Obituaries

Resident of Los Altos November 14, 1938 - May 15, 2019 Bob Wordell passed away on May 15 after a long and courageous bout with Alzheimer’s. He was defined by his love of family, friends and faith. Family and friends enjoyed his warm and comfortable personality. He was born and spent his childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of four children. His older sisters loved him, and loved to tease him, until he got stronger than they were. He was the apple of his mother’s eye. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and set off for San Francisco in the early 1960’s, never to return. His career was as a salesperson for wholesale musical instruments, where he became more of a friend than a salesperson to his retail customers. He met and married Cynthia Charlton in 1966, and their son, Kipp, came into their lives in 1970. His pastimes included home improvement projects, tennis, and bicycling, He made several trips to Europe to hike and to introduce his granddaughters to the wonders of the world. His Catholic faith was his unwavering companion, sustaining him through good times and bad. He practiced his faith by being a member of the Kairos Prison Ministry, where he and his teammates served “the men in blue” at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville for many years. He was a member of St. William Catholic Church, where he sang in the choir and served as a Eucharistic minister. He is predeceased by his parents, George and Vivian Wordell, and his sisters Georgene Seaman and Patricia Kaiser. He is survived by his loving family: Cynthia, his wife of 51 years; son Kipp of Nevada City, CA; sister Nancy Carlson of Mequon, WI; granddaughters Lauren, Alexi and Taylor; and many nieces and nephews. Special people in his life include his helpers Mani Vatikani , Dina Caceras, and Marissa Holm; the angels at Cedar Creek Memory Care in Los Gatos; and Bo and Stan from Help and Care. The funeral service will be held at St. William Catholic Church, 611 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos, Saturday, June 22 at 11:00 AM followed by a reception in the church hall. Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to: CMF Vacaville Kairos P.O. Box 2866 Dublin CA 94568

Kent Stewart Barber passed peacefully on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Grass Valley surrounded with love by his adoring family. He was born on June 4, 1940, in Seattle, Washington to parents Jim and Nancy Barber and attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the student government and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After graduating from college, he spent time in the Coast Guard, and later took a year out to hitchhike through Europe. In 1964, he started Barber Properties, in Los Altos, CA and was very active in the community as President of the Board of Realtors and President of the Chamber of Commerce. Kent married the love of his life, Caroline (King) Barber and together they had two children, Sarah and Jamie. In 1983, Kent and Caroline moved their family to the Sierra Foothills.

Joseph Dobson passed away recently from complications after undergoing heart surgery. He is survived by his son, James Dobson, his daughter, Carly Jo; his grandchildren Drake and Ryder; his brother, Carl Dobson; and his mother, Janet Dobson.  He was preceded in death by his father, John R. Dobson and his sister Jeanne Alina Milan. Joe was born in Los Angeles in 1954. When he was three years old, he moved to Los Altos with his family.  He spent happy years growing up in the Santa Clara Valley when there were orchards and open space in which to roam. With his family and school friends, he enjoyed the outdoors. Hiking, back packing and skiing in the mountains became a central part of recreation throughout his life. When he was in his teens, he discovered his love of music, particularly the music of the guitar.  He attended schools in Los Altos, then graduated from Awalt High School (now Mountain View H.S.). After graduation, he played professionally traveling in the west with several bands.

Born April 29, 1927, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2019, at the age of 93. He was a lifetime resident of the City of Mountain View and a World War II Veteran of the United States Armed Forces. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Arlene N. Arata; his daughter, Melissa Burke; his granddaughter, Brittany Farina; and two great grandchildren. Funeral services to be held on May 30, 2019, at 11:30 a.m., at Saint Nicholas Church in Los Altos, California.

Dec.15, 1924 - May 3, 2019 Joe Kaspar, born Joseph Charles Kaspar, passed away on May 3, 2019, at the age of 94. He is survived by his six children: Charles (Bonnie) Kaspar, Jeannie Solomon, Susan Thompson, Karen (John) Hayden, Roger (Ruth) Kaspar, and Kathy (Fred Konkel) Kaspar. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, as well as his sister Mary Kaspar of Baldwin, New York. Joe was born on Long Island, New York, on Dec. 15, 1924, to Charles and Mary Kaspar. A resident of Los Altos for 50+ years, he came to the West Coast after serving in the U.S. army for three years during World War 2. While attending Phoenix Junior College he met his wife, Adell King. They were married on Jan. 25, 1947. Sadly, Adell passed away in 2017 after 70 years of marriage. Joe attended Arizona State College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and engineering. Joe and Adell then moved to California so Joe could attend the business school at Stanford University, where he completed his M.B.A. in 1951.

December 31, 1919 – April 22, 2019 Doris Anne Spencer, a long-time Los Altos Hills area resident, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2019. She was 99 years old. Anne was born on December 31, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The daughter of a Baptist minister, Anne was raised with her brother and sister in the city. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College for Women in 1941. She was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. In the early 1950’s, Anne moved to Los Angeles and fell in love with California, which remained her home state for the rest of her life. She worked as a public relations executive for a financial company and a petroleum company. She then met and married Donald Spencer, who was at Stanford, and moved to the Bay Area, where she began her dream career as an estate appraiser, eventually settling in a hilltop house in Los Altos Hills.