Celebrating The Life Of
Donald Michael Oster
June 9, 1923 – January 31, 2012
Born June 9, 1923 in Fresno, CA, Don was the eldest of three sons. During his youth, the family moved to Pasadena, CA where he enjoyed the great outdoors, wildlife, and the family pets. His admiration of soaring hawks and birds spurred his interest in flying airplanes resulting in Don obtaining his pilot’s license at the age of 15 prior to obtaining his driver’s license.
After high school, Don became a decorated Marine pilot and served in WWII earning several honors. He also briefly served in the Korean War.
In 1948, Don married his wife Jane and made Rosemead their first home. Together they raised two children, daughter Susan and son Rob. His many interests included wood craftsmanship, gardening, fishing, camping and traveling with his family, often to remote locations. In later years, he and Jane enjoyed flying in their Comanche plane to visit friends and enjoyed seeing interesting new locations.
He was a successful businessman having established two thriving businesses. In the early 1950s, Don and Jane moved to their new home in Monterey Park where, after receiving his Contractor’s License, he started and managed a very successful pool business having several employees.
In the mid 1960s, Don and Jane relocated to San Gabriel with their family where he continued his business. He was also very active in the local Lions Club. During this time they discovered Wrightwood and Don decided on a second career in real estate. He and Jane very much enjoyed the real estate business and eventually moved to Wrightwood permanently in 1980 having built a custom home he designed which included some of his custom woodworking. As a broker, he operated Don Oster Realty until retirement in 2006.
Don was very active in the Wrightwood community. He was a member of the Wrightwood Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), and a member of the Chamber of Commerce including a term as President. In the early years, Don helped organize the annual Mountaineer Days parade.
Don enjoyed the mountain living of Wrightwood and could be seen frequently walking his dog or hiking one of the many trails in the area. Visiting in his office with many of his local friends and clients along with watching the children at play across the street at the Wrightwood Elementary school, brought him great pleasure. Throughout his life and accomplishments, Don was most proud of and loved his family.
A long time Wrightwood resident, Don passed away on January 31. He is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Jane; daughter and son-in-law Susan and Jim Billings of San Diego and their children Michael and Melissa; son Rob Oster of Highland and his son Chas; brother Owen “Bub” Oster of Arcadia; the widow of his youngest brother Richard “Alan” Oster, Milbrey Oster of Arcadia, and several nieces and nephews.
Private services with the Marine Honor Guard were held in Redlands, California on Saturday February 11, 2012 with final resting place at Riverside National Cemetery.
Todd Michael Lenhart
December 19, 1990 – January 12, 2012
Todd Michael Lenhart graduated from Palm Springs High School in 2009 where he lived with his mother. Todd was the great grandson of Fred and Norma Hayden, who lived in Wrightwood for over 40 years. About ten years ago Norma moved to North Carolina to be with her son. Todd was also grandson to Tom and Carol Fishburn, weekenders in Wrightwood for 44 years. Todd and his mother, Sheryl Lenhart, loved to visit both sets of grandparents in Wrightwood as he was growing up. Todd is survived by his mother, a cousin, three uncles, two aunts and his grandparents.
Services were held on January 21 in Palm Springs, CA. His family was very touched by all of the kind words and stories shared at the gathering and appreciate those that participated.
Todd will be deeply missed by his many friends and family.
Colonel James L. Weeks
Colonel James L. Weeks, USAF Retired, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2012, ninety-five years after his life began in San Bernardino. Jim, as he was known for his fifty-two years in Wrightwood, was active till the end drew near with his loving wife of 46 years, and best friend, Margaret. He had proudly told friends recently how he had renewed his driver’s license and both he and Margaret were still able to attend social activities until just a few weeks before age caught up.
A quiet and methodical man, Jim was born of a second-generation pioneer family of San Bernardino. His maternal great-grandmother, Sarah Weeks, had been on the wagon trains into the San Bernardino Valley in the 1850’s. He grew up in San Bernardino, graduating from San Bernardino High School during the Great Depression.
With little or no work available, the tenacious young Jim joined the Naval Reserve so that he could continue his “Ham Radio” skills that began in high school, operating high frequency radios and performing Morse code. His part time work and small stipend from the Navy wasn’t enough and Jim found that the new Army Air Corps was looking for talented radio operators. His enlistment in 1939 led to an exceptional career that was never talked about, as his talent took him deep into the clandestine efforts of military intelligence, with most of his World War II service in the Southeast Asia/Burma/India Theater. As the war moved closer to the Japanese homeland, Jim, now an officer, had 600 specialists under his command. He was promoted to full Colonel at 34 years of age, as he continued to serve through the first ten years of the Cold War. Jim’s efforts were underscored when the President presented the Legion of Merit to Colonel Weeks for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services,” from 1954 through 1956. It goes to the grave what Jim was doing for that commendation, but he was forever proud of his service.
