Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 10

MO SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL Thursday, September 16, 2004 OBITUARIES REMEMBRANCES i.l Ruby Alice Epperson Services will be Saturday for Ruby Alice Epperson, who died Santa Cruz Memorial Mr. Strzemieczny is survived by mother Barbara Strzemieczny of Toronto; girlfriend Jennifer Shoup of Scotts Valley; grandmother Michelle Adamiak of Toronto; cousin Rob Campbell of Scotts Valley; and another cousin and an aunt. Friends may call 4-7 p.m. today at Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 1927 Ocean St. Santa Cruz.

A funeral service follows at 7:30 p.m. Funeral and internment services will be Monday in Toronto. Local arrangements by Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home. Marguerite Johnson Bakken Services will be Sunday for Mar studied drawing and graduated from Cabrillo College in Aptos. She loved mornings on Seabright Beach, tending her roses and begonias, traveling abroad with her husband, visiting with her family, and spending time with her granddaughters Janis and Laura Bakken.

In recent years, she cherished drives with her husband, strolls by the esplanade and the lighthouse, nestling in a chair at Bookshop Santa Cruz and sipping coffee at Chocolate. Prior to her illness, she and Gordon enjoyed dancing to Wally's Swing World. She is survived by husband Gordon O. Bakken of Soquel; daughters Barbara Bakken of Santa Cruz and Beverly Bakken of Santa Fe and Santa Cruz; and brothers Hank Johnson of Arizona and Floyd Johnson of Wisconsin. Her son, Paul Bakken, died before her.

Services are 4 p.m. Sunday at the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel, Arrangements are by Santa Cruz Memorial Park. Lawrence 'Larry' Theodore Halpin Services were private for Lawrence "Larry" Theodore Halpin, who died of cancer Sept. 7 at the Linda Vista Nursing Home in Ashland, Ore. He was 83.

At the time of his death, Mr. Halpin lived in Talent, but the New York native and World War II veteran managed the Irvin M. Smith and Sons Mortuary in Santa Cruz until he retired in 1981. Mr. Halpin served in the Navy as a gunner's mate aboard the USS Portland and fought in the first seven battles of World War II.

He received his bachelor of mortuary science degree from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. He was a member of the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs and his favorite pastimes included playing golf and billiards, caring for his wife's roses and spending time with his friends. He was known for making delicious cheesecakes for dinner parties and enjoyed writing poems for his friends' birthdays and anniversaries and for toasts at special occasions. Mr. Halpin is survived by brother John Halpin, several nieces and a nephew, all of New York.

His wife of 48 years, Phyllis Halpin, brothers Luke and Joseph Halpin, and sister Marie Burkard died before him. Private services were Sept. 10 in Ashland, arid private internment was at Eagle Point National Cemetery in Jackson County, Ore. COPS AND Wednesday at her home in Scotts Valley. She was 86.

The Wisconsin native moved to California in 1940 and settled in Sacramento, where she and her first hus RUBY ALICE EPPERSON band began raising their family. His poor health and eventual death led the homemaker to begin working for the San Juan School District in Sacramento. Mrs. Epperson first met her second husband, Donald, in the late 1960s while traveling with a group in Hong Kong and met him again on a subsequent trip to Acapulco. The couple married in 1969, and Mrs.

Epperson moved to Scotts Valley. A member of the Dominican Hospital Auxiliary, Mrs. Epperson worked in the hospital gift shop for 24 years. She was an avid golfer and member of the Valley Gardens Golf Club. She also loved music, animals and traveling.

Mrs. Epperson is survived by husband Donald H. Epperson of Scotts Valley; daughters Judy Waite of Pioneer, Linda Hopp of San Clemente and Linda Mcpherson of Santa Cruz; son Dennis Michael Epperson of Overland Park, six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Her brother. Earl Warren, sister lone Terpening and grandson Michael Huttleston died before her.

A celebration of Mrs. Epperson's life will take place 3 p.m. Saturday at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Santa Cruz. Contributions are preferred to the Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz, P.O. Box 670, Aptos, CA 95001; the Alzheimer's Association, 1777-A Capitola Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95062; or a favorite charity.

Arrangements are by Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Tom Strzemieczny Services are today for Tom Strzemieczny, who died unexpectedly Sunday in Scotts Valley. He was 32. The Toronto native had lived in Scotts Valley for the past four years and worked as a software engineer. He was known as a great piano player who enjoyed composing and producing music.

He also loved nature. fUNIIIAl WAYNE EDWIN CHAMPION Wayne Edwin Champion of San Jose passed away on September 10, 2004 at home, overlooking his beloved backyard in Willow Glen, following a courageous struggle with cancer. Born on October 3, 1920 In Macomb, Illinois, Wayne was an accomplished artist and teacher. Champion earned his B.A. In Art from the University of Illinois In Champaign, Illinois, where he also met his wife, Mary Kathryn (Kay) Foster of Rldgway, Illinois.

