He was married to Mildred Orr of Santa Paula in 1941. A daughter, Sherre, was born of this union in 1944.Howard served in the U.S. Navy as Aviation Machinists Mate from 1941-1945, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, Norman, Oklahoma and Alameda Air Station after boot camp in San Diego. He was based at Clark Field in the Philippines when the war ended.He returned to Santa Paula after his discharge where he became a partner with Linden Orr in the Orange Grove Dairy until 1956. With his wife, Mildred, and daughter, Sherre, he moved to Yreka, California where they bought a motel, which they sold in 1958, moving to Red Bluff where they were in the motel business until 1964, moving to yet another one in Eugene, Oregon. He returned to Santa Paula in 1970, where he bought five hillside acres, planted avocados, and later sold the property for a housing development.Howard was a member of the Santa Paula First Presbyterian Church, a lifetime member of the V.F.W., and a past member of the Rotary Club and Lions International.He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, in 1983 following a trip to Spain.He was later married to Lucille Moore Sparkman, and will be sorely missed by her and others survivors: daughter Sherre Lynn Barnett (Larry) of Portland, Oregon; grandson Chad (Amanda) Barnett of Park City, Utah; stepson and wife, Warren and Linda Gray, and their sons Michael, Jim (Silvia), and great grandson James, all of Santa Paula, and David and great grandson Jared Austen of Camarillo; brothers, Albert (Dorothy) of Camarillo and Glenn of Palmdale; niece Kerry (Don) Hallas of Los Osos; and nephew Tom (Linda) Sparkman of Palmdale. Also very special to him are his nephews, Roger (Cheryl) and David (Jo) Orr; niece Mindy (Steve) Maloon; their children; and Virginia Orr, sister-in-law.The family is extremely grateful to the staff at Santa Paula Healthcare for the loving care he received.Visitation will be Friday, February 15, 2002 from 4-8 p.m. at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary.Graveside services will be held at Santa Paula Cemetery on Saturday, February 16 at 10 a.m. with Dr. Tom Bousman and Rev. Mark Kliewer officiating.In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Howard may make contributions to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital or a charity of their choice.Memorial serviceBetty Oiler, Santa Paula Airport Sunday, February 17, 2:30 p.m. Anspaugh Hangar. Please call the family for directions and parking instructions.
Obituaries
February 15, 2002
Obituaries
Freda Mildred Coleman
“Midge” Coleman, 70, of Santa Paula, passed away in Santa Paula on February 11, 2002, surrounded by her family after a short courageous battle with cancer. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be forever missed by all who knew her.Midge was born on December 13, 1931 in Willowshade, Kentucky. She moved to Santa Paula at the age of 9. She worked for Santa Paula Elementary School District for 35 years, many of them as a cafeteria manager. She loved to travel, garden, and participate in the Valley Community Foursquare Church.She is survived by her husband of nearly 53 years, Roger; daughters, Kathie Linkletter and husband Steve of Ventura, and Sharon Nolen and husband Pat of Grant’s Pass, Oregon; son Scott and wife Kris of Santa Paula; seven grandchildren, Steve Linkletter of Ventura, David Linkletter and wife Cindy of Salem, Oregon, Hannah Linkletter of Las Vegas, Nevada, Suzanne Nolen of North Carolina, Casey Nolen of Grant’s Pass, Oregon, Dawn Lindsay and husband Billy of Santa Paula, and Keri Coleman of Santa Paula; and eight great-grandchildren, Kevin, Seth, Shelby, Ricky, Johnny, Cody, Ryan and Sammy.In lieu of flowers and as an expression of love and sympathy, memorial donations are suggested to any local hospice organization or to the American Cancer Society. A private family service will be held.Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.Frankie RodarteFrankie Rodarte, age 64, of Santa Paula, passed away February 12, 2002 in Ventura following a brief illness. He was born March 12, 1937 in Ojai, and was a lifelong Ventura County resident.Mr. Rodarte was the owner of Frankie’s Radiator Repair Shop in Santa Paula for the past 36 years. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother and companion. He was a graduate of Fillmore High School.Frankie loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved sports, especially the L.A. Lakers and Rams. A member of the Cattlemen’s Association, he loved his horses and cattle. He was truly a ranchman.He is survived by his sons, Robbie, James (wife Marjorie), and Michael; daughter Francine (husband Sammy); sisters, Diane Valenzuela (husband Ernie) and Juanita Torres; grandchildren, Jacob and Bethany; and loving companion Bobbie Socia.Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 16 at 9 a.m. in the San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura, with Monsignor Patrick O’Brien officiating. The Rosary will be recited on Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura. Friends and family may visit beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday. Interment will follow Mass in the Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.As an expression of love and sympathy, please honor Frankie with a donation in his name to the Fillmore Chapter of the FFA.Frankie has been entrusted to the care of the privately owned and operated Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home at 757 E. Main St. (corner of Ash and Main Streets) in downtown Ventura, 643-8623.Howard Joseph SparkmanHoward Joseph Sparkman passed away February 13, 2002 at Santa Paula Healthcare where he had been a patient since 1999. He was born August 26, 1914 in Los Angeles to Joe E. and Ruby Munger Sparkman. His father died during the influenza epidemic of 1918 in Bakersfield, where he was a railroad engineer. His mother moved to Ojai shortly after with Howard and two younger brothers to live close to his grandmother, Julia Robison Munger. Howard attended elementary school in Ojai and graduated from Nordhoff High School in 1933.
