Sunday Obituaries

12/18/05

AINGE, Kenneth Edward

Kenneth Ainge, 78, passed away from cancer on December 4, 2005, in St. George, Utah. He was born on October 22, 1927, in St. Anthony, Idaho to George Edward and Marie McFarland Ainge.

He graduated from SBHS in 1945 and attended UCSB, graduating in 1949. He went on to obtain his Masters Degree at UCLA and his Doctorate in Education at Brigham Young University in Utah. After serving as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, serving in Japan, Ken worked as Advertising Manager for three Sears stores in Ventura County. In 1967, he joined the founding faculty of Moorpark College, served on the Conejo Valley School Board and was subsequently head of the Business and Technology Department at Moorpark College, retiring in 1987.

Ken has three children from his first marriage to Jane Wood and became step-father to three more children when he married Barbara Brainard in 1985. In 1998, Ken and Barbara moved to a retirement golf community in St. George, Utah, where he established a Golf Car business.

Ken is survived by his wife, Barbara, his 3 children, Ken, Jr. (Cyndi) of West Jordan, Utah, Brad of Lehi, Utah and daughter Lisa McCaslin (Lary), of Santa Clara, Utah; step daughters Kristin Drake of San Dimas, CA and Lauren Arendt (Pete) of Kansas City, MO and step-son, David Driskel of Colorado and 14 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Shirley Armor (Campbell) of Indio, CA and four nephews and their families.

Funeral services were held at the LDS chapel in St. George, Utah on December 9th and a memorial service in Springville, Utah on December 10th. Burial in Spanish Fork, Utah.

DEERING, Joseph Thomas "Tom"

With peace and dignity, Joseph Thomas "Tom" Deering passed away in his beloved Traverse City, MI home on October 15, 2005. He had been recently diagnosed with cancer, which took his life, but not his spirit.

Known as "Tom" or "J.T."

to co-workers and friends, he was born December 23, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan to Joseph and Clara (Kaminski) Deering. He attended Catholic schools in Detroit, graduating from St. Rita's High School in 1953.

Tom met Carolyn Ann McNair in Detroit, and they were married in Phoenix, Arizona on March 15, 1958, which is where they started their family. Tom's career opportunities as a mechanical design engineer in the aerospace industry took the Deering family to Santa Barbara, California in 1970, where he spent 20 years at Santa Barbara Research Center. Tom's career at SBRC began as a senior draftsman and eventually took him into middle management until he retired in 1991. His co-workers, subordinates, and senior management fondly remember Tom's sense of humor, common sense, compassion, and loyalty.

While growing up, Tom developed a life long passion for cars. His "fun job" was restoring classic 1957 Ford Thunderbirds. Besides his family, the love of his life was his "Baby Birds."

He took such pride and pleasure at being a part of restoring every single nut and bolt on his treasures, and two of them made top honors in national car shows. This pursuit brought him many friends throughout the country, with whom Tom shared his humor, friendship, and expertise. He was active in local and national Thunderbird club activities over the past 30 years.

Retirement years allowed Tom and Carolyn extensive travel and car club activities throughout the country. They had dreamed of moving back to their native state of Michigan to Traverse City. That dream was finally realized by Tom in March of 2005, after Carolyn's death in 2004.

Tom's survivors living in California include his children, Michael Deering of Ojai, Pennye Sasaki-Benda and her husband Jeff Benda of Lompoc, and Lisa Daymude of Pt. Hueneme. He also leaves two granddaughters, Andromeda "Andi" Sasaki of Santa Barbara, and Danielle Daymude of Pt. Hueneme.

While Tom's life wasn't long enough, it was good enough. He will be remembered as one who pressed and encouraged us to do the best we can, and he enhanced our opportunities in one way or another. His legacy is his example of how to be an honorable, generous, thoughtful person and to never lose one's sense of humor. Even in the face of this illness, he was still making wisecracks. And of course, there was always the singing... silly songs and incredibly off key. From the time they could talk, the granddaughters would always say, "Don't sing, Grandpa!" Well, now Singing Grandpa is in heaven, and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, the rain falling on the rooftops, and the crash of the surf reminds us that he is singing with the angels. It's ok, Grandpa... go ahead and sing.