Arriving in Wrightwood in 1959, the Weeks family went to work to make the small village their new hometown. Jim commuted to San Bernardino for a few years, first as Trust Manager at Bank of America and then as General Manager of Van Wyk Volkswagen. When the dealership sold, Jim ventured to Victorville and spent the next seven years in the engineering department of California Interstate Telephone, later Continental Telephone and now Verizon. His last working assignment was as a part time instructor in the Electronics Department at Victor Valley College.
Margaret came into Jim’s life while he was at Cal Interstate and their marriage in 1966, at the Mission Inn, led to an active role by the couple in Wrightwood’s growth from adolescence to adulthood, the decades of the ’70s and ‘80s. Jim’s radio skills never left him and he was till the end involved in the amateur radio and disaster preparedness efforts/emergency response program in Wrightwood. While Margaret developed her artistic skills and was involved with others bringing culture to Wrightwood, Jim took his skills and was appointed to the Wrightwood Fire District Board where he served until it was consolidated into the Wrightwood Village Council, and then formally, the Wrightwood Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), bringing community government, although still under the wing of the County Supervisor, to Wrightwood. Jim was the first MAC Chairman.
During Jim’s tenure the plans were developed for the new fire station, with a strong effort made by local community leaders to make sure the funding would be forthcoming for the needed station. Jim was there as Wrightwood worked to stop Riverside Cement from building a quarry at the 5000 foot level of Hwy 2, there when the Lions donated the Community Building to park and recreation arm of the MAC, and in the thick of it when the state attempted to close off much of Wrightwood to building due to the San Andreas Fault.
After eight years “in the trenches” Jim opted to spend more time with his beloved Margaret. They enjoyed performing organ music in the Mountain Organeers and the Apple Valley Organ Club, and were very active in the Community Methodist Church. Jim continued his amateur radio work.
To some newcomers to Wrightwood, Jim will forever be known as that older gent who took to the dance floor or parking lot with his lovely Margaret, to dance, and not just the slow numbers.
He is survived by his wife and best friend Margaret Weeks, daughter Sandra Rakestraw and husband Jeff Solomon of Atascadero, step-children; Dan Ainsworth and wife Francie of Pismo Beach, Diane Krajsa of Pismo Beach; grandchildren Cyndee Smolik and sons Gavin and Garet of Paso Robles, Craig Ainsworth and wife Dana and daughter Alexis; and adopted families; Grandson Weston Smith and his father Richard Smith and Bob and Elaine Bailes. It should be added that Jim is also survived by his friends, the community of Wrightwood.
A memorial service is being planned at the Community Methodist Church on February 25. The tribute to Jim’s life will begin at 2 p.m.
Alton Safford
WWII Veteran, Educator, Outdoorsman
1914 - 2011
Alton “Longbow” Safford, long-time Wrightwood Resident, died peacefully in his home on December 21, 2011, having just turned 97. He was known throughout the West as an expert in Indian craft, primitive archery, flint-knapping and tanning in particular. He was also an expert marksman, fly-fisherman and a tireless hiker of the High Sierras.
Alton was born where his father, Lee Ashton Safford, worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Toppenish Reservation near Yakima, Washington, on December 6, 1914. His mother, Alice Agnes Lugton, was born in Magdalena, U.S. Territory of New Mexico. As a child he learned to make Indian bows and arrows and to brain-tan deer hides, lessons he never forgot. Indians from all over the west lived there; Sioux, Arapaho, Utes and Cheyenne. He watched Indian women brain-tan buckskin and men make their small plains-style flat bows. They taught him to shoot when he was six and he made his first bow, of willow, when he was eight. He learned to make his own moccasins and baskets.
Alton’s parents were told by a doctor that Alton and his brother, Lee, were not thriving as they should be because of the damp climate, so the family moved to Greater Los Angeles. Alton joined the local Boy Scouts and attained Eagle Scout rank. While in high school in Burbank he and his brother sneaked off to Catalina Island and shot a buffalo with their handmade bows and arrows. They were eventually caught and paid a penalty.
Alston graduated from high school during the Great Depression and among other jobs, he cleared trails in the Civilian Conservation Corps (Roosevelt’s CCC), worked in a junk yard, as a “grease monkey” in a garage, on oil rigs, in mines, and for the railroad. One job that stands out was his co-ownership of an archery shop in Hollywood, where he became well-acquainted with all the great Southern California archers of the time, such as Howard Hill, Captain Jack Hoefer, Frank Garske, and his close friends Hugh Rich, Howard Mathisen and Fred Bear. He recalled great camaraderie with this group, as they hunted deer in the California foothills with their self-made 100-pound bows and broadheads. Also, because he had a tuxedo and could work as an usher in theaters, symphony halls, and other venues for live performances, his life became enriched by this education in drama and all kinds of music.