After serving in the Navy during the Second World War, he attended Stanford University where he earned his doctorate. The Champion family moved to Lupton Avenue in Willow Glen, San Jose, in 1955. Wayne taught Design at San Jose State University for 40 years. After retirement, he continued teaching art at the Wlillows Senior Center and for continuing education classes. Wayne loved art, nature, meeting people and traveling.

He was delighted when these four things came together during travels In Europe, throughout the U.S. and especially Yosemlte, where he spent a summer as park ranger and resident artist. Wayne Is survived by Kay, his wife of 60 years; their children Clark Kellogg Champion and Denise Champion of Bodega Bay, Kristin Champion Kennedy and Scott Kennedy, of Santa Cruz, and Andrew John Champion of Piedmont, California; nine grandchildren, Jo Ellen Champion of Fort Collins, Colorado, Jason Champion of Boulder, Colorado, Holly Cabntlng and Steven Holden of Maul, Hawaii, Peter, Benjamin and Megan Kennedy of Santa Cruz, and Amanda and Daniel Champion of Piedmont; nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. A memorial service In celebration of Wayne Champion's life will be held at Willow Glen United Methodist Church (Minnesota Newport Avenues in San Jose) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. Wayne will be missed and remembered by the family and hundreds of friends and students.

Donations can be made to: The Yosemite Fund, 155 Montgomery St. 1104, San Francisco, CA 94104. Pet Remembrances publish one time per month, on the first Sunday of each month, these paid remem brances must be sched-1 uled one week prior to the run date. Last day to place ad for 101304 will be 929104." For more information call 831-429-2496 Mon-Fri California Society srving Santa Cruz County Fof-Over a Quarter of a Century tEMATION $795fe coumy lea Includes scattering at sea or cemetery garden or rctlrmedto designated person. 831-lf2SJ536 Compare Benito St Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel RUBY ALICE EPPERSON Services will be Saturday for Ruby Epperson who passed away September 15, 2004 at her home in Scotts Volley.

She was 86. Ruby was bom in Racine, Wisconsin July 25, 1918 the daughter of Charles and Mabel Warren. She grew up in Wisconsin. In 1940 she moved west to California and settled in Sacramento where In the early years she was a homemaker, raising her two daughters. In later years due to her first husband's poor health and eventual death she began work for the San Juan School District in Sacramento.

In the late 1960's while traveling with a group in Hong Kong she met Donald Epperson who she would later meet again on a subsequent trip to Acapulco. The couple married in 1969 when Ruby moved to Scotts Valley. She was a member of the Dominican Hospital Auxiliary for twenty four years working in the hospital gift shop. Ruby was an avid golfer and was a member of the Valley Gardens Golf Club. She loved music, animals and traveling.

She is survived by her loving husband, Donald H. Epperson of Scotts Valley; three daughters, Judy Waite of Pioneer, CA, Linda Hopp' of San Clemente, CA and Linda McPherson of Santa Cruz; son, Dennis Michael Epperson of Overland Park, KS; she is also survived by six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was preceded In death by her brother, Earl Warren her sister, lone Terpening and her grandson, Michael Huttleston. A celebration of her life will be held at Benito Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA Saturday September 18, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz P.O.

Box 670, Aptos, CA. 95001, the Alzheimer' Association, 1777-A Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 or your favorite charity. The Quality Standard in Santa Cruz 423-5721 1050 Cayuga Santa Cruz FUNIRAL Rocker Johnny Ramone dies at 55 CAROL ANN MENDOZA Passed away Sunday, September 12, 2004 after a 16 month battle with ovarian cancer. She was courageous and determined In her efforts to beat the cancer and was an Inspiration to may during her Illness. She was born on August 30, 1935 In Santa Cruz and was a lifelong resident.

Carol graduated from Holy Cross High School and worked for 20 years in the banking Industry at Citibank and Bank of the West. Carol had a great love for her family and friends. She and her husband Stan enjoyed taking long walks, working in their yard and garden, and sitting by the fire in the evening. She delighted in doing things for her children and grandchildren: cooking their favorite foods, attending baseball, football and soccer games, sharing fishing stores and baking cakes. She prided herself on being a good role model and was proud of her family.

Carol was thoughtful of others even during the last months of her life by reaching out to people in need of a positive word, moral support or a prayer. She was a volunteer for WomenCare working their Bowl-a-Thon and other fund-raisers. After having been in the hospital for 4 months she was proud to be able to participate In this year's Relay for Life to raise money for American Cancer Society. The absence of her presence will be everywhere and her memory will live on through her caring ways and the lives she touched. Carol was a devout Catholic and attended Our Lady Star of the Sea church.