So many kind people in Michigan gave so much to ensure that Tom's final days were exactly as he wanted them to be. The family would like to acknowledge Doyle Rogers, a friend of Tom's who flew out from Hanford, California to be with him. Doyle was presumably there to take care of those precious cars, but he did so much more. He was by Tom's side the entire time, and told him to go to Carolyn and Jesus when that time came. Miracles do happen, and ours is named Doyle.

A memorial service and rosary is planned for 5:30pm on Friday, December 23, 2005 at St. Raphael's Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister, Goleta, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, attendees are asked to bring unwrapped toys to be distributed by the Parish to needy families in the community. There will be an additional joint service in the Spring in Central California to allow his friends from that area to celebrate his life with his family.

MILLER, Marie

Marie Miller, a long time Santa Barbara resident, died in her sleep at her home on December 13th, 2005 with her large extended family in attendance.

Marie was born on May 22nd 1929 and spent her earliest years in Indiana. When her father perished after a night in a snow bank, the family moved to Los Angeles where they owned and operated Smitty's SOS, a bar at Sunset Blvd. and Lucile St.

Graduating from Fairfax High School in LA, Marie received her bachelor degree from UCSB. She was married to Bill Miller for twenty-five years, after that ended she had several significant loves.

Her career, as an early childhood educator, began as a volunteer at The Oaks Nursery School. Marie was the co-founder and director of the Nursery School at Marymount, working there until she retired. That school is now known as The Circle of Friends Children's Center. She initiated the education of multiple generations of Santa Barbarans. When out on State Street with her, one always had to allow time for greeting former students of all ages and their parents.

Marie tirelessly invented projects for her students; collecting leaves, sifting glitter, dying macaroni or whatever she imagined they might enjoy the next day. She was particularly known, at home and at the school, for her decorative paper hats for every holiday and season.

She kept a large home on Pedregosa Street, built in 1900, where she rented rooms and eventually turned it into an informal bed and breakfast. That house was active with music, dinners, brunches, marriages and many celebrations for no reason, as well as the Annual End of Summer Party.

A life long Democrat, she held fast to her strong liberal convictions, but was bitterly disappointed in the current state of her local and national Representatives.

An avid reader, Marie will be remembered for her intelligence, sharp wit, stubborn nature, sense of style, graceful Irish beauty and a deep streak of kindness. She is survived by her brother Edward Newett, her daughter Robyn, her son Andrew, her grandchildren, Jade, Jerrell and Savannah Miller, and an uncountable number of friends she collected during her lifetime. She made us all her family.

Marie requested to be cremated, her ashes scattered at sea and that her friends gather for a pot-luck dinner with live music which will be held January 7th. She also asked that a bench be placed near the ocean in her memory. In lieu of flowers contributions for the construction of her bench may be sent to Robyn Miller, 2204 Lakeshore Ave #5, Oakland, CA 94606. The time and location of the party will be on Marie's phone, 805-569-1914. The family would like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Michael Bordofsky, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, LivHome and the nurses at Cottage.

SENKE, Ben (Santa)

passed away on Dec. 14, 2005, quietly at Buena Vista Care Center, after a long battle with congestive heart failure, at the age of 88.

Ben was born on March 20, 1917. He grew up in a polish neighborhood in Chicago, Ill. One of three brothers and two sisters of immigrant parents from Krakow.

In 1945, he met his future wife, Adeline Peszynski. The following year they were married at the St. Hyacinth Catholic Church of Chicago. Their son was born in 1953, Jim, who lives in Carpinteria with his wife Raylene.

Ben had worked for Simpson Optical of Chicago, when the company merged with Inferred Industries of Carpinteria in 1962, the family moved to Santa Barbara. After working for 44 years as a Production Engineer he retired.

