Obituaries
February 04, 2011
Obituaries
Florence J. Zakrajshek
(1930 - 2011)
Florence J. Zakrajshek, 81, of Santa Paula, passed away on Jan. 24, 2011 at Moorpark Health Care.
Flo, as she was well know to her many friends, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Jan. 1, 1930, and later moved to California where she was a Ventura County resident for over 60 years. Flo was an accountant for over 50 years, and worked in the family business in Santa Paula, know as Flo-Air. Flo was a member of the Soroptimist International Santa Paula Club where she was an active member and served as president on two different occasions, she also served on the Housing Authority for the City of Santa Paula.
Flo was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Zakrajshek, in 2000. Flo is survived by her son, Frank Zakrajshek, wife Norma, of Santa Paula, grandsons, Kenny Zakrajshek of Las Vegas, Evan Zakrajshek and Logan Zakrajshek, both of Santa Paula, granddaughter, Jennifer Zakrajshek and husband Chris, and great-grandchildren, Zakary and Brook of Woodland Hills, and by son, Edmund Zakrajshek.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, at Skillin Carroll Chapel, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula. Arrangements are under the direction of the Skillin Carroll Mortuary, 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, CA 93060; 525-3391.
Ruth Stone van der Las
Ruth van der Las passed away on Wednesday evening, January 19, at the Vista Cove Care Center in Santa Paula, California, just two months shy of her 100th birthday. She was born March 27, 1911 in Lone Pine, Nebraska.
She was the daughter of Reta Williams and Fred W. Stone of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Her father owned a Texaco bulk plant, and later became Mayor of Scottsbluff. Her mother played piano for the silent movies, as well as for all the dances in town. Ruth and her dancing partner became known as the town’s best dancers.
Ruth attended Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, MO, and after two years she transferred to the State College in Chadron, Nebraska. She was always a voracious reader, excelled in writing, and appeared in numerous college plays.
She met Harold van der Las in college in Chadron. They had two daughters, Sue and Linda, whom they raised in Denver, Colorado.
During World War II Ruth worked in a prisoner of war camp in Nebraska as a secretary. The first prisoners were German, followed by Italian prisoners.
The children had an idyllic childhood, which was broken in the teenage years when Harold became an alcoholic, and Ruth divorced him in order to make a happy home for the girls. She drove to Los Angeles and made a new life for the family, working to support her daughters.
Ruth had various jobs, each time making lifelong friends among her coworkers. At one time she worked for a theatrical agency, and she delighted in describing her friendship with Bobby Darren, who would sing and dance for her when he called on his agent. She also sold real estate in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
Her daughter Linda gave birth to a baby boy, Devin, whom Ruth adored. In 1970 Linda met and married the writer-director Bernard Girard, and the family was blessed with the addition of Bernard’s three sons (Chris, Michael and Peter Girard), whom Ruth loved as her own grandchildren. The family lost Devin at the age of 21 with cystic fibrosis. Ruth had moved to Ojai to be nearer to Devin, and worked at Ojai’s City Hall.
Ruth left Ojai when offered a job by the Chief of Police in Santa Monica, where she served in Internal Affairs. She worked until the age of 83, when she retired by her own choice. She received special recognition by the SMPD.
She moved to Santa Paula thirteen years ago to be near her daughter Linda, although she traveled to New York City many times to spend several months staying with her daughter, Sue Shamroy, where she again established lasting friendships.
Ruth lived at the Santa Paulan Senior Apartments, where she had many dear friends. She loved Santa Paula, and passed many afternoons at the Santa Paula Coffee Company, where she enjoyed watching the passers-by, frequently commenting that Santa Paula had the most beautiful children in the world. She will be missed and remembered for her love of life, her love of all things beautiful, her wit, her taste and sense of style, and her readiness to say a resounding “Yes” to all the experiences that came her way.
The family is grateful to the Vista Cove Care Center for their kind care of Ruth. In lieu of flowers, the family believes that Ruth would have been grateful for donations to The Spirit of Santa Paula (to benefit the homeless), 848 E. Main St., Santa Paula, CA 93060, or Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 117 N. 7th St., Santa Paula, CA 93060.
A memorial to celebrate Ruth will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2:30 p.m. at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church (117 N. 7th St.).
Norma Ann (Viloria) Ennis
Norma Ann Ennis passed away on January 30, 2011 at her home in Santa Paula, CA. Norma was born on July 24, 1941 in Los Angeles, California.
At age 17 she married her first husband and had three children. She is survived by her second husband of 22 years, William J. Ennis; her mother Christine Viloria; her three children: Elizabeth Santhon, Tino Santhon and Christopher Santhon; her four grandchildren: Tino Santhon IV, Adam Santhon, Sean Santhon and Lucas Santhon; her brother, Robert Viloria; sisters, Jennie Viloria and Toni Viloria; six nieces; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
Norma was a warm and caring individual who was always concerned for her family’s health. She enjoyed attending family celebrations and was an enthusiastic organic gardener who took great pride in caring for her vegetable garden.
A viewing will take place just prior to church services on Monday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., with the funeral services beginning at 12 noon at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 604 Ojai Rd., Santa Paula, CA 93060, followed by a grave dedicatory service at Bardsdale Cemetery located in Fillmore, CA.
For map and directions to ceremony locations and to sign the family’s online guestbook, share stories and photos, please visit our website: www.mysantapaulafuneralhome.com and click on her name located below “Recent Obituaries.”
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Family Owned & Operated Robert Rey Garcia Jr. Funeral SVCS, Santa Paula, 805-229-7054.
Eduardo Castillo Sr.
Edward “Eddie” Castillo Sr., 58, passed away on January 25th 2011 after a lengthy illness. Eddie was born on February 10, 1952 to Jesus and Emilia Castillo of El Paso, Texas.
During his youth, Eddie enjoyed listening to his “oldies music” and watching his team the Dallas Cowboys. He also loved playing slow pitch softball, bowling, and playing horseshoes with his family and friends. For the past 11 years, Eddie lived in Phoenix, Arizona with his family. It was there where he fell in love with NASCAR.
Eddie is survived by his mother and father; his brothers Carlos, Modesto, Pedro and Jesse; sisters Rosa Elvira and Victoria; children Edward Jr., Desiree, Richard, Eddie Albert, Rose, Jessica and Mariah; plus 13 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son Robert Baca and niece Arlene Castillo.
Services will be held in Phoenix, Arizona on February 12t, 2011. For friends and family in Santa Paula, there will be a “Remembrance of Life” held on February 5th, 2011. For further information on either event please call 805-477-8232.
We Love you Tio Eddie! You will forever live in our hearts.
