Raymond Donald Holt passed away peacefully after a long illness on September 25, 2009 surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.
Born to Floyd and Myrtle (Peak) Holt in Montana, Kansas, he was an only child. In 1945 he married the love of his life, Evelyn celebrating 64 years in July. Their song was “It had to be you”.
A veteran of WWII, he survived the kamikaze attacks that sunk the USS Luce (DD-522) off Okinawa. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart, American Theater Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with two silver stars (represents ten battles), WWII Victory Metal, and Philippine Liberation Medal with two battle stars and Philippine Independence Medal.
After visiting for several years, he moved his family to Sonoma in 1954. A trusted auto mechanic, he operated Ray’s Signal Service and Ray’s Grocery with his wife for 18 years. Following work in many fields of maintenance, he retired from the Federal Government.
Raymond was a charter a member and past president of Valley of the Moon Gun Club, Charter member of Moose Lodge #2048, member of VFW, Senior Swingers, SIRS Branch No. 41 (& bowling team), and Vintage House.
Throughout his life he has enjoyed fishing and trailer camping trips across the US, gardening, birds that visited his deck, playing cards with the guys, delighting family and friends with tasty barbeque and most of all spending time with his family. His memory will be cherished, his presence dearly missed.
He is survived by his beloved wife Evelyn, loving daughter Carol (Timothy) Short of Sonoma and daughter-in-law Cathie Holt of Bend, OR, adored grandchildren; Stacie (Mike) Martinelli of Petaluma, CA, Robin Short of Truckee, CA, Benjamin (Heather) Holt, Devin Davis, Nathan Holt, Caleb Holt, Jared Holt of Bend, OR, Matthew (Nicole) Holt of Kansas City, MO, Nicholas (Heather) Holt of Fort Belvoir, VA, Chad (Mandi) Woodard and Tisha Woodard, 14 precious great-grandchildren and dear nieces; Laura Apodaca of Napa, CA, Joan Alford of Sacramento, CA, and dear nephews; Wally Moser of Napa, CA, Mike Moser of Louisville KY, Chris Moser of Reno, NV and their families. He was preceded in death by loving his parents, treasured daughter Cathy and cherished son David.
Special thanks to his neighbors for their many years of caring support.
Friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM, at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, 525 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. A Funeral Service and Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 1:00 PM also at Duggan’s Mission Chapel, followed by Interment at Valley Cemetery, 425 East MacArthur Street, Sonoma, CA 95476.
Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to FISH, P.O. Box 507, Sonoma, California 95476-0507
Arrangements under the Direction of Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Sonoma, CA.
Virginia Jones, a local educator, activist and mother, died peacefully Sept. 16 at her home in Sonoma. She was almost 80 years old.
Known as Ginny to her friends and family, she was a dedicated and determined advocate for peace, education, the environment and community.
Born in San Pedro, CA, Ginny was raised in Southern California and graduated from Beverly Hills High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in decorative arts from the University of California, Berkeley in 1951, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Sonoma State University in 1988. As a student at Cal, she experienced her 15 minutes of fame when she appeared on the cover of a 1948 edition of Life Magazine, as part of a photo essay about the University.
After graduating from Berkeley, Ginny obtained her elementary teaching credential. During her career she taught kindergarten in Carmel, Barstow, Downey, and Sonoma.
Ginny was an early and sustained voice in the green movement. In the 1950’s, she founded the Santa Fe Springs Beautification Committee, an organization that changed the physical and cultural landscape of an industrial community in Southern California.
Ginny moved to Sonoma in 1968. In 1975, she co-founded Bear Flag Books, which later became Victorian Court Books.
She volunteered her time as a member of the Sonoma County Trails Committee, the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, Sonoma Action for Nuclear Disarmament, Sonoma Valley Peace and Justice, Plaza Communitaria Adult Literacy Program and at the Quarryhill Botanical Garden. She fought to prevent the closure of Sonoma Valley Hospital and was instrumental in preserving natural open space at Maxwell Park. She was a reliable presence at peace vigils outside City Hall.
Ginny loved to swim. In the early 1980s, she shared her passion with a new generation and opened “Swim Now,” teaching many of Sonoma’s children of that era how to swim.
After her retirement Ginny moved to Inverness, CA for two years. She returned to Sonoma, but kept her ties to West Marin, returning each summer to teach swimming in Tomales Bay as a volunteer with the ‘Water Dogs’.
Ginny was a warm, loving person who opened her heart and home to many. She was a great listener and a loyal friend. Her patience and determination were an inspiration to all who knew her.
Masterful at nurturing and maintaining relationships, Ginny was the loving, reasoned presence that held a sprawling family together.
She is survived by her children, Carolyn Ward Baum, Tom Ward, and Angela Geiger, their spouses, Bryan Baum and Shannon Ward, and her grandchildren, Charline and Virginia (Jenna) Baum and Ava Mae Ward. She was beloved by Donna and Bob Geiger and by her stepchildren, Debi and Chris Geiger, Ken Geiger, Marilyn and Paul Hueper, Jennifer Geiger, Kim Geiger and Tami Geiger, as well as their children, Max and Nicholas Geiger, Smith Richards, and Brooke, Tara, and Ria Hueper.
Ginny was laid to rest on Sept. 24 at Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley, one of just seven environmentally friendly cemeteries in the country. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, October, 3 at 1PM in Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center.
Memorial contributions in her honor can be made to the Sonoma Land Trust, 966 Sonoma Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 or to Hospice by the Bay 190 West Napa St. Sonoma, CA 95476.