In retirement, he started playing Santa in the early eighties, just to keep himself busy after the passing of his wife of 45 years in 1991. He loved playing Santa. This was his best time to shine: visiting nursery schools, local charity functions, Goleta Community Center, La Cumbre and the Paseo Nuevo shopping malls, nursing homes, and even a TV commercial. The children and elderly were his favorite; he loved to hear what they wished for, and to make them happy most of all.

Ben had also been a greeter and an usher for many years for St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Goleta.

There will be a memorial service, at the Calvary Cemetery, on Hope Avenue, Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 10:00 a.m.

Arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider.

SHAFER, Arthur Worthington

October 8, 1923 - December 12, 2005

On Monday, December 12, Arthur Worthington Shafer ("Art") died peacefully at his home in Santa Barbara with his wife, Lynn, and his son, Arthur, by his side. Art was born in Los Angeles on October 8, 1923 to Gwendolyn Worthington and Arthur Joseph Shafer. Art graduated from Stanford University, served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, and completed post-graduate work in Geological Engineering at USC. Art began his career in petroleum engineering with Union Oil Co. and JPL. He then worked at McDonnell Douglas, where he was responsible for the third stage of the Saturn V Moon Rocket that propelled astronauts toward the moon.

While at USC, he met, and in 1949 married, Mathilde ("Tillie") McLaughlin who pre-deceased Art in 1982. Together, Art and Tillie had three children: Jennifer (Porteous), Arthur H., and Gwen ("Wendy" Pepper). In 1983, Art joyously married Lynn Cordner. Among Art's greatest joys were golf, traveling with Lynn, spending time with his family, writing poetry, and building beautiful model ships and birdhouses. He was especially known for his memorable and heartfelt toasts at a variety of events.

Art is survived by his dear wife, Lynn; his sister, Suzanne Shafer (Forgie); his and Tillie's three children (Jennifer, Arthur and Wendy); and Lynn's children: Mrs. Carter Cordner (Lynn), Kelly Cordner, Carlye Cordner (Tricker). He is also survived by 16 grandchildren: Heather Kinder, Fletcher Jones III, Christopher Pepper, Cameron Pepper, Michael Porteous, Anne Marie Porteous, James Shafer, Weiler Shafer, Elisabeth Cordner, Evelyn Cordner, Emily Cordner, Carter Cordner, III, Patrick Tricker, Catherine Tricker, Andrew Tricker, and Amelia Tricker. Art's great grandchildren include R. Hogan Kinder, Matilda Kinder and Fletcher Jones, IV.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Arthur W. Shafer to the charity of your choice or the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara Foundation (VNHCSB Foundation), 222 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

The funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, December 20th, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1300 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA 93108.

STEEN, Richard

was interred at Santa Barbara Cemetery on Dec. 13, 2005. Mr. Steen passed away in Yuma, AZ on Dec. 31, 2004. He is survived by his wife Rita Jourdan Steen, two sons of Nevada and one daughter of Arizona.

TOWNSDIN, James Rowdy,

36 years old, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2005. He was born on July 16, 1969 in Van Nuys, Calif., but lived all of his life in San Diego County. He was a devoted and loving son, brother and uncle.

Jimmy will be remembered with deep devotion by his life-long friends. His outgoing and friendly personality impressed everyone who knew him and everyone who was fortunate to have known him was enriched by his personal charisma and joyful personality.

He is survived by his father, Robert Townsdin and his wife Terry, his brother, Greg Townsdin Monk, his sister Deborah Townsdin and his sister Shani Townsdin. His is survived by a neice Alli and a nephew Kaleo Aloha Monk. He is also survived by his mother Diane James. He was preceded in death by his brother and mentor, Robert Merrill Townsdin "Tiger," in 1995. He was loved unconditionally by family and friends and will live in their hearts forever. James, the voices in your head are gone. You are at peace with Tiger.