LOYA HUNT KOUTZ MOTT
With sorrowful hearts, we announce the passing of our dear mother (pictured here on her ninetieth birthday) who succumbed to pneumonia two days after suffering a stroke. Our joyful and loving mother was born April 15, 1914 in Santa Barbara, CA. to LeRoy and Winifred Hunt. Her sister, Nada Hunt Kemp, preceded her in death in 1991.
Mama was the apple of her daddy’s eye, and her dad made it a point to let his daughter know this everyday of his life. It was through the affection and care of her sweet parents that Mama was blessed with a genuine love of family and nature. Her joyous personality touched the lives of all who knew her.
Mama lived in Oakland, CA for much of her life. She graduated from Holy Names University in 1936. She then received her teaching credential from CSUSF in 1937.
Her first job was in a two-teacher schoolhouse in Holtville, CA. Her adventures and friendships were always sources of good and humorous conversation. After her first year in the Imperial Valley, she and her co-educator, Dorothy, took a six-week vacation via the steamship Lurline to the “territory” of Hawaii. This exciting voyage was to be the first of many wonderful trips Mama would enjoy.
After two years teaching in the desert, she married Ernest Koutz and moved back to the Bay Area. This union produced five children: Ronald Koutz (Marsha), Bruce Koutz (Ramona Richardson), Kenneth Koutz (Jean), Terrel Harms (Richard) and Kathleen Cmaylo (Bohdan); seven grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. Loya and Ernest divorced in 1956.
During the next twenty-five years, Mama was an elementary school teacher in the Oakland Public Schools. She was a single parent who, along with our very dear grandmother, did everything possible to keep a lovely home in tact while raising five children. She worked hard, loved us dearly, and a day never passed without a whistling tune and a loving smile.
In 1972, Mama married our loving step-dad, Arthur Mott, after a thirteen-year romance. They both shared a passion for travel and made it their mission to visit all the countries they had envisioned. They truly had a full and happy life in their senior years. As traveling became more of a chore than a joy, they moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek, CA. This satisfied all their needs. With Arthur’s death in 2000 and the discomfort of living alone for five years, Mama moved in with her daughter and family in Mountain View, CA. She lived there until her death on July 2, 2007.
Our precious Mama was like no other. She lit up a room, welcomed all with a warm hug and made everyone around her feel her joie de vivre. She was a generous, selfless and loving soul who exuded all the elegance of a true lady. Her children were her blessing, her grandchildren her indulgence, and her great grandchildren - the cherry on top.
We will feel you, Mama, as the gentle, fresh breezes caress our faces. We will smell you in the beauty and fragrance of each flower. And when a waft of fluffy clouds glide by, we will know it’s your artistic hand that painted them just for us.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in her memory to the National MS Society and/or the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). A private, family celebration of her life will be held.
G. GARY LETSON
G. Gary Letson, a resident of Los Altos for 33 years, passed away at home in his sleep July 4, 2007. He was born December 27, 1936 in San Diego, California to Nell Elizabeth Buck and Allen George Letson. He graduated from Hoover High School, and San Diego State where he was a member of Sigma Pi. Gary taught high school science in the Grossmont School District in San Diego, and from 1964-1965 was a Fullbright Exchange Teacher, instructing biology teachers at Taegu University, South Korea, before moving to Santa Clara County in 1967. Gary taught math and science in the Fremont Union High School District in Sunnyvale for over 30 years, including Sunnyvale, Fremont and Monta Vista High Schools. He retired from teaching in 1996 but remained active in the Los Altos School District as a Science Aide at Almond Elementary School, a tutor at Mountain View High School and as a substitute teacher in the Mountain View/Los Altos High School District. Gary was a proponent of outdoor science education programs in the local high school districts. His love for the outdoors and ecology was a reflection of his interest in conservation and being a responsible steward of the Earth.
Since the late 1960s, Gary was a faithful servant of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sunnyvale, where he served a major role in the Our Daily Bread program, was a Vestry member and served as Senior Warden. Gary was actively involved in Bible study, outreach programs, helped oversee recent church renovations and assumed many leadership positions within the Church. In addition, Gary worked for many years on numerous committees for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, and was a participant in the Cursillo community. He strived to lead the life of an “intentional Christian”, working every day to ensure each action was consistent with his beliefs.
Gary was also very involved in local community service including the League of Women Voters, and regularly volunteered as a poll worker in elections since his retirement.
He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Jan of Los Altos, son and daughter-in-law Brian and Amy of Oakland, and daughter Mary, of San Francisco. He was eagerly anticipating the arrival of his first Grandchild in November. He is also survived by his sister Ruth DeLaune, brother Robert Letson, both of the Greater San Diego area, as well as sister and brother-in-law Jean and Patrick Fennacy of Fresno.
Memorial Services were held Saturday, July 14 at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sunnyvale at 231 South Sunset Avenue. Donations in his honor should be sent to the St. Thomas Endowment Fund, 231 South Sunset Avenue, Sunnyvale CA 94086.
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DONALD LOUIS GUIDOUX
Donald Louis Guidoux, 83, of Los Altos died July 4, 2007 at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto. Born December 10, 1923 in Palo Alto, Don witnessed many changes to the area where he lived most his life. After serving in India with the Army during WWII, Don returned home and received degrees from San Jose State and Stanford Universities. During his freshman year at San Jose State, he met his wife Edie. This past June, they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. For 30 years, he was a teacher and administrator at Palo Alto High School (his alma mater), Gunn High School, and Palo Alto Adult School.