In 1937, influenced by his reading of Ernest Hemingway, Alton traveled to Spain in support of the Loyalist democracy against Franco’s fascist opposition. He drilled troops with wooden machine guns, expecting a shipment of arms to arrive from the Soviet Union. The arms never came. When Barcelona fell, he and others hiked over the Pyrenees to France, where he was arrested and deported back to the United States.
Having taken some machine shop courses in high school, he was able to get a job with Lockheed as the country geared up for World War II, working on Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. At that time he met and married his first wife, Margaret Blankenship. He was promoted to Senior Machine Parts Inspector. In 1943 he was drafted even though he was then 29 years old and working in the defense industry.
In the Army Alton was first posted to England with the 9th Air Corps but in June,1944 went ashore at Omaha Beach, Normandy, landing on D-Day + 17. As the best shot in his outfit, for a time the Army made him a sniper. He once said it was a strange duty because he always felt that when he was aiming, the enemy sniper was probably sighting him. He worked across France preparing advance air field bases, was in Paris for its liberation, was witness to de Gaulle’s triumphant return, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he ushered at the Nuremburg Trials before coming home.
Back in California, Alton returned to work at Lockheed and became the father of two children, John and Jeanne Safford. Laid off for lack of production, he decided to use his G.I. Bill to get a higher education at nearby Occidental College. He earned a B.A. degree in education and taught 5th grade for about 8 years while working on his M.A. degree.
Divorced, Alton met his second wife, Juliana Brailovsky in Eagle Rock. They lived and taught in Ojai briefly before returning to Los Angeles where he administered academic tests for the Palos Verdes school district. Alton entered the doctoral program at USC and earned his degree in Education in 1965 at age 51. From his second marriage he now had three more children, Monique, Kimberly and Tony Safford. For the rest of his career he worked for the County of Santa Barbara as head of its Special Education department. Always an unusually good listener, he also used his skills and education as a practicing educational psychologist. Divorced, he met his third wife, Miriam Sacks Coker, a local Santa Barbara educator. They remained together for the rest of his life.
Since his father had died of a stroke at age 54, Alton decided to retire at age 63. He and Miriam moved to Wrightwood in 1977 where he continued with a limited practice for a few years. It was here for the next 34 years that he flourished, passing on the old ways of bow- and arrow-making, bone work, tanning, and hunting to whoever would listen and work with him. Alton found a group of wonderful friends and students at the annual Wrightwood Flintknapping Rendezvous, which drew Indian-lore aficionados from all over the West. Alton attended the first California Flintknapping Rendezvous in 1983 set up by Ray Harwood at California State University at Northridge. Subsequent Wrightwood Flintknapping Rendezvous were held at Jackson Lake, Camp Guffey, and Indian Hills Ranch. He participated in archer shoots across the state and particularly enjoyed the annual Mountain Men Rendezvous in the southern Rockies. He was known as “Longbow” among flintknapping friends and collected a room full of rare and significant Indian artifacts.
Alton was active until the very end, continuing to hike and camp and even renewing his driver’s license for two more years late in 2011. He had many circles of friends, including the Saturday and Monday Hiking Groups, the flintknapping friends, the Thursday Breakfast Group, the First Friday Reading Group (where his wide knowledge and expansive reading were particularly appreciated), ex-students and clients, and hundreds of people with whom he corresponded. A memorial was held for him on Wednesday, December 28, at the home of Ed and Phyllis Gallagher. Half of Alton’s ashes were interred at the Riverside National Cemetery with full military honors on January 13, 2011. His friends and family plan a spring flintknapping memorial and will also scatter his remaining ashes in the High Sierras as soon as weather allows.
Alton is survived by his wife, Miriam; his son and daughter from his first marriage, John and Jeanne Safford; and former wife Juliana and his children from that marriage; Monique, Kimberly and Tony Safford. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Joseph David Safford, Janet Arlene Safford, Miles Jameson Safford, Sophia Rose Mindas, Benjamin Jacob Safford and one great-grandchild, Benjamin David Safford.
Alton Safford–, one of a kind.
Aaron Casey Cagle
Beloved son, brother and friend.
Aaron “Casey” Cagle
1-15-92 to 1-18-12
Viewing at Sunrise Church, Wrightwood, on Thursday, January 26 from 12-2pm. Small gathering at the Cagle home afterwards for loved ones.
Florence M. Bard
Florence M. Bard, of Inver Grove Heights, MN, formerly of Wabasha, MN, died Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at Southview Acres Health Care Center in West St. Paul, MN. She was born May 24, 1932 in Glen Haven, WI, the daughter of John and Ellen (Petsche) Blum. She graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 1950. She worked in data processing for Lockheed Aircraft in California for 28 years, retiring in 1990. She married Robert Bard May 23, 1964 in Las Vegas. He died June 4, 1993. Florence moved from Pinon Hills, CA to Wabasha on October 31, 2000 to be near her niece, Mary Rohowetz. After Mary and her family moved to Inver Grove Heights in early 2011 Florence moved there to again be near them on May 31, 2011.
