was the most important part of his life. He was a devoted husband and father.Dick is survived by his wife and constant companion of 31 years, Brigitte, son Jim, daughter Amy, mother Elizabeth, and brother John (wife Ruth) and nephews Peter and John and niece Erin, all of Oregon. He is also survived by his first wife Barbara Ashby, faithful friend Nathan Blanchard, and many other special friends. Dick loved his friends.A very special thank you goes to all the CCU nurses and respiratory techs at Community Memorial for the dedication and outstanding care shown to Dick during his stay. They will not be forgotten.A celebration of his life will be held at Love International Outreach Fellowship, 1711 Wood Place, Ventura, on Saturday, May 3 at 11 a.m. with a reception following. Please bring a favorite anecdote or photo of Dick to share.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Love International Outreach Fellowship (LIOF) in care of missions, so that souls will be reached and brought into the kingdom of God through his death. Him who the Son sets free is free indeed.Herman W. “Bill” Jones, Ph.D.Herman W. “Bill” Jones, 83, died at his home in Ojai, CA on April 21, 2008. Bill was born February 2, 1925 in New Castle, Indiana. He graduated from New Castle High School in 1942 as valedictorian of his class.In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, graduating class of ’49. In 1951 he was designated a “Naval Aviator.” Bill married Anne Morrison of Canada in 1954.Early in his 27-year Naval career, Bill flew fighter planes (the F9F Panther) in the Korean conflict. He received the award for flying as “Top Gun,” and went on to become Gunnery Instructor in the Artillery “Top Gun” School. Bill also served in Vietnam as navigator aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. As a test pilot flying experimental high altitude jets, Bill was the first Navy pilot to fly at Mach II (twice the speed of sound). Bill flew over 220 combat missions in over 50 types of airplanes and he had more than 5,000 hours of flight time.After his retirement in 1970 (as a Navy Captain), Bill worked for the aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney in Montreal, Canada. During the 70s and 80s, Bill worked as an independent research engineer researching alternative fuels including bio fuels and hydrogen power for automobile engines. He had several inventions, including the hands-free faucet system. He subsequently sold that patent to Delta Faucets.
During his career, Bill earned two master’s degrees, one in Aeronautical Engineering, and one in Mechanical Engineering. He also earned his Ph.D. in Physics, writing his thesis on the famous scientist, Nikola Tesla. In 1990, Bill was awarded the National Distinguished Scientists’ Award in recognition of his contributions to science. Bill was an Eagle Scout, a Kentucky Colonel, and a 32nd degree Mason.Bill was always humble, generous, and a living example of the Protestant work ethic. We will miss him dearly.He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Leigh Danica and Carl Hyndman of Ojai; daughter and son-in-law Megan and Damien Shilo of Santa Paula; son and daughter-in-law Laurence E. and Sarah Jones of England; and son Craig Trevor Jones of China. He will also be lovingly remembered by his five grandchildren, Amber Dayney, Matthew and Benjamin Jones, Maryann Shilo and Annie Hyndman.Memorial services to be held in August.Norman Alfonso AraizaNorman A. Araiza was born June 1, 1945 in Santa Paula, California. He passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008. Being a retired, life long resident of Ventura County, Norman enjoyed NASCAR racing, building model cars, and taking long rides. He loved to cook, and he always made sure that everyone enjoyed it when he did.He was preceded in death by his father Alfonso Araiza, his mother Grace Araiza, and his brother Oscar Araiza.Norman is survived by his wife, Cruz Araiza; his daughter, Deanne Araiza; his son, Derek Araiza; and his grandchildren, Alecia Lemus and Nathaniel Araiza. All of the family would like to share this poem in honor of Norman:Remember Me“To the Living I am gone, to the sorrowful I will never return, to the angry I was cheated, but to the faithful I have never left, I cannot speak but I can listen, I cannot be seen but I can be heard, so as you stand upon a shore gazing at the beautiful sea… Remember Me.”There will be a Rosary held in Norman’s honor at the Skillin Carroll Chapel on Friday, May 2 at 3 p.m. in Santa Paula. Arrangements are under the directions of Skillin Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula.



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