Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday June 15 at the Church of God, 221 N. 9th St., Santa Paula.In lieu of flowers donations are requested for the Endicott family in care of the Wells Fargo Bank in Santa Paula, account number 0930291257.Walter Ubaldo MorenoWalter Ubaldo Moreno, age 86, of Sunland, passed away May 23, 2001. He was born March 13, 1915 in Piru.Mr. Moreno attended high school in Fillmore, where he was active in football and basketball, and graduated from Ventura College. For several years the Moreno family members were the majority of the students enrolled in the Buckhorn school. Mr. Moreno worked for Litton Industries for several years before his retirement.Mr. Moreno entered the Air Force in 1941, and attended pilot training. He completed over 27 missions flying B-17 planes during World War II. He was able to return from two separate missions in his crippled plane “Messy Bessie” with over 300 bullet holes. After returning home, he flew for SAC surveillance missions. Mr. Moreno has been featured in the Fillmore Museum military section.Mr. Moreno is survived by his brothers, Isaiah Moreno, Samuel Moreno, Abraham Moreno, Dan Moreno and Benny Moreno; and a sister, Elizabeth Garcia. He was preceded in death by brothers Sal and Martin, and by sisters Margaret and Tillie.Private graveside services with military honors will be held at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, with the Rev. Al Stones officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary.Mel HoweryMel Howery, age 63, of Santa Paula, passed away June 8, 2001 in Santa Rosa. He was born January 3, 1938 in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and was a county resident for 51 years, coming from Oklahoma.Mel worked as recreation director of the City of Santa Paula for 30 years. He was a member of Kiwanis, active with the Boys & Girls Club, a member of the Board of Directors for the Santa Clara Valley Hospice, and executive director of the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce for one year.He is survived by his wife, Lucia Howery of Santa Paula; daughter Lori Lee Howery of Rancho Cucamonga; and sisters, Jody Rose of Eureka, Alta Loftin of Santa Paula, Pat Coca of Santa Paula, and Father William Howery of Santa Paula.Visitation was 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula. Services were held at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary on Friday, June 15 at 1 p.m., the Rev. Ken Bevel officiating. Burial was at Santa Paula Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.
Obituaries
June 15, 2001
Obituaries
Charles Vernon “Vern” Griffin
Charles Vernon “Vern” Griffin, 77, passed away suddenly Tuesday, June 5, 2001 at 3:45 p.m. from a massive stroke. He lived in Ventura County for all but three months of his life.He was born in Seattle, Washington on February 17, 1924 to Ira H. Griffin and Lena M. Gay, who met during the 1898 Yukon gold rush in Alaska. When he was three months old, the family came to Ventura by boat, and then continued on to Santa Paula by train.Upon graduating from Santa Paula High School in 1942, he joined the Navy and served during World War II as a Navy gunner on a Merchant Marine ship in the Pacific. After the war he attended Ventura Junior College and, when he graduated, started working for the California Bean Growers Association in Oxnard.This is where he met the love of his life, his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Marie Biery. They lived on Oxnard all their married life.He later went on to work for Shell Oil Company in Ventura, and retired from there in 1984 after 31 years. Vern and Marie have enjoyed their retirement years traveling, cruising and pursuing their passion for genealogy.Vern and Marie were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oxnard for many years, and are now members of Peace Lutheran Church in Camarillo. Vern has always been committed to volunteer work in the community, most especially with his church and with delivering food for the Manna distribution project in Thousand Oaks. He was always helping his children with projects and spending countless hours babysitting his grandchildren.He is survived by his wife, Marie; daughter Lourie Hyde and husband Brent of Santa Paula; grandchild Teri Lauren and husband Brad and great grandchildren Brooke and Geddy; grandchild Patricia Schaffer, and great grandchildren William and Bryan; daughter, Jane Dominguez and husband Ronnie of Camarillo, and grandchildren Katie, April and Timothy; son, John Griffin and his wife Stacie of Newbury Park, and grandchildren Kellie, Jamie, Scott and Jonathan; son David Griffin of San Francisco; son Mark Griffin and his wife Shelley of Ventura, and grandchildren Sarah, Kevin and Jonathan; along with many nieces and nephews.He was a kindhearted, caring man, who always thought of others first. He was loved and admired by all who knew him. We will miss his smile, his laughter and his warm heart.The family wishes to thank the Gold Coast paramedics, the Oxnard Fire Department, all of the nurses, doctors and volunteers at Community Memorial Hospital, and especially Dr. James M. Herman.Funeral services were held June 8 at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, with Pastor Gerry Garrett of Peace Lutheran Church officiating.Arrangements under the direction of Conrad Carroll Mortuary, Oxnard.Thomas Earl EndicottThomas Earl Endicott, age 35, of Santa Paula, passed away at his home June 9, 2001.A lifelong resident, he was born in Santa Paula April 22, 1966. He was employed as a field applications engineer.He is survived by his wife, Alisa Endicott of Santa Paula; daughter Emily Endicott of Santa Paula; son Dustin Endicott of Santa Paula; mother Crystal Endicott of Fillmore; sister Tena Garner of Santa Paula; and brothers, Tad, Bryan, Brett, Larry and Leland.Tom was loved much and will be missed much. He will always be in our hearts.