She often said how blessed she was and thankful for all God had given her. She Is survived by her husband of 27 years Stan Mendoza, daughters Virginia Rossi and husband Joe of Santa Cruz, Diane Goody and husband Jeff of Aptos, Annette Ghio-Castro and husband Marc of Santa Cruz, step-daughter Stephanie Masamorl and husband of Santa Cruz, step-son Steve Mendoza and wife Gloria of Pusan, Korea. She Is also survived by her sister Andre Dodd and husband Bob of Stockdale, Texas, step-sister Sharon Warden and step-brother Ronnie Bellangero. She Is preceded In death by her first husband Tommy Ghlo who passed away in 1974, parents Andy Boldo and Doris Bellangero. She Is also survived by 10 grandchildren Tyler, Christopher, Anthony, Nick, Brian, Joanna, Thomas, Alicia, Christen and Kyle and several nieces and nephews.

She received wonderful care from the staff at Dominican Hospital, Hospice Caring Project and Florence Kuo. We are eternally grateful for their kind hearts and loving hands. Donations can be made to Dominican Hospital Foundation, 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz or WomenCare, P.O. Box 944, Santa Cruz. Friends are Invited to the mass celebrating Carol's life at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 515 Frederick Street on Friday, September 17th at 11 a.m.

Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. 1927 Ocean Street 426-1601 Lie. FD1476 LOTTERY WEDNESDAY Dally 3 Afternoon 3, 3, Night 5, 4, 7 Dally Derby 1st Place: 11, Money Bags. 2nd Place: 08, Gorgeous George. 3rd Place: 04, Big Ben.

Race time: 1:45.52. Fantasy 5 2, 4, 08, 11, 12 SuperLotto Plus 7, 22, 28, 30, 37 Meganumber: 11 Jackpot: $17 million guerite Johnson Bakken, who died Sept. 6 at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz due to complications from a stroke. She was 91. The Minnesota native graduated from high school in the middle of the Depression and MARGUERITE JOHNSON BAKKEN moved to Minneapolis to find work.

She studied millinery design, attended business school and excelled as a secretary and supervisor at Royal Typewriter. Mrs. Bakken served her country at naval headquarters in Washington, D.C. She met her husband of 56 years, Gordon, at a twilight dance at the University of Minnesota. They married in 1947 and honeymooned on a canoe trip along the Canadian border.

Later, her husband was assigned Air Force duty with NATO in Europe. She and their three young children accompanied him, living in Denmark, France and Norway. There, Mrs. Bakken explored her Danish roots, enjoyed winter sports and camping with her family, and studied Norwegian rose painting and knitting. A California resident since 1962, she worked for Santa Clara County and volunteered for Welcome Wagon.

She and her husband moved to Santa Cruz in 1978 after he retired from the U.S. civil service. Mrs. Bakken's hobbies included cross-country skiing, skating, camping with family, foreign travel and sewing and knitting, which she learned from her mother and later taught to her daughters. She was a member of Twin Lakes Church, and, in her early 70s, she whose real name was Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.

Bassist Dee Dee Ramone, whose real name was Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002. Johnny Ramone co-founded "The Ramones" in 1974 along with Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone and Tommy Ramone, the only surviving member of the original band. A tribute concert and cancer research fund-raiser was held Sunday in Los Angeles to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary. It featured performances from Los Angeles punk band the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Henry Rollins and others. Along with his wife, Linda Cummings, Johnny Ramone was surrounded at his death by friends Eddie and Jill Vedder, Rob and Sherrie Zombie and others.

the vote, remind people that our economy has been through a lot," he told supporters in Colorado on Tuesday. "We've been through a recession. We had corporate scandals" and the Sept. 11 attacks, he said. Bush loads his speeches with one-sided data on the economy, including his take on the 5.4 percent unemployment rate: "That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s," he said.

The number of Americans without health insurance has risen during Bush's presidency, reaching nearly 45 million in 2003. Medicare costs are rising sharply. Yet the Republican put Kerry on the defense this week with a hardhitting ad asserting that the Democratic plan would leave "big government in charge. Not you. Not your doctor." After months of catering to his party's right wing, Bush has dusted off his "compassionate conservative" agenda.

The Democrats say the GOP doesn't care about regular people. So Bush's stump speech includes a pitch to voters squeezed by the fast-moving new economy. "I understand the world we live in today is a changing world," Bush said this week in Holland, Mich. "Think about what happened in the workplace. Years ago our fathers and grandfathers worked for one job, one company; they had one pension plan, one health care plan.

