Daniel “Boone” Jump Sr. passed away after a brief illness in the early morning hours of Monday, April 27th. Boone passed away according to his wishes - peacefully at home with his caring family by his side.Boone was a great man. He was born and raised in Santa Paula. His parents Leroy Jump and Mary Knoll and a sister Robbie Jump precede him in death.Boone had many loves and interests, but a few stand out. When he wasn’t working IN his water truck, he was working ON his water truck; and when he wasn’t working ON his truck, he was thinking about working on it. It was his hobby as well as his career. He married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Hengehold, and together they raised two children - Daniel Jump Jr., 31, and Jennifer Jump, 29.Boone loved spending Friday nights with his dear friend Danny at Logsdon’s at the Airport. He had an amazing sense of humor and was often heard telling jokes echoed by his wonderful laugh.He is survived by his wife and children; his brother and sister-in-law Edward and Tracy Jump and their children Ian, Nathan, and Taylor; his niece Tracy Pina and her husband and children; and his nephew Eric Caples and Kathy.The family would also like to say a special Thank You to Dr. Jeffery Tubbs for all his dedication and support.All family and friends are invited to a memorial celebration on Friday, May 1st at 5 p.m. at Logsdon’s Restaurant at the Santa Paula Airport. At a later date a private scattering of his ashes will take place.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin Carroll Mortuary, 738 E Santa Paula St., 805-525-3391.Peter A. RubelPeter A. Rubel passed away peacefully on April 28 at his home in Fillmore, California. Peter was born August 22, 1914 in Zurich, Switzerland.After attending university in Switzerland, he continued his studies at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. He then worked for Rusch and Company in New York City, where he met Elizabeth (Betty) Hunt. They married in 1941 and raised their family in Greenwich, Connecticut, where they lived for 36 years before moving to California. They retired to Fillmore, CA in 1979, and Peter worked at Rancho Camulos in Piru until his death.Peter is survived by a brother, Hans Ulrich Rubel of Zurich, Switzerland; son and daughter-in-law Edward and Earline of Harwichport, Massachusetts; daughters Barbara Pratley of Greenwich, Connecticut, Susan Rubel of Maynard, Massachusetts, and Liz Rubel of Santa Paula; niece Ashley Rehner and her husband Dan of Gloucester, Massachusetts; five grandsons, Peter Pratley, Philip Pratley, Tim Rubel, James Rubel, and Ian Palmer; and three great-grandsons, Ben, Sean and Danny Pratley.A memorial service celebrating Peter’s long life will be held at Santa Paula Presbyterian Church at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 8.The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Rancho Camulos Museum, P.O. Box 308, Piru, California 93040, a National Historical Landmark owned by Rubel cousins and setting for the Helen Hunt Jackson novel home of “Ramona.”
Obituaries
May 01, 2009
Obituaries
Robert C. Phelps
1919-2009Well known aviator, Bob Phelps, died Saturday, April 26, 2009 in Santa Paula. Bob celebrated his 90th birthday in March. Bob was the first president of the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula. Bob’s passion was aviation but his love was for his wife, Sally, his children and their families. Bob valued his wonderful friends thinking of them as family. On his last day he was discussing details of his early years at Alhambra Airport with his son, Jim. He never forgot a detail and could tell you an airplane’s number, who flew it, and the color from over 70 years ago. In retrospect his vast knowledge of aviation isn’t surprising. He LIVED it for over 75 years! In fact his clarity for detail motivated the production of his book, Straight and Level, My Lifelong Passion for Flying, in 2008.Bob was an aviation pioneer who began his long career in aviation at Alhambra Airport. Bob finished his career with over 14,000 flying hours in such aircraft as: military transports and jets and hundreds of general aviation aircraft including single and multi-engine, seaplanes, helicopters, and gliders.This wonderful story started humbly when Bob took his first airplane ride in 1931 at Alhambra Airport. He had ridden his bicycle from home and paid $1.00 for a 10-minute airplane ride. Bob continued to ride his bike to the airport and watch airplanes for hours. In 1935, Bob met Jim Dewey. Jim asked Bob if he was interested in flying and would he like to work cleaning airplanes in exchange for flying lessons. Fifteen years old, Bob’s career in aviation began. In November 1935, Bob’s first solo flight was in a DeHavilland Gipsy Moth after 4 hours, 50 minutes of instruction. From 1936 to 1938, he progressively obtained Amateur, Private, Limited Commercial, and Transport pilot licenses. Bob became Jim Dewey’s partner in the Dewey Flyers at T&A Airport. In 1939-1941 he became co-owner of Bassett & Phelps Flying Service at Santa Paula Airport. Bob would recall that one of his proudest moments was having his son, Clay Phelps start CP Aviation in the very same hangar that Bob had his flight school at Santa Paula Airport in 1939! CP Aviation is a thriving multi-faceted aviation business today.December 7th, 1941 changed everything. Bob was in the air over Santa Paula on that Sunday morning learning about Pearl Harbor upon landing. He immediately went into active service. In 1941-1942, Bob was a Military Contract School Flight Instructor at Lancaster, California, instructing British Royal Air Force Aviation cadets. Soon he was called overseas, as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Air Force, flying Curtiss C-46 and Douglas C-47 aircraft over the Himalaya Mountains from India to China on the infamous route known as “The Hump.”Bob joined the Civil Aeronautics Administration (later to be named FAA) in the summer of 1942 and was stationed all over the western U.S. After serving in World War II, Bob returned to the FAA. He retired in 1991 after 48 years of service! Family and friends always wondered if Bob would ever retire. His retirement can be contested however, because he continued to be a flight instructor and served as a mentor to other pilots at Santa Paula Airport. It was a good thing for Santa Paula Airport as he was a tireless advocate for the envisioned air museum. He even volunteered his own hangar to be “Hangar #1” in the Chain of Hangars, which was an ingenious way to start a budding museum. The hangar is still open on the First Sunday of each Month for the public to enjoy. Bob and Sally Phelps have been a positive influence on Santa Paula and Santa Paula Airport. The museum is thriving and is ready to open their beautiful new location near Logsdon Restaurant. Bob approved of the building and was able to watch the construction. He was even able to blow out the candles of his birthday cake a month ago in the new building with friends and family there to wish him a happy 90 years.It is evident that Bob had a long and illustrious career in aviation but it really is the balanced man that we will miss. Bob had a ready smile and a quick humor. His eyes twinkled when he talked of Sally, his kids and those beautiful grandchildren. He would use his cell phone quicker than a teenager to stay in touch with his son, Jim in Nevada or his daughter, Nancy in Laguna Niguel. Not only would Clay and Judy visit often but they would bring along Emmie their dog. Oh how Bob loved dogs and cats. His best cat friend, Red preceded him in death but will be a part of the memory. Friends were a huge part of his life. In a very real sense friends were family and the original group from Alhambra Airport stayed together for over 70 years. To know a person who cherishes family and friends, understands that humor and laughter make a person richer and to still excel at a career that spanned over 75 years is to know a person who knew the secret to life!Bob leaves his wife Sally, son Jim Phelps and wife Susan of Gardnerville Nevada; daughter Nancy Tracy and husband Gail of Laguna Niguel, California, and, son Clay Phelps and wife Judy of Santa Paula. He also leaves grandchildren: Megan Wedge, Doug Phelps, Emily Phelps, Jennifer Elliott and Beverly Nichols great-grandchildren: Cameron Wedge, Gavin and Paige Elliott; nephews Steve, wife Doreen and son Aaron, Dan Eddy and wife Jennifer, Mike and Dick Dewey, niece Sue Harding, plus hundreds of dear friends. Also a profound thank you from the entire family to Mary Leal who cared for Bob during his last year. Mary was a true friend to Bob and the entire family. Thank you to Dr Deutsch and nurse Irene for their superior care. Thank you also to Santa Paula Health Care and Twin Pines for their loving care. Santa Paula Hospital was there for Bob and his family making Bob’s last hours dignified and pain free. For all the people who cared and visited Bob the family sends a heartfelt thank you.Memorial contributions can be made to the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula,P.O. Box 908 ,Santa Paula, CA 93061. You may also make a donation online:http://www.amszp.org.Visit the museum website for airport location information.A Celebration of Life will be held at CP Aviation (adjacent to Logsdons Restaurant) at Santa Paula Airport on, Sunday, May 24th, 11:30-3:00Friends and family are welcome to come say Farewell to Bob Phelps.The traditional Santa Paula Pilots Salute will follow the memorial.Daniel W. “Boone” Jump Sr.July 15th, 1958 - April 27th, 2009