Florence was a member of St. Elizabeth’s Auxiliary in Wabasha and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. She had a special love for animals especially her cockatiel, Pollyanna.
She is survived by sisters and brother-in-law, Agnes Bronder, Greenbush, NY, Margaret and Clyde Noggle, Prairie du Chien, WI, Ellen Skaife, Janesville, WI; brother and sisters-in-law, Martin and Florence Blum, Okeechobee, FL, Bobbie Blum, Cedar Rapids, IA; nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews among whom is Mary and Paul Rohowetz and family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her parents, two sisters, Rose Mary Christen, and Alice Recker and two brothers, Ora Blum and infant, Bernard Blum.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 1pm at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha. Interment will be at Victor Memorial Park in Victorville, CA on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com
Dillie Thomas 1932-2011
Dillie Thomas, beloved and devoted wife of Ed and mother of Barbara and Melody, passed away on December 17, 2011.
Dillie Iris Thomas was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1932, daughter of Gayl Elwood Giberson and Clara Louisa Giberson. Her early life was lived during the great depression of the 1930’s. They traveled west and ended up in Mill Creek Canyon, in the San Gorgonio Mountains. Later she attended college in Redlands to study Fine Art. She always shared her wonderful memories of her childhood with her children. She said growing up in Mill Creek was like a little bit of heaven. She also had many wonderful stories of her summers spent with her grandparents and cousins back on the farm in Nebraska.
Dillie married husband Ed in 1957, and lived in Wrightwood for all of their married life. Family life was full and wonderful. In their studio she had a place to create, while Ed worked beside her on his model aircrafts. Many happy and fulfilling years were spent this way.
Dillie was an energetic and devoted mother. As well as teaching her daughters different aspects of the arts, she got involved with the Girl Scouts and became a scout leader. She continued as leader throughout their childhood, teaching many of the classes in art, outdoor skills and camping.
There were many summer vacations in the travel trailer filled with wonderful times and sweet memories. She gave the girls the benefit of her theatrical expertise in teaching them puppetry, puppet making and stage building which were so well done that the girls were asked to perform a show at the local elementary school. Dillie also loved designing many award winning Halloween Costumes for the girls when they were young and in later years she taught them to sew many of their own clothes. She always encouraged their individual creativity,
Dillie became a Master Oil Painter. She began painting in 1960, taking lessons from Nancy Templeton in Wrightwood. While her girls were still small she practiced her craft. She was a founding member, and then became president of the Tri Community Art Association. In 1974, she was finally able to fulfill her dream of opening an art gallery. The Four Seasons gallery was opened as a co-op where other artists joined in and shared the gallery. Some of her Art Association friends who were involved included Lila Carter, Fran Ouimette, Nancy Nauer, Shirley Pinard, Norma and Fred Hayden, Jan Barton, Barbara Ahern, Lora Steinmann, and many others. After seven years it became a corporation, and Dillie ran it as a successful business for 24 years.
Dillie and Ed traveled all over the Southwest and up the California Coast doing many art shows from 1977 to 2009. During these years they also spent their winters at their Indio home doing shows at Borrego Springs and throughout the Palm Springs Area. Dillie’s paintings can be seen in art galleries across the country, and in her home studio.
Dillie was a loving grandmother to her two grandchildren Aaron and Dillie Elizabeth, babysitting and hosting many birthday parties when the kids were small. Later, she taught them to draw and paint and loved going shopping with her granddaughter.
In 2009, Dillie was diagnosed with a terminal illness and fought the battle for two and a half years. 2011 was a very good year for her, as she got to go through her wish list and do everything on it.
She is survived by her husband Ed, daughters Melody Thomas and Barbara Marrujo, son-in-laws Peter Hunkins and Steve Marrujo and her grandchildren Aaron Marrujo, 25, Dillie Elizabeth Marrujo, age 20, and stepdaughter Delores (Rose) Hagge and God-daughter Christine Rice.
Throughout her long life she touched many lives.
Service will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Wrightwood Community United Methodist Church, at 1543 Barbara Street, Wrightwood, CA 92397. A reception will follow in the Social Hall at the Church.
In lieu of flowers the Thomas’ have requested that friends contribute in memory of Dillie Thomas to her foreign sponsored child of many years “Flavia Jasline Pinto” .
Please make your check payable to the Wrightwood Community United Methodist Church In reference to: Flavia Jasline Pinto.
The address is: P.O. Box 62, Wrightwood, CA 92397.
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