Obituaries

November 12, 1999
November 12, 1999
Obituaries
Ruth Tushla Dwyer Ruth Jeannette Dwyer died on October 25, 1999 in Santa Paula of natural causes.Ruth was born September 28, 1908 on a farm in southeast Nebraska. She attended the University of Nebraska and Peru State Teacher’s College, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931. She taught music at the Safford, Arizona High School for three years, and later at the Auburn Public Schools.On June 4, 1934, Ruth married Francis M. Tushla, M.D. For over 25 years she did all of the cooking and cleaning for a medical office, and also for a 15 bed private hospital and full nursing staff. She also raised a family of four. On June 18, 1961 Dr. Tushla died in a plane crash near Auburn, Nebraska.In October, 1973, at the age of 65, Ruth married Frank Dwyer, age 73, and lived in his native country of Australia until his death in 1991. She then returned to California, where she lived the past eight years with her daughter, Carol, and later her devoted daughter-in-law, Teresa; and finally Twin Pines Convalescent Hospital, with failing health.Ruth is survived by a daughter, Carol Frances (John) Samson of Long Beach; and two sons, Richard James (Connie) Tushla of Santa Paula, and Dennis Michael (Pat) Tushla of Dowagiac, Michigan. Another son, Terry Jean Tushla, M.D., preceded her in death on February 3, 1990. To date there are 23 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.Music was a dominant feature of Ruth’s life. In 1931 she won the Nebraska State Atwater Kent radio audition as a mezzo-soprano, advancing to the national competition in Chicago. She was the lead vocalist and director of the church choir for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Auburn. Parishioners will recall her singing in the numerous Christmas and Easter Mass celebrations there.Ruth also gave private vocal and piano lessons in her home. She composed the Nebraska State Song for the American Legion Auxiliary, and taught vocal music to blind students at the Nebraska School for the Visually Handicapped in Nebraska City. The kids excelled and won many awards.Listen closely, and you might hear Ruth singing “Ave Maria” to Our Lady in Heaven.Clarence A. GarlickClarence A. Garlick went home to his Lord on October 30, 1999.Clarence was my next door neighbor for the past three and a half years. He was very alert and looked out for all of us and our property when we were away from the apartment complex. We are certainly going to miss him, he was a real dependable guy!Clarence was an early riser; he got up at 4 a.m. each morning and traveled on his bicycle to Vince’s Coffee Shop on Main Street, to get everything off to a good start for the breakfast crowd.While Clarence spent a lot of his time at home, he did have frequent visits from his very good friends Walt Klement and Art Garcia, both local businessmen. Also Tom Crowder, who lives nearby, stopped by almost daily as he bicycled to his hangar at the airport.Tom Crowder and Clarence had something in common, they both liked to use bicycles to get around town. They claimed that bicycling exercise makes you live longer!Well it certainly did. Let this be a lesson to all who read this - Clarence was 83 years, 7 months and 22 days old when he passed; he was born March 8, 1916!Clarence is survived by nieces and nephews residing in Oregon, and his cousin Frank J. Fernandez of Moorpark.You will be missed, Clarence.Vaya con Dios.
Harold R. CrawfordLois DuarteLois Duarte, age 80, of Valencia, died on November 7, 1999 after a lengthy illness.Born July 4, 1919, the former Santa Paula resident was active in the formation of the Santa Paula Union High School Alumni Association, even though she was a graduate of Santa Barbara High School.Mrs. Duarte was Santa Barbara County’s first Girl Scout to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, and was given her award by Mrs. Herbert Hoover. A graduate of Santa Barbara State College, she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Kappa Gamma. As a student of interpretive ballet, she was one of three women at the college to meet with Martha Graham.A former educator in Burbank, Mrs. Duarte resided in that community for 58 years.She leaves her husband of 59 years, Norbet Duarte; two daughters, Michele (Gerard) Kilroy and Diane (Robert) Babko; and three grandchildren, Jeffrey Babko, Pamela Kilroy and Stephen Kilroy.Private graveside services will be held in Santa Barbara. Memorial services will be at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 2707 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, on Saturday, November 13 at 1 p.m.In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Heart Association can be made.William “Buster” McKownWilliam “Buster” McKown, age 86, of Ventura, passed away November 9, 1999 in Ventura following a brief illness.He was born November 9, 1913 in San Saba, Texas, and was a county resident for 61 years. He had worked at Juanamaria School for 14 years.He is survived by his wife, Helen McKown of Ventura; daughter Wretha Huber of Santa Paula; son Bill McKown of Ventura; six grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and sister Melveena Gage of San Saba, Texas.Graveside services will be held at Santa Paula Cemetery on Friday, November 12 at 10 a.m., Buddy Colvard officiating.Arrangements under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.



Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster