Obituaries

June Pendleton Welsh She has always been, and will forever be, the heart and soul of our family. We will have to learn to live without her now. On May 9, 2009, the day before Mother’s Day, June Pendleton Welsh passed away peacefully at Twin Pines in Santa Paula. Her life embodied the sacred arts of the mother, the grandmother, the great-grandmother. After several unseasonably warm days, the skies turned cold and gray on that Saturday. As her grandson Brad said: “The whole world is crying for Grandma June.”Anyone who knew her will remember her camera and the precious photographs she took. When she arrived in heaven for a long-awaited family reunion, we know the first thing she did is line everyone up for a group picture.Her camera skills earned her the position of historian for the Santa Paula First United Methodist Church, her extended family. She contributed her embroidered tea towels as well as her time and energy and good will to the yearly church bazaars and soup kitchens. She gave so much to so many, with passion and enthusiasm, because she loved people and they loved her. We will cherish the photo albums she left us and try to live up to her wish: “Do not cry. You will remember me in memories and pictures.”Born August 26, 1923 in Windsor, Missouri to Ted and Leoti Bird, June grew up in Kansas City and went to Benton, the same school Walt Disney attended. Like other good pupils there, she earned the privilege of sitting at the desk where early pictures of Mickey Mouse were carved. A gift to her of anything Disney, especially with Minnie Mouse on it, always brought great appreciation and tears of joy.When the family moved to Tulsa, 16-year-old June worked at the Mayo Hotel and met J. Paul Getty. That was almost as impressive as the hotel’s signature silver dollar pancakes. In 1944 she met Army Air Corps Lieutenant Walter Pendleton of Fort Smith, Arkansas. That first date at a Tulsa roller skating rink led to their marriage and the birth of sons Roger and John in Tulsa. When the couple moved to California, they were blessed with a daughter, Mary.The family of five moved to Santa Paula in 1953. June provided a safe, secure, loving home for her children and her husband, who had become one of the owners of Cauch’s Drug Store and, later, of College Pharmacy in Ventura. She became the president of the Glen City School PTA and supervised the enchilada dinner fundraisers. Her first marriage ended in 1965, but she knew the importance of family. After her marriage to Gordon Welsh in 1972, she demonstrated this magnificently by including Walter and his new wife Mary at birthdays and holidays. She and Gordon were gracious hosts who kept the fabric of family strong. Gordon’s young daughter Jennifer joined the growing circle, which now included grandchildren Jeff and Jocelyn.While working for Sun Oil in Texas, Gordon received a transfer that reunited June with her beloved Santa Paula. In addition to her church work, she became a member of the Ebell Club and AARP, serving as its president in 2002, and worked with the Meals on Wheels program. As testimony of her value to the community, June Welsh won the honor of Woman of History from a local civic organization. She said about her service to the community: “I loved every minute, mostly due to dear friends who were so precious.”June Welsh does not “leave behind” anyone. Her spirit is still with us and will remain ever so. It will comfort and guide us, amuse and inspire us, and fill us with a mysterious sense of peace when we need it so desperately. As the poignant World War II era song says, we will “be seeing you in all the old familiar places, in everything the heart embraces.” Family members who remain in this world and understand this are: husband Gordon Welsh of Santa Paula; daughters Mary Deines (husband Glenn Deines) of Santa Paula, and Jennifer Welsh of Brenham, Texas; sons Roger Pendleton (wife Yvonne) of Dallas, and John Pendleton (wife Stephanie) of Ventura; grandchildren Jeff Pendleton (wife Phylis) of Versailles, Kentucky, Jocelyn Pendleton of Cincinnati, Leah Owings (husband Jeff) of Arlington, Texas, Jay Pendleton (fiancé Ashley Cooper) of Dallas, Matthew Pendleton (wife Megan) of San Francisco, Mark Chisholm (wife Melanie) of Santa Paula, and Brad Chisholm (fiancée Kate Edsell) of Ventura; great-grandchildren Jared, Christian, and Anne Haley Pendleton of Versailles, Kentucky, and Avery, Lillie, and Grafton Owings of Arlington, Texas; sister-in-law Becky Bird of Cibolo, Texas, and nephews Ted Bird (wife Sheryl), and Bobby Bird (wife Marilyn and daughters Ashley and Mallory); and brother-in-law Charles Welsh (wife Barbara).Those who will greet June in heaven are her parents Ted and Leoti Bird, her brother Bob Bird and her grandson Michael Pendleton. She will tell them how to line up for the group picture.Private graveside services will be Saturday May 16, followed by a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Paula. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 133 N. Mill St., Santa Paula, CA 93060. Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary in Santa Paula.Jesus Victoria AKA Jess Victoria