Today people change careers and change jobs often. And the most startling change of all is that women now work not only in the house but outside the house." 1l 5 Ways a Reverse Mortgage Can Improve YourQualityofLife Eliminate monthly mortgage payment Receive extra monthly Income Eliminate credit card debt Receive a cash lump sum or line of credit Enjoy life a bit more For your free Reverse Mortgage Handbook, edit ELAINE PARKER 866-719-5446 (Toll Free) or visit our website at www.flnanclaKreedom.com COURTS WATSONVILLE Police nab driver at DUI checkpoint Police arrested one motorist suspected of drunken driving after screening 1,631 vehicles Sept. 6 and 10 as part of a national "You Drink, You Drive, You Lose" campaign. City officers administered sobriety tests to seven drivers during the campaign, police reported. Police cited 55 drivers for being unlicensed and uninsured, four for driving with a suspended license, two for possessing open containers of alcohol and two for possessing less than 1 ounce of marijuana, authorities said.

Bush campaign polling shows the line plays well with suburban women, as does his assertion that Kerry's health care plan would amount to a government takeover. Kerry has polls and focus groups of his own, and they suggest he can't win without undermining Bush's credibility. While aides acknowledge that it's late in the game to be defining a well-known incumbent, Kerry's reshuffled staff is casting every issue in the context of character. Bush wasn't just wrong about waging war in Iraq, he was misleading. He hasn't just lost jobs, he hasn't been straight about it.

"His is the excuse presidency," Kerry said Wednesday as he tried to make the economy a character issue. "Never wrong, never responsible, never to blame." THE REVERSE MORTGAGE SPECIALIST AttfMdofufMitatJmlankFSa, HNANON. FREEDOM loon, wil be made by Inandat Freedom01 Serto, Funding Corpcotlor, a ivfariduiy of lefenan When eari, 2O0O Financial Fieedom Serior Fendng Corpeeolon the flog lymbol and name 'Financial F'eedom' and Iha Rfreiw Mortgage Speaalitr ata tradanaik, of Flnondol rieedom StAlo, funding Coicoration. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band "The Ramones," has died. He was 55.

Ramone died in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home surrounded by friends and family, his publicist said. He had been fighting a five-year battle with prostate cancer. Ramone, whose birth name is John Cummings, had been hospitalized in June at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Johnny Ramone was one of the original members of the Ramones, whose hit songs "I Wanna be Sedated" and "Blitzkrieg Bop," among others, earned them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. The band's singer, Joey Ramone, Analysis Continued from Page Al it.

Even on its bloodiest days, he holds up the conflict as an example of his steely leadership and a willingness to make tough choices, while accusing his rival of wavering. In a speech here to members of the National Guard, the president sought to deflect questions about his Vietnam-era service by turning the subject to what he said were Kerry's equivocations on Iraq, "What's critical is that the president of the United States speak clearly and consistently at this time of great threat in our world, and not change positions because of expediency or pressure," Bush said Tuesday. He's playing to undecided voters who tell pollsters they're wary about Iraq and the economy but still hold Bush in relatively high esteem on character traits such as strength, decisiveness and leadership. It is a major part of Bush's reelection strategy to convince voters that the world is too dangerous to change leadership in the White House, even if the status quo is imperfect. The loss of nearly 1 million jobs during his tenure is a problem for Bush, particularly in Midwest battlegrounds such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

But, with a flurry of excuses and statistics, he has fought Kerry to a tie on the question of who is best suited to create job, polls show. you're out rounding up Just published: "The Reverse Mortgage Handbook" ItwiUhelphomeomers 62 years or older decide a reverse mortgage mates good sense lor them. d3 cieWi Verification Rental Property Call Now! Tim Castro 475-0595 Voice Mall 458-8284 YEARS OF PROVEN RESULTS Free Confidential Consultation LOWER YOUR MONTHLY Consolidate All Of Your Credit Cards' And Auto Payments Into One Easy Payment Refinance Your Current Tim Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt Call Tim Use Your Equity For Any Call Tim Highly Experienced Working With Low Credit Scores and Bad Credit Behind On Your House Payments Call Tim Judgements, Collections, IRS Liens Call Tim In or Out of Call Tim Good Credit, Bad Credit, Low Credit Scores Call Me Nowl One out of every two adults live with a fear of the dentist. Adult Sedation Dentistry Is the answer! Adult Sedation Dentistry Is SAFE, PAINLESS, and with NO NEEDLES. and with NO NEEDLES.

Self-Employed No Income Is relaxing, gentle and comfortable vtsKs in one appointment Monteray County flnt HotpHU Tteftwtf im Manwit of oun Your experience Have several end Botd Ctvtfd dw protwmt VTv anzanita Mortgage, Inc. 7 2601 41s' Avenue, Sfe. Soquel, CA 95073 Raul FfrtdtK Bffllnv M11417M CM run! ti Qui aM titMlMu.