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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ralph Angel Campa, affectionately known to many as Ralphie.
Ralphie was born on Dec. 17, 1954, and departed this world on Nov. 17, 2024, just shy of his 70th birthday.
Ralphie was a beloved resident of Ukiah, California, where he shared a close bond with his sister, Maria Lopez, who lived nearby. He was born and raised in Lake County, California.
A proud veteran, Ralphie served his country honorably in the United States Army.
Ralphie discovered a love for Cuban rice later in life. He was a die-hard Raiders fan and forever the life of the party. Ralphie loved rock music, and his hobby was refinishing wood furniture and doors, which he was exceptional at doing. He never passed up a good barbecue where he could show off his cooking skills and enjoy a nice beer. Among his kids he was nicknamed “Mr. Crabs” due to his tendency to be frugal.
He leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience through his family. Ralphie is survived by his cherished sisters, Cynthia Gutierrez, Maria Lopez and Sonya Pruitt. His memory will live on in the hearts of his dear children: daughters, Nichole Dutcher and Melissa Campa-Torres, and son, Angelo Campa. His beloved grandchildren, Angelina Campa-Torres, lovingly known as “Jellybean,” Anthony Campa-Torres, known as "Doon," Blaine Dutcher, Mark Dutcher, Emilee Dutcher, Nolan Campa and Roman Campa, will carry forward his spirit. Ralphie was also blessed with a great-grandchild, Aspen Bonner-Torres, who brought immense joy to his life.
Ralphie is now reunited with his mother, Mary Elgin, and his brother, Louie Sevilla, in eternal peace.
He will be remembered for his warm heart, his vibrant spirit, and the unwavering love he had for his family and friends. Ralphie's presence in our lives was a gift, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him.
Ralphie will be taken to the Big Valley Gym on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. The address is 1002 Osprey Court, Lakeport. This gathering offers a moment for loved ones to pay their respects and share in the collective remembrance of a remarkable life.
Services will be held to commemorate Ralphie's extraordinary life and the impact he had on those around him. Family and friends are encouraged to join in these solemn yet heartfelt occasions
Graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather and honor his memory, reflecting on the indelible mark he left on all our lives. Ralphie's warmth, vibrant spirit, and unwavering love will be celebrated through stories, laughter, and cherished memories.
Ralphie will be profoundly missed, but his spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Barbara (Bobbi) Joan Leenhouts Towne died peacefully Sept. 1, 2024, in the loving care of her husband Neil and family.
Barbara was born Nov. 25, 1931, in New York to Edgar and Pauline Leenhouts, the eldest of two children. She grew up in Howard Beach and spent summers on her grandparents’ farm in Sheffield Mass.
Bobbi graduated high school at 16 pushed through by the war. She attended Sullins Junior College for women for two years then on to the University of Vermont where she met Neil.
She graduated in 1952 with a degree in English and after telling Neil that she broke up with her fiancée because she wanted to marry him instead, they married in New York in October of that year and then honeymooned on the Greyhound bus to Florida to visit Bobbi’s grandmother and then on to Los Angeles.
Their first Son Marc was born in 1954, and Sean followed in 1957, then the family was off to Guam to teach. Daughter Danielle was born there in 1959 and after two years they returned to Los Angeles.
In pursuit of a master’s degree for Neil the family moved to Seattle in 1962 where they settled in student housing at the University of Washington.
Contemplating job offers in San Diego and Seattle, Bobbi emphatically opted for the sun and the family settled in the Fletcher Hills area of San Diego in 1964 where they put down roots for 32 years.
Bobbi kept the home fires burning and they welcomed Luke in 1966. Bobbi must have decided she didn’t have enough to do and so they started taking in foster kids when she became aware of a boy from the elementary school that needed a home.
The summer of 1970 found the family circumnavigating the country on a three-month adventure in the “Blue Zoo” van pulling the “Towne Teepee” tent trailer.
Between 1970 and 1972 Bobbi worked diligently through the La Mesa United Church of Christ to get the Charlie Brown preschool and children’s center up and running.
In 1972 Bobbi started teaching foster parenting classes and in 1973 they adopted their foster children, Janet and Steve.
Bobbi was the family’s unofficial editor-in-chief and not only helped with kid’s homework but was integral in helping edit and type multiple drafts for a textbook co-written by Neil and a colleague on interpersonal communication used in colleges and universities across the country.
The school year of 1973-74 sent the family off on another adventure, this time to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where Neil taught at the Colorado Mountain College and Bobbi arranged a job at the local Sunlight Ski Area, running the poma lift on Saturdays in exchange for a family (of eight) ski pass. She also undertook the job of sewing down coats from kits for the entire family.
Apparently bored after the jackets were done, Bobbi started writing a weekly column for the local newspaper entitled Food and Things, which covered, not surprisingly, food and things.