Don was a fine craftsman and enjoyed woodworking, building his own shop from plan to completion in his backyard. After retiring in 1983, he was very active in the California Carvers Guild as both a judge and fellow carver. He was also an avid sportsman and loved to land a big fish whenever the opportunity arose.
Most of all, Don loved his family and took great pride and joy in his seven grandchildren, always being the grandpa who cheered the loudest at sporting events. He is survived by his wife Edith; son and daughter-in-law Dale and Marti Guidoux of Sunnyvale; daughter Elise Guidoux and partner Karen Koshgarian of Mountain View; daughter and son-in-law Elaine and Rob Kramer of Louisville, CO. His son Don preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held July 21 at St. Simon’s Church in Los Altos at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don’s memory to a veteran organization of your choice.
WARREN G. MYLLENBECK
WWII Veteran, Test Pilot,
Missile Engineer
Warren G. Myllenbeck, 86, passed away in Santa Rosa on June 19, after a brief illness. Born in Larchwood, IA, November 3, 1920, Myllenbeck grew up in the Everett, WA area and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. As a B-24 bomber pilot, he flew 52 combat missions over the Central Pacific theater, and amassed more than 450 combat flight hours. He was awarded 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 6 Air Medals and numerous other military decorations for valor under fire. After the war, Myllenbeck attended Oregon State University, where he received a BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering. In 1950 he went to work as a test pilot with Lockheed Aircraft Corp., in Burbank, CA, where he flew the famous P-2 and Constellation aircraft. In the 1960s, Myllenbeck transferred to Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., in Sunnyvale, CA, where he worked as a missile engineer on the Polaris, Poseidon and Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile programs for the Navy. He retired in 1985 after 35-years of service with Lockheed. Eventually moving to the Santa Rosa area, Myllenbeck stayed active in his retirement, pursuing his life-long interest in sports cars and traveling extensively throughout California. He is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50-years, Olga, and is survived by his 2 sons and 4 grandchildren. He is honored by a grateful nation and will be missed by many family, relatives and friends. A private memorial service will be held for family and friends on July 28 in the Santa Rosa area. Family assisted by LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL, Santa Rosa, CA.
RUTH L. PASCA
Long-time Los Altos resident, Ruth L. Pasca, born June 19, 1919 in Pettibone North Dakota, passed away on July 9, 2007 surrounded by her family and closefriends.
Following her graduation from Jamestown College, Ruth taught high school English and history and coached girl‚s basketball in North Dakota. In the early 1940‚s
Ruth came to California on vacation, and, after seeing San Francisco, never moved back.
Ruth was preceded in death by her son Paul (1955-57) and her husband of 58 years, Victor P. Pasca (1918-2005) whom she met at a USO dance in San Francisco during World War II. An avid golfer, amateur artist and gracious hostess, Ruth moved from San Francisco to the peninsula in the early 1950’s, settling in Los Altos in 1955, where, except for the five years she and Victor spent living in Zug Switzerland, she has remained.
She is survived by her daughter Linda Pasca Gruehl, her son-in-law Douglas, her grandson, Morgan Williams Gruehl and her sister Ethel VanderWal of Cyucos, CA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families. According to her wishes, no services will be held.
ENID SCHROEDER
Longtime Redwood City resident Enid Schroeder died Tuesday, June 26, of respiratory illness in Los Altos, California where she had lived for the last few years. She is survived by daughters Elin Schroeder-Goering of Santa Cruz, Lillian Bommarito (Tom) of San Jose, and Thelma van Brenk (Arie) of East Tawas, MI. Her grandchildren are Jennifer of Milwaukee, WI, David and Elizabeth of San Jose, CA. She was preceded in death by Rudolf Schroeder, her husband of 39 years, and her brother William F. Hadley (Madeline) of New Hampshire.
A native of New England, Enid met and married Rudy, a New Yorker, in Oregon. She lived out the rest of her life on the west coast but always considered herself a “transplanted Yankee”. She continued to enjoy traveling, visiting 48 of the 50 United States and several countries abroad.
She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Redwood City since the 1950s. Enid also enjoyed her memberships in the East Palo Alto Grange and the Sequoia Gem and Mineral Society.
Enid will be best remembered for her ready smile and her love of words, both spoken and written.
Family and friends will be gathering on her 90th birthday, August 14, 2007, to celebrate her life. The service will be at the First Baptist Community Church of Los Gatos, 17765 Daves Ave., Los Gatos, CA at 2:00PM.
Contributions may be made in her name to Wycliffe Bible Translators [1-866-888-9324] or the Arthritis Foundation [1-800-464-6240].
RUTH ANN WEST HARO
Ruth Ann West Haro, age 44 and a life long resident of Mountain View died June 30, 2007 at El Camino Hospital.
Ruth graduated from Awalt High School in 1981 before it became Mountain View High School. She has worked in banking for 25 years, most recently as the Client Services Manager at Silicon Valley Bank in Palo Alto. Aside from her family and friends, Ruth loved to cook!
Ruth is survived by her husband of 11 years, Jonas Haro, Mitchell Yamamoto, son, Patrick Yamamoto, son, Colton Haro, stepson, and Travis Haro, son.
Donations in Ruth’s name may be made by mail to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., PO Box 631047, Baltimore, MD 21263-1047 or online at www.lupus.org.
