Born on December 14, 1913 in Santa Paula to Peter and Mary Duarte, Norbet grew up in Santa Paula and graduated from Santa Paula High School. He studied music at Pasadena City College and later graduated from Santa Barbara State Teacher’s College (now UCSB), where he met his wife of 59 years, Lois. He also received an M.A. from USC. He lived and taught music, Spanish, social studies, and ESL in Burbank for over 30 years. Norbet and Lois moved to Valencia in 1997.Norbet was preceded in death by his sister, Betsy Duarte Steelman, and his wife, Lois Delker Duarte. Remaining family includes sister May (George) Caldwell of Santa Paula, daughters Diane (Robert) Babko of Valencia and Michele (Gerard) Kilroy of Northridge, grandchildren Jeffrey (Jolene) Babko of Valley Glen, and Pamela and Stephen Kilroy of Northridge, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.A visitation was held on Thursday, February 23 at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 No. Sierra Highway, Newhall, California, and a memorial service was held on Friday, February 24 in the chapel at Eternal Valley.Floyd Lewis WilliamsFloyd Lewis Williams passed away peacefully at St. John’s Manor in Woodland, California on Wednesday, February 22 at the age of 87.Floyd was born on June 30, 1918, one of six children to Pearl Eaves and Ernest Williams of Lorenzo, Texas. He was raised on the Texas panhandle, and graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.He married Frances Cleveland on New Year’s Eve, 1943, and immediately reported for duty to the U.S. Navy. He served as a lieutenant, stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany during World War II. After his honorable discharge, Floyd enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, receiving a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.Floyd returned to Texas Tech as an assistant professor of engineering for several years. During this time, he wrote a textbook on the use of the slide rule. Next, Floyd went to work for Hughes Aircraft in Tucson, Arizona.In 1956, Floyd and Frances and their two young daughters moved to North Hollywood, California, where he began his career with Litton Industries. Upon his retirement from Litton in 1975 the couple moved to Santa Paula, where they owned and operated a thriving citrus and avocado ranch for the next 20 years.Daughter Katrina joined her parents at that time (while her husband was serving overseas in the military), and happily raised four children here. Floyd was an avid golfer, and a member of the Santa Paula Methodist Church and the Rotary Club.The Williams moved to Davis, California in 1996. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before Frances passed away in May 2005.Floyd is loving remembered by his daughters Katrina Steiner (husband James) of Ventura and Karen Slinkard (husband Stephen) of Davis, and his grandchildren: Christopher Steiner and Matthew Steiner of Las Vegas, Nevada; Donovan Slinkard of Sacramento; Dustin Steiner of Washington, D.C.; Megan Slinkard of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Shannon Steiner of San Diego; and Monica Slinkard at college in Davidson, North Carolina.Floyd’s lifelong love of numbers and number games, his gentle and supportive presence, and his sense of responsibility and caring will be greatly missed. The family will hold a private celebration service this week, and requests memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association of Ventura County, 1339 Del Norte Rd., Camarillo, CA 93010.Death NoticesAnita Faye Soderberg, 87, Santa Paula homemaker, died February 11, 2006. Arrangements by Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura.Hector V. Borrego, 78, Santa Paula, postman, died February 17, 2006. Arrangements by Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.
Obituaries
March 01, 2006
Obituaries
Elbert Joseph
“Eb” TateElbert Tate, well known local civil engineer, died of natural causes at his home in Santa Paula on Tuesday, February 22, 2006. Known by family and friends as Eb, he was born October 9, 1915 in Oakland, California.Following his graduation from UC Berkeley, Eb worked as a mining engineer in Northern California until World War II, when he enlisted in the Navy. Following his service as an officer in the Seabees, he moved to Southern California and settled in Santa Paula, where he established his own practice as a civil engineer and land surveyor. He was an active member of the Santa Paula Rotary Club for over 40 years.A memorial service will be held at the Universalist Unitarian Church at 740 E. Main St., Santa Paula at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1.Eb is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anita, his son Richard, and his two granddaughters, Lisa and Jamie. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, any memorial donations be made to the Santa Paula Rotary Club’s local scholarship fund at P.O. Box 809, Santa Paula, CA 93061.Daisy Dunn StortsDaisy D. Storts, 94, passed away peacefully at the Fillmore Convalescent Center on Saturday, February 25, 2006 after a brief illness.Daisy was born on December 26, 1911 in Branch, Arkansas to John and Ida Cole Ragsdale. She lived with her brother, sister-in-law and their two daughters on their farm in Charleston, Arkansas until she met and married Roy Dunn. They lived in Charleston until coming to California in the early 30s.They eventually settled in Saticoy, where Roy worked as a machinist for Brigham’s machinery, and Daisy worked as an egg candler for Olson Bros. Egg Co. in Ventura. A few years after Roy’s death, Daisy married Vernon Storts and settled in Santa Paula.Daisy was preceded in death by Roy and Vernon, and all of her siblings.She is survived by her daughter Nancy (husband Charles) Harbison; grandchildren, Jeff Harbison of Santa Paula, Michael (wife Tina) Harbison of Orangevale, Glen (wife Judy) Harbison of Palmdale, and Becky Harbison of Santa Paula; and six great-grandchildren, Sam and EmmaLee of Palmdale, Lindsey, Shannon and Charles of Orangevale, and Lynlee of Santa Paula.She enjoyed the many hours she spent in her garden, taking care of her flowers, fruit trees and vegetables.Daisy was known as “Granny” by all of her grandchildren’s friends in Santa Paula, who loved to visit with her and listen to her tall tales and eat “Granny’s” Arkansas cooking.A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 1 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, March 2 from 9 to 11:20 a.m. at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula. Graveside services will be on Thursday, March 2 at 1 p.m. at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, 525-3391.Norbet Doran DuarteNorbet Duarte, 92, passed away on Friday, February 17 in Valencia, California due to heart complications.