Bobbi was ahead of her time in understanding the value of food nutrition and routinely engineered dinners with unique foods for family and friends. Bobbi’s homemade bread was a staple for her family and a sought-after item at church auctions.
After returning to San Diego, Bobbi went back to school at San Diego State University to get her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. She worked in counseling at several schools around the area including Bancroft Elementary. Eventually she and Neil developed a curriculum for a course in couples communication that they co-taught at Grossmont College for 10 years.
Finally, the time had come to retire, and Bobbi and Neil moved up to Kelseyville, California, to live on Clear Lake in a house they built.
In Kelseyville, Bobbi threw herself into the local church running and cooking for the chili-chowder annual fundraising dinner.
She also became involved with Clear Lake State Park as a docent with Neil, helping to raise money for an educational visitor’s center by staging omelet breakfasts with guided tours of the park.
They lived on Clear Lake for over 25 years before returning to San Diego to be closer to family after turning in their drivers’ licenses and Bobbi began to face memory challenges.
Bobbi will be remembered as a mother to many, a friend to anyone she met and an inspiration to find the best in everyone. She was the hearth around which we all gathered. She will be sorely missed, and we shall now have to blunder along without her.
Bobbi was predeceased by her parents, Pauline and Edgar Leenhouts, and son, Steven Towne.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Neil Towne; her sister, Janet Leenhouts; her children, Marc (Michele) Towne, Sean (Jeannette) Towne, Danielle Towne, Janet Zingano and Luke (Deborah) Towne; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter and one on the way.
A celebration of Bobbi’s life will be held on Monday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m. at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 4021 Third St.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kelseyville Presbyterian Food Pantry.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Charles Dain Sturges
May 29, 1946 - Nov. 9, 2024
Charles (Chuck) Dain Sturges was 78 years old when he passed away in Crestview, Florida. On Nov. 9, he departed this life, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with many ailments, including Lupus, which led to kidney failure.
A true Baby Boomer, Chuck was born in Hollywood, California, in 1946 to Nadine Grace (Burnett) Sturges and Dain Sturges Jr. They named him after his beloved papa, Charlie Burnett.
Chuck grew up in the family house his great-uncle built in the early 1900s. As a child, he was a good student, an incredible friend, and loved physical activities. Throughout his childhood and adult life, he enjoyed all sports, especially basketball, volleyball, baseball, running, surfing, snowboarding, workouts and hiking.
He graduated from Hollywood High School in 1964. He entered the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) that fall, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.
While at UCLA, he was in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and he joined the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, where he formed life-long friendships.
After graduating from UCLA, he earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California.
After a brief stint of active duty in the United States Army, he was part of the Army Reserves for several more years.
After his active duty in the military, Chuck was employed by the Lakeport Unified School District for 31 years. He started his career as a teacher in the early 1970s at Clear Lake High School, and after four years he moved over to Natural High School.
Natural High is where he spent the remainder of his time as an educator, including teaching and administration. One of his greatest accomplishments in life was all of the young lives he inspired as a teacher.
Chuck had many other jobs in Lake County. He started Catfish Books in Lakeport, drove a truck in the pear orchards, sold real estate, worked on installing gutters and had a successful business as the “Yard Dude” later in life.
He was active in many community organizations, including being an Elder at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, where he faithfully sang in the choir, led youth groups and taught Sunday School.
He participated in community theater, was part of Lake County Search and Rescue, attended Toastmasters and was a long-time docent at the Clear Lake State Park.
After the 2015 Valley Fire, Chuck volunteered at the Mt. Konocti fire lookout for several fire seasons.
Chuck was a hard worker at any job or task he undertook.
In 1978 he married the love of his life, Joan Helen Waldram. He and Joan raised three daughters: Dana Nadine (1981), Kelsey Ann (1982) and Carlie Jane (1983).
The young family moved to their beloved house on the lake in Soda Bay on Christmas Eve in 1983, which he later dubbed Camp Sturges.
Chuck was a loving and committed husband, who brought his wife flowers every Friday for 46 years.
He was a devoted father, teaching his girls how to be kind, caring, compassionate people.
He was a loyal follower of Christ, loved music, treasured honesty, relished being in the outdoors, had a wonderful sense of humor, and would lay out in the warm California sun whenever he could.
He was an enthusiastic traveler and a hopeful dreamer. He had many meaningful friendships and cared deeply about his whole extended family.
Chuck was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Joan Sturges; daughters, Dana Sherron, Kelsey (Donne) Ingalls and Carlie (Zachary) Pehling; six grandchildren, Jordan Charles Ingalls (16), Lydia Sherron (15), Liam Ingalls (14), Tryggvi Pehling (14), Grace Ingalls (12) and Karter Sherron (10); and sister, Linda (Ray) Plonsky.
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 4021 Church St. A lunch reception will follow at their home.
This church, and its congregation, were very dear to him for over 30 years. Donations in his name made to the church would be greatly appreciated.
Throughout his life, those who knew him often thought, “What a guy!” He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.