Robert Alexander Procter
Robert Alexander Procter, age 89, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2011 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. He was born in Santa Paula, California on November 17, 1921 to Hope Hardison Procter and James N. Procter.
He grew up on the family citrus ranch, attended Santa Paula Union High School, Class of 1940, and earned his B.A. from Stanford University in 1944. He was most at home on the back of a horse, combing the hills and trails of Ventura County and beyond. He was an avid hunter, a dedicated patriot, and a gifted storyteller. He had a passion for history and a vast knowledge of Santa Clara Valley and its people and milestones.
He served in the United States Army from 1946 until his honorable discharge as a reservist in 1953, having achieved the rank of Captain. He served his country in World War II and in the Korean War.
He is survived by his three children, Ann Procter, John Procter, and James Procter; by his four grandchildren, Louisa Footman, Alexander Footman, Sophia Muratori Procter, and John Muratori Procter; and his brother, Norris Procter.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Friday, July 8 at 10 a.m. at Santa Paula Cemetery, 380 Cemetery Rd., Santa Paula, California. A reception for family and friends will follow at Logsdon’s Restaurant, 824 Santa Maria St., Santa Paula, California.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s name to The C.R.E.W. (www.thecrew.org), an environmentally oriented nonprofit youth leadership and employment organization centered in Ojai, California; or the Ventura County Museum of History and Art (www.venturamuseum.org).
Glen Albert Sliger
Glen Albert Sliger passed away unexpectedly on July 5, 2011 with his family by his side. Glen was born on August 6, 1931 to Everett and Lucille Sliger in McCook Nebraska. He spent his childhood on the ball fields and crop fields, working at his father’s Chrysler-Plymouth dealership, and loading and unloading farming products at the railroad depot in McCook.
In his teen years he excelled in sports, played many different musical instruments, and spent his summers life-guarding at the “local swimming holes”. He graduated from McCook High School in 1950.
Glen was offered a football scholarship to Nebraska University and was also accepted at University of Notre Dame. The decision was easy! He chose Norte Dame, where he participated in both the football, track and band programs. In 1954, he graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in Physical Education and a minor in Biology. Glen earned his Masters Degree in Confluent Education at UCSB.
Glen secured his first teaching job at Mullin High School in the Denver, Colorado area. He also coached football and basketball and took his basketball team to two state championships, winning one.
Glen met his wife Barbara (Bobbie) as she was completing nursing school in Denver. Later they moved to Pisgah, Iowa to be near their families in Nebraska and Minnesota. In addition to teaching, Glen began a 40-year sports officiating career at both the high school and college levels.
In 1956 the Sligers moved to Lemoore, California where Glen taught, coached, officiated and started their family. They lived in Arcadia, and ultimately settled in Santa Paula, California with their family of eight.
Glen continued his teaching career in the Santa Paula Elementary School District for 28 years. In addition he was the recreation director for the City of Santa Paula for five years. It was at the elementary school level that his teaching skills and caring attitude touched thousands of eager students. He was thrilled to welcome into his classroom the children of his previous students. In later years he was delighted with positive feedback from former students.
Glen loved traveling and camping with Bobbie and family. They traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. When they were able the couple traveled to many countries, enjoying the variety of cultures throughout the world. He also thoroughly enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s school and sporting events.
Glen lost his wife Barbara, “the light of his life,” in December of 2008. He continued to demonstrate his enthusiasm for life at The Palms at Bonaventure Residence in Ventura, California. In 2009 and 2010 his sons accompanied him to his high school reunion in Nebraska and his college reunion at Notre Dame in Indiana.
He is survived by his sister, Jean Todd (Littleton, CO); his sons: Terry (Denise) and grandchildren Justin, Sean, Brian, and Kevin (Richland, WA), Tom and grandchildren Wesley and Jenna and great-granddaughter Davanie (Gainesville, GA), Tim (Evelyn) and grandchildren Brittany (Ken), Michael, and Brooke (Camarillo, CA), and Kevin (Ninette) and grandchildren Heather, Nicole, Andrea, Tylynn and step grandson Trevor (Santa Paula, CA); and daughters Melinda Sliger (Santa Paula) and Mary Sliger and grandchildren Anthony and Marciana (Ventura, CA).
Glen was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend and mentor.
