John Charles Enlow passed away on April 19, 2009 in Sonoma. He had always been a very kind, gentle, loving husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
John was born in Butte, Mont. on October 27, 1922. He attended school in Butte and in Page and Fargo, N.D. In 1940, he graduated from Fargo Central High School, where he was a member of the band and a drum major.
He enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard in 1938. When the Guard was federalized in 1941, he held the rank of T/Sgt. and was attached to the 3rd Battalion of the 164th Infantry as Communication Chief. During WWII, he served in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Fiji and Bougainville. While on Guadalcanal, the 3rd Battalion, 164th Infantry was temporarily made the 3rd Battalion 1st Marine Division in order to be awarded a unit commendation from General Vandergrift, USMC, for their assistance to the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Other awards earned were the Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He was discharged on August 17, 1945.
In 1945 while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, John married Nellie Ramona Warrior, who was serving in the WAC. After discharge they ranched near Wolf Point, Mont. They had one daughter, Terri Ann. Nellie passed away.
John began flight training while still in the army and completed it, earning his Private Pilot License in Wolf Point. He later served as an officer and pilot in the Fargo-Moorhead Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. His other hobbies included camping, fishing, canoeing, photography, model railroading and traveling.
While visiting his parents in Fargo, John met Barbara (Bobbi) Jean Loomis. They were married Sept. 18, 1951 in Fargo. They had four children.
He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1979 after serving in Kansas City, Mo., Gransburg, Wis., Fort Wayne, Ind., Finnegayan, Guam, Lihue, Hawaii, and Minneapolis, Minn. John served as president of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists, Inc. in Washington, D.C. for 2 years.
After retirement, he and Bobbi managed a condominium building in Salt Lake City, Utah for several years, after which, they managed several Forest Service Campgrounds in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. Finally retiring completely, they became full-time RVers. They visited all 50 states in their 57 years of marriage.
John became an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1962. He served as a Scout leader, home teacher, a teacher in Primary and Sunday School, Branch Clerk and Councilor in the Bishopric.
John is survived by his wife Barbara (Bobbi), five children, Terri Ann Enlow Warrior of Tempe, Ariz., Sandra Joyce Enlow Lowe (James) of Santa Rosa, David John Enlow (Susan) of Corona, Calif., Charles Otto Enlow (Marie) of Sonoma and Scott Robert Enlow of Murray, Utah, as well as 25 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren, his sister Ruth Ada Porter of Waconia, Minn., several nieces, nephews and cousins. His brother Paul Morton Enlow preceded him in death.
Katherine “Rena” Novo, longtime resident of Sonoma and pillar of the community in more ways than one, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2009, in Santa Rosa. She was 96. She was a native of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, born on Christmas Day in 1912. Rena was a dietician by profession, and she worked 30 years as the Food Supervisor at Sonoma Acres. She volunteered her time to many local organizations and will be a tremendous loss to the Valley that knew her well and loved her so much. She was the cook for many local organizations, the Sons of Italy and the Italian Catholic Federation. She cooked for the Sons of Italy monthly meetings right up to the end. She was an amazing cook who could cook anything. She graced the organizations with special dishes, from polenta, tripe to corned beef and cabbage. She was never at a loss for preparing a good meal. She also cooked for the Moose Lodge, SIRS, VFW and Vintage House.
She was the loving wife of the late Albert N. Novo and is the loving mother of Alberta L. “Bertie” Jerro, of Santa Rosa and Loretta Johnstone of Willits, Calif. and mother-in-law of Mel Jerro and Len Johnstone. She was the sister of Edward Papola, and the late Rosa Mary Barella and William Papola; Idolized grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 5. She is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews.
She was the Past President of the Sons of Italy Lodge #1959 since 1947 and was Past President of the Italian Catholic Federation Branch St Sebastian #103, Past Senior Regent and Star Recorder for “Women of the Moose,” Sonoma Chapter. She was a member of the Sonoma Grange, the Forresters, Vintage House, Druids, Sonoma Navy League and an active member of St Francis Solano Parish League.
She was a resident of Sonoma County since 1923 and a Sonoma resident since1940.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at St Francis Solano Church, Third Street West and West Napa Street, at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009. Private inurnment at St. Francis Cemetery, Sonoma. Donations may be made in her name to the American Diabetes Society, 1451 Guerneville Road #200, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403.
Robert “Bob” Gilyeat, a long-time auto body shop owner in San Francisco and resident of Sonoma, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2009. He was 78.
He was a member of the Sonoma Moose Lodge #2048 and the Sons of Italy Lodge #1959. He was a native of Illinois and was a Sonoma resident of 29 years.
He is survived by his loving wife Shirley; and is the loving father of Brian (Lori) and Keith Gilyeat. He was the loving grandfather of Christie and Melissa Gilyeat. He will be dearly missed.
Private services and inurnment. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel.
Marjorie P. Covell left this earthly realm peacefully on April 13, 2009. Marj was born “on a kitchen table on 103th Street in New York City” on March 20, 1911 to spectacular dancer Marie Breithbarth Pace and attorney Francis P. Pace. She recently celebrated her 98th birthday with her two daughters at her favorite restaurant, Cal-Italia at Gramma’s Pizza. Marj raised her family in Pelham Manor, N.Y., and then moved to Mystic, Conn. and Port St. Lucie, Fla. before moving to Sonoma ten years ago. She grew to love her new home and made many friends. She was predeceased by her first husband, Dr. Donald B. Waugh many years ago and had a wonderful second marriage to George D. Covell until his death in 1980. Survivors include her three children, Donna Waugh Campbell of Sonoma, Douglas B. Waugh and his wife Chloe French, of Bellingham, Wash. and Karen Waugh Maloney of Stonington, Conn., grandchildren Mikayla and Tayo Waugh, Jannine Salo and great-grandson Taylor Salo and her sister-in-law Doris Hansen and nephew Scott Pace and his wife Trish of Sonoma, who have been so kind to Marj while in Sonoma. She also leaves a very special friend, Fred Jensen of League City, Texas.
Marj was an inspiration to all who knew her. She walked a mile each day until a few months before her death and loved to ride her “horse” each afternoon. She lent her ear and open heart to all who knew her and shared her positive practical philosophy. She epitomized the philosophy expressed in one of her favorite books, “Gift from the Sea,” and she lived each segment of her life with acceptance, grace and dignity. In her 80s, she took a class on how to become a clown and created her own costume and character called Gram Cracker, a name given her by one of her grandchildren. She shared her wonderful enthusiasm for life and had a great sense of humor. In her 90s, she took up painting and yoga and continued to inspire all those who knew her with her wit, wisdom and insatiable curiosity.
She has assured her family and friends that she will continue to be accessible to all those who believe that all things are possible as she continues her journey.
At her request, no services will be held. She expressed a wish that any donations in her memory be made to Hospice of the Bay at 190 W. Napa St., Sonoma 95476 for their caring compassionate service in her final days.
“George” Emilio Finato passed away on April 9, 2009 in Lincoln, Calif. after a long illness. He was 77. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rosemarie; a daughter, Juliann; two sons, Stephen and Robert; a sister, Louise; and nine grandchildren. George was a native of Sonoma and after the Air Force, married and relocated to the Bay Area. A dependable friend, George was the go-to fix-it man of his neighborhood. He was compassionate with a sense of humor. George retired from the airlines with a lifelong passion for model airplanes. His other interests included fishing, bowling and playing cards. Private services will be held. Contact Chapel of the Valley at 916.797.1448 for further information.
