Obituaries

Ramona Arroyo Ramona Arroyo passed away Sunday, May 19, 2002 surrounded by family and friends. She will be greatly missed by the many who knew her. She lived a long life, and her many friends will testify to her loving nature and her strong will.Ramona was born May 1, 1902 in Salea, Mexico. She came to Arizona at the age of 17, where she worked as a housekeeper for many years. She moved to East Los Angeles in her 40s, where she worked as a seamstress.When Ramona was in her late 90s she came to Twin Pines. She was known as “Ramoncita” by the wonderful staff who took the most loving and compassionate care of her that anyone could ask for.We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to her close friends who worked at Twin Pines, and to those visiting their family members who treated Ramona like family.Wilma M.“Max” GriffinLongtime Santa Paula resident Wilma M. “Max” Griffin, 83, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2002 following a sudden illness.Wilma was born on July 9, 1918 in Goodson, Polk County, Missouri to Jess and Addie Morris. She moved to Santa Paula with her family at a very early age. She was a member of Goodson Baptist Church in Goodson, Missouri.Wilma was a former member of the Santa Paula Chapter #185 Order of Eastern Star. She loved to travel, making numerous trips to Hawaii. Her hobbies included crocheting, knitting and tatting, and playing Pinochle. Wilma will be remembered most for the love she showed for family and friends.She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Wilma is survived by her sons, Lloyd and Floyd Griffin, both of Santa Paula; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 24 at 10 a.m. at Pierce Brothers Stetler Chapel, 128 S. 8th Street. Burial will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.As an expression of love, memorial donations may be made in Wilma’s memory to the American Heart Association, 333 N. Lantana, Suite 265, Camarillo, CA 93010.Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.Mattie Eleanor RichardsMattie Eleanor Richards, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend to all, ascended to her heavenly reward on May 21, 2002. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 1, 1912.She graduated from St. Joseph Academy and decided to become a nun. However, she had to leave the convent and come to California because of ill health. Here she met Clark Richards, and married him on September 22, 1932 at San Buenaventura Mission.They moved to Santa Paula in 1933 and opened Richards Electric Store, which later became Richards Furniture Store. Mattie helped Clark run the store and continued to be his bookkeeper when he established Richards Realty in 1955.In 1985, Clark and Mattie sold their business. They devoted their time to their rapidly expanding family, St. Sebastian’s Church, and the community of Santa Paula, supporting many religious and civic charities. Mattie was a member of the altar society, the YLI, and other civic organizations.At the time of their first daughter’s wedding in 1953, Mattie had difficulty finding a local place to rent party supplies. She purchased dishes, silverware, punch bowls and a tea service, which were borrowed by hundreds of county residents. Three years ago Mattie was honored as one of Santa Paula’s “Women of History.”Clark preceded Mattie in death on March 24, 1994. Mattie is survived by five daughters, Carolyn Tulberg of Santa Paula, Claudia Morrison of Thousand Oaks, Eleanor Wendlberger Brown of San Mateo, Marcela Baxley of Chico, and Theresa Bulla-Richards of Santa Paula; 38 grandchildren, Bobbi Winkler, Amy Gurrola, Terri Marzec, Gene Tulberg, Matthew Morrison, Patty Arguelles, Julie Wendlberger, Jeff Fletcher, Dan Morrison, Joe Wendlberger, Noel Fletcher, Clark Tulberg, Cathy Partridge, Lance Fletcher, Kay Hartman, Sharon Jolly, Mary Dean, Lori Fletcher, June Richardson, Mattie Oehmke, Karen Becker, Alice Zeissler, Rose Frame, Carl Tulberg, Steven Soprano, Christine Popok, Tae Abate, Michael Soprano, Marilyn Mason, Tony Brown, Mike Wendlberger, Jeffrey Soprano, Aja Bulla-Richards, June Brown, Rebecca Engel, Mark Brown, Suzanne Soprano, and Elizabeth Soprano; 68 great-grandchildren, Lora Geis, Jamie Winkler, Esther Gurrola, Heather Marzec, Jessica Arguelles, Holly Marzec, Janen Dean, Jennifer Tulberg, John Arguelles, David Gurrola, Tiffany Fletcher, Emily Zeissler, Brant Dean, Sydney Lighty, Dick Panattoni, Nicholas Zeissler, Chris Lighty, Anthony Gurrola, Jason Tulberg, Brian Wendlberger, Alex Zeissler, Madison Fletcher, Chris Gurrola, Casey Hartman, Sam Tulberg, Eric Morrison, Joshua Tulberg, Adam Oehmke, Mallory Jolly, Gretchen Wendlberger, Dorothy Tulberg, Evelyn Oehmke, Allen Dean, Daniel Tulberg, Corey Hartman, Raymond Becker, Aaron Richardson, Lauren Wendlberger, Henry Tulberg, Heidi Oehmke, Jenna Fletcher, Mark Dean, Bobby Jolly, Danielle Morrison, Madeline Hartman, Katherine Becker, Jessica Soprano, Joseph Tulberg, Stephanie Soprano, Alyssa Richardson, Spencer Fletcher, Jacob Frame, Matthew Jolly, Charles Oehmke, Allison Wendlberger, Michael Fletcher, Ayli Tulberg, Richard Soprano, Kyle Popok, Samuel Fletcher, Max Tulberg, Alex Partridge, Elan Tulberg, Lucas Frame, Lucas Fletcher, Weston Mason, Garrison Wendlberger, and Logan Popok; one great-great-grandchild, Nicole Geis; and her sister, Serena (Weenie) Borne of Thibodaux, Louisiana.