Obituaries

Mar 17, 2023

Sharon Ruth Gini, 78, passed away peacefully at her home in Davis California on March 17, 2023. Born February 7, 1945, to Harry Gini and Esther Gini (nee McMeechan) in Stockton California, Sharon was the middle child of the family and their only daughter. Growing up Sharon took tap and other dance classes which later helped her win more than...

Mar 8, 2023

Calvin Crabill, much-loved family patriarch, companion, Davis High math teacher, and musician died on March 8, 2023, at the age of 98. His daughter Carol was with him.

Cal, as he was known to most, was an accomplished musician, playing jazz trumpet in bands from his teenage years into the 2020’s. He was a longtime member of the Davis-based It’s...

Mar 2, 2023

Beryl Aleda Putnam Duffin passed away on March 2, 2023 at her home in Davis, California at the age of 97.  She would have celebrated her 98th birthday four weeks later on March 31.

Beryl was born to Ora Katherine Holmstead and Anton Wilson Putnam in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 31, 1925.  Having lost her father to pneumonia...

Mar 2, 2023

Mary Jean Burke passed away peacefully on March 2, 2023 at Palm Gardens Senior Living in Woodland where she received loving care through her extended struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Prior to her illness, she was a 25-year resident of Davis.Mary Jean was born to Delmar and Irene Cranmer on July 23,1930 in Sharon, PA where she was raised through her...

Feb 21, 2023

Feb 20, 2023

Davis resident and passionate community contributor Matthew (Matt) Blake died February 20, 2023, blindsided by a very brief fight with a rare and aggressive cancer. He lived a bold, joyful 48 years with family who adored him, and among a stunning number of friends, colleagues, and neighbors who loved his thoughtful and creative approach. Together we’ll begin to process the...

Feb 19, 2023

Marjorie Audrey Pitman Ranns, affectionately known as "Gramma," passed away on February 19, 2023, at the age of 100, in Davis, CA, where she had resided for six years. She was born on July 15, 1922, in Brockton, MA, to Donald P. Pitman and Emily C. Pitman.

Marjorie was a graduate of Katherine Gibbs College in Boston, MA, and worked...

Feb 14, 2023

Raola Dawn (Butler) Felker "Rae" was born in Perry, Illinois on February 14, 1939.  She passed on her 84th birthday on Valentines Day 2023.

Rae spent most of her life in central Illinois, two decades in Florida, and the last 18 years in Sacramento, California. 

Rae was valedictorian of Mt. Sterling Community High School in 1957. She spent most of...

Feb 12, 2023

Arlene Learn, 90, passed away peacefully at her Davis home on Feb. 12, 2023.

Arlene was born in State College, PA on Feb. 22, 1932 to Joseph T. and Hannah (Sprankle) Green. While working as a secretary in the Music Department at Penn State, her future sister-in-law introduced her to a young Ph.D student, Elmer Learn, whom she would later...

Feb 11, 2023

The wind was howling and the rain was sheeting against the hospital windows on the night that William and Winifred Dicker Jackson’s daughter was born. The nurses said, “You should name her Gale,” but Winifred named her firstborn Barbara after an admired childhood friend.

Barbara’s first home was in Alameda. It was a safe and friendly place to raise Barbara...

Feb 10, 2023

Ronald Dean Clift, 74, lost his battle to congestive heart failure, and passed away on Friday February 10, 2023, at his home in Davis with his wife by his side. 

Ron was born on March 5, 1948, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and was the son of a career Air Force father. As his dad was transferred, Ron lived in Paris,...

Feb 9, 2023

It saddens our heart to announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, Valentine Mata, on February 9, 2023 at the grand age of 93. He is survived by children Valerie Lugo (Al), Raul Mata, Gloria Bailey (Jim) grandchildren Elizabeth Jimenez (Thomas), Alexander Lugo, and great-grandchildren Christopher, Benjamin and Wyatt Jimenez; and siblings Lucy Lainas, Kathleen Knisely, Felix and...

Feb 4, 2023

Leon Louis Francois Wegge, 89, of Davis, California, passed away peacefully on February 4th, 2023, after a multi-year battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (Waldenström’s disease). He was surrounded by his loving family when he passed.

Leon was born in 1933 in Breendonk, Belgium. After attending primary school, junior high and high school in Breendonk and nearby communities, he spent two years...

Jan 22, 2023

Glen Robert Byrns passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023 after receiving a diagnosis of stage 4 esophageal carcinoma the previous Friday.  He was with family and his good friend, Howard Shempp, at the time of his death.  

Born in August 1952 to Clyde and Jane Byrns, he spent his first 18 years in Gardena, graduating from Gardena High...

Jan 17, 2023

On Tuesday January 17, 2023, Frances Reynolds passed away at home after a short illness, surrounded by family, at the age of 86. Fran was born in Amalia, New Mexico in 1936. She lived in California throughout her adult life, spending many years living in San Francisco and Daly City. She later had homes in Martinez and Millbrae, most recently...

Jan 14, 2023

Peter Glen Kenner was born on June 5, 1934 in Logan, Utah to Lee and Kirma Kenner. He passed away from cardiovascular disease in his home on January 14, 2023.Pete grew up in Utah, Arizona, and California and was still in close contact with many childhood friends. He graduated from high school in Berkeley, California where he met his future...

Jan 13, 2023

Muriel Marie Chiolis, 93, of Davis California, passed away peacefully on Friday January 13, 2023, after a short hospice care at the home she shared with her beloved husband Richard.  Family and friends were all able to spend time together with Muriel prior to her passing.

Muriel was born on August 3, 1929 in San Jose California to Joseph and...

Jan 8, 2023

Janet Lee Collins (née Wentworth) was born in 1941, in Portland, OR. She passed away unexpectedly and quickly in her home in Woodland, CA, on January 7, 2023. She was predeceased by her mother, her father, her twin sister, and a dear aunt and survived by Steve, her beloved husband of 43 years, two children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, four...

Jan 6, 2023

June (Wilhelm) Anderson, 76, formerly of Faulkton, SD passed away peacefully at her home in Davis, CA on January 6, 2023, surrounded by family.  June spent over 20 years as a Chief Financial Officer in the produce industry in the San Joaquin Valley in California.  She will forever be remembered for her sassy wit and keen business sense.  She is...

Jan 3, 2023

Patricia Colenzo passed away peacfully on January 3, 2023 at the age of 80,  in Vacaville, California. She is survived by her husband: Salvatore (Sam) Colenzo of 52 years, children: Karin Seis (Richard), Kenneth Colenzo (Elizabeth), Kristi Colenzo, grandchildren: Jonathan and Samantha Seis, Madeline Shull, Liliana Colenzo, sister Kathy (Terry) Pituch.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles...