By the mid 60s, because of his daughter Linda’s interest in the equestrian world, he developed an equestrian center, Saddle City, at Lodi. When the center needed a newsletter he published the “Saddle City Review” which, after going through a series of transformations, is now a statewide magazine called the California Horse Review.As a spin-off of Saddle City, he designed, manufactured and campaigned the portable horse stalls that revolutionized the horse show industry. The stalls are still in use throughout the western states.In 1970 Mr. Allen sold the stall business to retire to Fillmore. He counted himself a lucky man to have discovered the Santa Clara Valley and those who lived there.Mr. Allen held a pilot’s license and used his plane during the course of his beekeeping career. He designed and built the boats he raced as a young man throughout the state of California.He served on the California State Honey Advisory Board, was a former member of the San Mateo Lions Club, a charter member of the Coyote Pointe Yacht Club, taught Apiculture at Ventura Community College, and was a board member and president of the Fillmore Irrigation Company.He is survived by his wife, Wilma; daughter Linda Allen; and cousins, Victor Allen of Belmont and Robert Chapman of St. George, Utah.Memorials may be made to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital. A date and location for a memorial service will be announced in the near future.Thomas C. SebastianThomas C. Sebastian, age 93, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 23, 2000.Mr. Sebastian was born October 17, 1906 in Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma. He moved to the Los Angeles area in 1939, then moved to Santa Paula in July of 1996. He loved his short stay in beautiful Santa Paula.His remaining three years he enjoyed reading his Bible and attending the First Assembly of God Church in Ventura. It was a great source of comfort in his last remaining years.He will be dearly missed by his daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Wesley Kizer of Santa Paula, and Carolyn and Curtis Parmer of Spring, Texas; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nora Lois, in 1981.There will be a graveside service on Saturday, January 29 at 2 p.m. at Inglewood Park Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.
Obituaries
January 28, 2000
Obituaries
Marian “Niki” Pillard
Marian “Niki” Pillard, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother-in-law, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2000 in Santa Paula.Niki was born June 4, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri to the union of John and Josie Lavin. She moved to Southern California in her teens, remaining here to wed and raise her five children.Niki was retired from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, where she worked for a number of years in the Detective Division.She was known by many as the “coupon queen,” as she could leave the grocery store with bags of goods without spending much more than a couple of dollars. At times the store paid her for her purchases because of the coupons she brought.Every room, dresser, stand and shelf of her home was filled with photos of all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so she was in touch with her family in everything she did. She was extremely proud of her family, as they are of her.Niki is survived by her cherished sister, Dotty McLeod of Colorado; sons, Tom of Burbank, John (Bea) of Texas, Tim of Mississippi, and Barry (Sharron) of Fillmore; daughter Barbara (Gary) Millard of Tennessee; beloved grandchildren, Jennifer Soechting, Kimberly Blackwell, Denise Millard, John Jr., Stephanie, Richelle, Vince and Kelly Pillard; four great-grandchildren, with another due any day; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; former spouse Frank of Arkansas; and former daughters-in-law, Diane, Clasina and Letty.Services for Niki will be held at noon on Saturday, January 29 at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.John M. CurtisJohn M. Curtis, age 60, of Santa Paula, died Monday, January 24, 2000 at home following a long illness.Mr. Curtis was born July 28, 1939 in Precido, Texas, the son of the late Oscar and Maria Curtis. He was a California resident since 1949, coming from Texas. He belonged to the Lathe and Plaster Local 600 Union.He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Violet Curtis; daughter Debra Curtis (Martin) of Santa Paula; son John L. Curtis (Rose) of Santa Paula; daughter Joann Medrano (Alex) of Bedford, Indiana; adopted children, Jimmy and Tommy Curtis of Colorado, Raymond Curtis of Salinas Valley, and Tammy Curtis of Santa Paula; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Bill Curtis of Arizona, Oscar Curtis Jr. of Texas, and James Curtis of Santa Paula; three sisters, Ida Rice of Los Angeles, Mary Monje of Santa Paula, and Lupe Alvarez of Arizona; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by brothers Antonio Curtis and Frank Curtis.Mass was held January 26 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Santa Paula. Burial was January 27 at Santa Paula Cemetery.Lester E. AllenLester E. Allen, age 83, of Fillmore, died January 24, 2000.He was born February 18, 1916 in Oakland, the son of Jay E. Allen and Eva Gregor Allen. His early education was in Soquel and San Mateo schools. Because of his life-long love of bees, he completed a course in Apiary Science at the University of California at Davis and became the youngest bee inspector in the state for the California Department of Agriculture.In the late 30s he established Allen’s Honey Company on the Bayshore Highway in San Mateo. In the early 50s the company was moved to the Stockton area. It was during this time that he became a consultant to the Mexican honey industry and helped establish modern honey plants in Mexico.
