Ray was one of two children born to Libero and Tina Sepulveda. His parents were both immigrants from Italy who settled in Los Angeles. Ray grew up in Glassell Park, a neighborhood in northeast L.A. At Eagle Rock High School Ray excelled at baseball and basketball, and started on the Varsity for two years. His athletic abilities led him to volleyball in college, where he honed his skills, and brought them to Santa Paula.Ray is survived by his loving wife Catherine; daughter Rena; son Tony (Capitan Sanchez); his mother Tina; sister Helen and brother-in-law Arlen Bell; family, friends and boudys.John Merrill and Eddie Arguelles will be hosting a memorial service at Santa Paula High School, Center Court, on Saturday, August 25 from 3 to 5 p.m.The family has requested that instead of flowers contributions be made to the Ray Sepulveda Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o 537 Glade Dr., Santa Paula, CA 93060.The wind comes up over Anacapa,The creek whispers in the gorge,The sunsets over La Ribera,Farewell Boudy.Memorial service Saturday for acclaimed SPUHS educator Ray Sepulveda.Joseph A. RaffertyJoseph A. Rafferty, age 80, of Santa Paula, passed away on Wednesday, August 22, 2001.“Joe” was a native Santa Paulan, born on November 28, 1920 to Joseph and Ella Rafferty. He lived with his parents on the Rafferty Family Ranch in Santa Paula Canyon and attended Mupu Elementary School, Santa Paula High School, and UC Berkeley, where he studied engineering. But it was wartime, and his love for flying and his high school sweetheart - Marilyn - drew him back to Santa Paula, where he worked as a flight instructor training pilots for the Civilian Pilot Training Program from 1940-42. During World War II from 1942-45 he then became part of the Army Air Corps 6th Ferrying Group out of Long Beach, “flying various types of aircraft to various parts of the world,” especially the southwest Pacific. After the war, Joe then worked for a time with Flying Tigers and the Civil Aeronautics.Eventually Joe moved back to Santa Paula to run the Rafferty Family Ranch and raise his family. Over the years as a local rancher he served on the board of directors for many associations, including the Santa Paula Citrus Association, the Santa Paula Orange Association, the Fruit Growers Association, and the Associates Insectary. He was also involved in the local Santa Paula Airport and the Quiet Birdmen.Joe continued to pursue his passion for flying and meticulously restored a 1940 Porterfield aircraft, a design that he originally taught flying in. Along with flying, Joe loved to camp and explore the outdoors with family and friends on rugged jeep trips to the local back country, deserts, and points beyond, looking for arrowheads and shooting trap with the guys.Joe will be greatly missed by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn; son Joseph Rafferty of Santa Paula; son and daughter-in-law Gary and Cindy Rafferty of Agoura; daughter and son-in-law Lori Rafferty Wathne and Kail Wathne of Santa Barbara; grandchildren, Justin, Joseph, Kelsey, Reese and Curtis; and many precious friends.A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 25 at the First Presbyterian Church, Santa Paula, the Rev. Tom Bousman officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, Inc., P.O. Box 908, Santa Paula, CA 93061.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.
Obituaries
August 24, 2001
Obituaries
Floyd Wayne Coleman
Floyd Wayne Coleman, age 70, of Santa Paula, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2001 in Santa Paula. He was born June 22, 1931 in Oxnard, and was a life-long Ventura County resident.Mr. Coleman was employed as a brick mason for 30 years for ACK Masonry. He was a member of the Poinsettia Masonic Lodge #633 F&AM in Ventura. He loved the Colorado River and spent many happy times there.He is survived by his children, son Gary and wife Karla Coleman of Snohomish, Washington, and daughter Kim and husband Raymond Wagner of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; four grandchildren; sister Corene Cox of Santa Paula; special niece Denna Mae; and three stepchildren, Linda, Leslie and Billie.Visitation will be held at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary on Friday, August 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery.Memorial donations can be made in Mr. Coleman’s name to the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ventura, CA 93003.Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.Ray SepulvedaRay Sepulveda (1945-2001)A Lover of LifeA Man of CompassionA VisionaryA LeaderA FatherA FriendA FishermanA HunterA BoudyRay Sepulveda, a visionary community educator in Santa Paula, passed away on August 19, 2001 in Talkeetna, Alaska at the age of 55. An educator for 33 years at Santa Paula High School, Ray led the change of the school to a college prep curriculum. His vision led to the formation of Santa Paula High School Agricultural Academy, a collaborative of educators, universities, and local agribusiness mentors, a school within a school, which just graduated its first class of 2001. All 22 graduates were admitted to universities with scholarships. Ray was the director of the Ag Academy and Human Services Academy at Santa Paula High School.Sepulveda just received the Santa Paula Latino Town Hall Education Award on August 5, 2001. Ray was known as a teacher who went beyond being an educator. He taught his students life skills including individual responsibility, teamwork and giving back to the community. In the classroom he coached students to pursue to their dreams to overcome oppression and poverty, and to strive for excellence. He taught his students that by excelling in education, they could pursue opportunities in life. As a career educator, Sepulveda taught biology, zoology, marine biology, physical science and horticulture; many of his students won first place awards at state and county science fairs. He also coached two state girl’s volleyball championships in the 1980s.Sepulveda was first and foremost a family man. He moved to Santa Paula in 1968 after graduating with a master’s degree in Marine Biology from UCSB. He owned a small avocado ranch where he lived with his family. A passion for fishing and hunting filled his time not devoted to family and community education. Ray was a legend in the Ventura Marina and the Channel Island waters.
