Friday Obituaries

11/11/05

DAVIS, Truman Eugene, Jr., "Ted"

was born in Santa Barbara, CA on August 4, 1921 to Truman E. Davis, Sr. and Irene Davis. He passed away on November 1, 2005 in Georgetown, TX at the age of 84. Ted and his wife Betty owned and operated Irene Davis Pastries on Anapamu St. from 1962 to 1981, when they retired. Together they moved to Port Angeles, WA in 1988 where they lived for 12 years. In November 2000, they moved to their current residence in Georgetown, TX. Ted is survived by his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Davis. He has 3 children, his oldest son Alan and his wife Fe, his daughter Lynn and his youngest son Barry and his wife Cathy. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Randal and his wife Jennifer, Scott and his wife Mary, Forrest, William, Tim and Tom and 6 great grandchildren, Jackson, Justin, Parker, Alex, Amanda, and Cate. He is, further, survived by siblings Robert "Bob" Davis and his wife Judy of El Cerrito and Nancy "Nan" Seymour and her husband Bert of Sacramento. His brother Jack Davis preceded him in death. His surviving sister-in-laws include Pat Stockman, BJ Martin, and Nancy Kay Davis as well as brother-in-laws Tom Martin and Jack Martin and many nieces and nephews. Ted was an accomplished artist in painting, bronze sculpture, and stained glass and spent most Sundays at the Art Show on the beach selling his art. Ted was a member of the Santa Barbara Kiwanis Club where he held the position of President during the year of 1964 as well as a member of the Georgetown Kiwanis Club. Ted was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara, CA, the First Presbyterian Church of Port Angeles, WA and presently the First Presbyterian Church of Georgetown, TX. Family is requesting donations to Scott & White Hospice at 2401 S. 31st St., Temple, TX 76508 in lieu of flowers.

DUNHAM, Charles Raymond

After a brief illness, Charles Raymond Dunham passed away on Oct. 6, 2005.

Ray was born in Renton, Washington on Sept. 30, 1913. He graduated from Renton High School in 1928 and continued his education at the University of Washington in the School of Forestry. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1937, he married Vivienne on Oct. 30th of that same year. He worked as a Forestry Engineer for the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. for several years before beginning his sales career with Lo-Heet Waterless Cookware. Thriving with the activities of direct sales, he trained and managed teams of successful salesmen, winning many awards and enjoying a lifetime of great accomplishment. He recently moved with his wife to the Santa Barbara area. He will be missed, not only by his wife of 68 years but also his four adult children, Terrill Smith, Vicki Lee Allen, Roger C. Dunham, M.D. and Gerald Dunham. He will be well-remembered by many for his sense of good humor, his enjoyment of people, and his great wit. As he has requested, there will be no formal ceremonies and his ashes will be scattered over the ocean waters near Santa Barbara.

THORPE, George C.

George C. Thorpe, a lifelong resident of Santa Barbara, was called home by our Lord on 8 November 2005 after a year-long battle with cancer. George was born in Santa Barbara on 11 July 1925 to George C. and Gertrude (nee Braun) Thorpe.

He is predeceased by his parents and his sister Claire Bennetts. He is survived by his brother Charles and by several cousins, nephews and nieces.

George worked as an Auto Mechanic for over 65 years, starting out with the Homer Thompson Ford Garage on East Victoria St. way back in 1941. For the past 30 years he owned his own shop on West Cota St.

He will be missed by his many friends and associates in the Automotive Repair trade. He will be missed by his many friends at Amtrak - at the station and on the trains. He has long been staunch supporter of a strong and viable Amtrak system. He will be missed by his many close friends in Morelia, Michoacan and Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico where he traveled to every year for many years.

George was a World War II veteran, having answered his country's call to service in 1944. He was a member of Santa Barbara Post 49, the American Legion for nearly 60 years.

George's family would like to extend their grateful thanks to the staff of Serenity House, Hospice Care, the Volunteer Nurses of Santa Barbara, the nurses on 6 Central of Cottage Hospital and to Drs. Margaret Ray and Paul Ajian for all of the great care they gave George in his final illness. Also, thanks to the wonderful people at Easy Lift. His family would also extend their grateful thanks to all of his friends who visited and cheered him up during his illness.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society, the Goleta Valley Railroad Museum or the National Association of Railroad Passengers Legislative Action Fund in George's memory would be appreciated.

Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Home, 15 East Sola St., Santa Barbara are making the arrangements for his funeral. Visitation will precede the services on Friday, 11 November 2005 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM with the memorial service at 1:00PM. Interment will be private.

There will be a short memorial service at the Amtrak Station on Sunday, 13 November at 2:00PM.

As his train thunders down the main line, may the Great Chief Dispatcher make sure his train has no red blocks, no yellow blocks, only Green Boards as his train roars down the main line of the Big Rock Candy Mountain Railroad.