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Barbara O. Wight
(1920-2004)
Barbara Wight died in her home from cancer on June 30, 2004.
She was born October 25, 1920 in Van Nuys, California, the third of six children born to Otto Oltmann and his wife Ettie Longfellow.
Barbara played piano and loved music from her earliest years, serving as accompanist in church and for the Van Nuys chapter of Job's Daughters.
She graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1938, and after America entered World War II she moved to San Diego - working the swing shift for Consolidated Aircraft and its B-24s. Barbara worked there two years and was present in January 1942 when the camouflage netting went up, still fearing a West Coast invasion. In 1944 she settled in San Jose, again holding a series of jobs and volunteering in the local USO Club.
After the war she attended San Jose State starting in 1946 and met her future husband during a holiday party around Christmas 1947.
They married in March 1948 and settled in the Bay area for the next decade.
David became a public school music teacher, and she again held a series of jobs outside the home.
Barbara and Dave enjoyed season tickets to the San Francisco Symphony, attended many chamber music and jazz concerts, as Dave also played many jobs as a jazz musician.
In 1961 the Wights moved to the Rogue Valley.
Barbara worked for Emerald Music in Medford, then as Secretary at both Ashland Junior High (1963-64) and the English Department as Ashland High School (1965-79).
During these years she also served as on-call piano accompanist for Junior and Senior High students in the regional music competitions.
After retiring from Ashland High in 1979, she worked for the Medford Public Schools 1980-86, and then did office work for psychologist Mike Knapp 1987-2003. She was still hoping to return to that position later in 2004, after several illnesses.
Barbara became a major supporter of local concerts- jazz, pop, classical, band and choral, throughout her forty years in the Rogue Valley. She attended City Band concerts every year, and served as both music librarian and payroll officer when her husband was City Band conductor from 1968-76.
She was on the original board for the Traditional Jazz Concerts which started in 1980, and she served that organization in various other capacities until 1989. Barbara and Dave were among the earliest subscribers to the Chamber Music concert series which began at SOU in 1985, seats which they held until their deaths. She also loved choral music, and attended many concerts of the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers.
She volunteered on local election boards many years. Barbara studied biology at San Jose State, and enjoyed a lifelong fascination for nature. She loved to camp and travel to scenic natural wonders, planted gardens throughout her life, and always had plants and flowers in the home. Her other hobbies included a love of all card games, especially Bridge. And she loved all the fine arts, not just music- traveling twice to Europe (in 1980 and 2000) for the art, architecture and sculpture.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David (1999), and all her siblings (sisters Dora Place and Mary Ellen Carter, brothers Bud, Bill and John Oltmann).
She is survived by her son Ed.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Funeral details handled by Litwiller-Simonsen and memorial service arrangements will be announced.
Charlotte Lee Knowles
Friends and family are invited to a memorial gathering for Charlotte Knowles at her home Saturday evening beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Mrs. Knowles, 54, of Ashland died Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at home.
Charlotte is now at peace, not in pain, and if there is a heaven, I am sure she is telling the angels how the gardens should be run.
She was born August 11, 1949 in Texas, the daughter of Milton and Joyce Suther.
She attended Willamette University, Clark College, and Washington State University.
On October 16, 1982 in Massachusetts she married Denis Knowles who survives.
They moved to Ashland in 1985 where she was a homemaker and avid gardener.
Also surviving are: her son Ethan, her daughter Phoebe; brothers, David Suther of Vancouver, WA and Marshal Suther; sisters Vickie Evalt of Gig Harbor, WA and Janice Harvey of Portland, OR; her father Milton Suther of Vancouver, WA and her mother Joyce Finrud of Bothel, WA.
Norman H. Bernheisel
Norman H. Bernheisel, 77, of Ashland, died Tuesday (June 22, 2004) at Providence Medford Medical Center. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
BERYL RYKKEN
A memorial will be held for Beryl Rykken who died on December 7, 2003. It will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland on Friday, May 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.
Mary Hannah Bearden
Mary Hannah Bearden, 94, of Ashland, died Tues., May 4, 2004 at her residence. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Ruth Masterson
Ruth Masterson, 85, of Ashland, died Saturday, May 15, 2004 at the Linda Vista Care Center, Ashland. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Russell Byron Anderson
Russell Byron Anderson, 78, of Ashland, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004 at his residence. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Marjorie H. Brannan
A graveside service for Marjorie will be held on Thursday, June 17 at 2 p.m. at Scenic Hills Memorial Park in Ashland. Marjorie passed away on Jan. 9, 2004.
Blanche Hakes
Blanche Hakes, 94, formerly of Ashland, died Saturday (June 19, 2004) at her sons home in Boron California. Arrangements: Abbey Funeral, Medford.
Vivian Lee
An informal gathering of family and friends will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland. Grace Vivian Lee died Saturday (June 26, 2004) at Hearthstone, Medford.
Gay Rhodes Andrews
Gay Rhodes Andrews passed away on June 29, 2004 at the age of 58, a victim of a tragic automobile accident while on a rafting trip in Idaho. She was born in Reading, England and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Gay graduated from California State University Sacramento with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and from New York University with a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration. Her 30-year career in the nursing field led to her position as Nurse Manager at Ashland Community Hospital.
Prior to her joining the staff at Ashland Community Hospital, she held nursing administrative positions at the Radiation Oncology Center at Sutter Cancer Center in Sacramento, CA; Albert Einstein Hospital in New York City; and Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento.
Gay had an adventurous spirit. She loved white water rafting, shopping, hiking, shopping, exploring new places, shopping, and photography. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and brought joy to all.
Gay was a charter member of Riverhawks, a member of the American Cancer Society, and a supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Gay was a resident of the Rogue Valley for 10 years. She will be remembered for her strength, humor, and compassion. She gave great energy, laughter, and support to her family, friends, and work.
She will be dearly missed by many, especially her beloved husband of 19 years, Mike Andrews; loving sons, Jeffrey Coyne of Lodi, and Callan Coyne and wife Melinda of Rancho Cordova; grandchildren, Amanda, Gabrielle and Justin; her mother, Jennifer Peacock of Conconully; siblings, Sally Mendoza of Guinda, Ivan Rhodes and wife Jinny of Vallejo; her nieces and nephews, Kim, Daniel, Lyn, Katie and Colin; and her much loved dog Bessie.
Her sister, Lyn Rhodes, and her father, David Rhodes, of Albuquerque preceded Gay in death.
Gifts of remembrance may be made in Gay's name to Ashland Community Hospital Foundation, American Rivers, or the John Kerry Campaign.
The celebration of her life through a gathering of families and friends will be held on Saturday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. at her home in TouVelle at 1828 Pine Gate Way, White City, OR 97503. River attire recommended.