Contributions may be made to St. Sebastian School, 325 East Santa Barbara Street, Santa Paula, Ca. 93060.
I’m Free
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
to laugh, to love, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things too I will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I’ve savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
I’m with God now, I’ve been set free.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., followed by a rosary at 7 p.m. at St. Sebastian Church (corner of 9th and Santa Paula Streets). A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 14 at St Sebastian Church. Burial will follow immediately after the funeral mass.
Margaret A. Gernat
Margaret Gernat, 86, formerly of Southington, CT, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the evening of June 26, 2011.
Margaret was born to Andrew & Caroline (Bacinsky) Yurcak on June 5, 1925 in Southington, CT, and married William Gernat in September 1948. She remained in Southington until moving to Florida in 1967. After Florida she resided in West Virginia, Maryland and New Mexico, and settled in Santa Paula, CA in 1999.
Margaret was predeceased by her brothers Andrew Yurcak Jr. and Stephen Yurcak, sisters Mary A. Landor and Madeline Yurcak, and granddaughter Jeannette Gernat. She is survived by her three children, son Gregory Gernat of Okeechobee, FL, daughter Jocelyn Bolling and son-in-law Sterling Bolling of Charleston, SC, and daughter Donna Gernat and son-in-law James Kilpatrick of Santa Paula, CA; four grandsons, Jason Gernat, Eric Gernat, Robert Gernat and Ian Bolling; three brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Marion Yurcak of Cape Coral, FL, Joseph and Lorraine Yurcak of Plantsville, CT and John and Betty Yurcak of Nashua NH; and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a Mass Intention for Margaret at St. Sebastian Catholic Church located at 235 N. 9th St. in Santa Paula on Friday, July 15 at 8:30 a.m. She will be laid to rest in Southington, CT.
Joann Wortman
Joann Wortman, 74, of Santa Paula, CA, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2011, from a short illness. Joann was born September 3, 1936 in Coweta, OK. She was a resident of Ventura County for 69 years.
She had worked as a vault teller for many years until she changed occupations and went to school to be a nurse tech, and did that for eight years. She loved to work with the elderly, and spending time with her family and getting together for barbeques.
Joann was preceded in death by her husband Paul E. Wortman, son Gary A. Wortman, twin brother Kenneth Bridges and her sister Marie Stufflebeam.
She is survived by her loving son Mike Wortman, his wife Jody Wortman and grandsons Chris and Danny Wortman; son Richard Wortman and grandson Clayton Wortman; daughter Jodie Saenz, her husband Victor Saenz and grandchildren Dustin and Corina Littleturtle, and Hailey, Victoria and Aiden Saenz; grandchildren Brian and Heather Wortman; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday, July 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Skillin Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, CA. The graveside service will be Tuesday, July 12 at 10 a.m. at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, 380 Cemetery Rd., Santa Paula, CA.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, CA 93060, phone 805-525-3391.
Sylvia Bravo
Sylvia Bravo, age 88, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2011 at Vista Cove Health Care Center, Santa Paula, CA. She joins her loving husband, Joe, who preceded her in death.
Sylvia was born May 18, 1923 in Bridgeport, Texas to Eugene and Bence Carrier. She received her Registered Nursing degree at Cook County School of Nursing in Chicago, IL on June 6, 1944.
Subsequently, she moved to Los Angeles to work in a clinic run by Dr. Francisco Bravo. It was there she met her future husband Joe. They married in 1946 and remained married for 61 years until his death on December 5, 2007.
Their marriage produced three children: Olivia (mate Richard Carte) of Cross Lanes, WV, and sons Michael of San Luis Obispo, CA and John of Santa Paula, CA, who survive her; along with one grandson, Nathan Perry, and a very faithful dog, Lily. Also surviving are two sisters, Mary Stewart and Erlinda Carrier, both of Dallas, TX.
The family wishes to thank TLC Home Hospice – in particular Jeannette Fry and Julia Scott, for their care and support. We also wish to thank Trisha Wisenbaker, Mom’s personal health care nurse. Without these people, Mrs. Bravo would not have lived long and well.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church, 235 N. 9th St., Santa Paula. Fr. Charles Lueras will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following organizations: Alzheimer’s Association of the Central Coast, 1528 Chapala St. #204, Santa Barbara, CA 93101; or TLC Home Hospice, 5400 Atlantis Ct., Moorpark, CA 93021.
