Obituaries

Jan 15, 2021

On January 15, 2021, Sam Castro peacefully passed away.  He was 37.

Sam was born on July 23, 1983 and was a resident of Watsonville.  Sam was an avid Raiders Fan and loved BBQing with his family and friends.  He loved spending time with his boys and playing video games.  Sam also enjoyed going to the beach...

Jan 14, 2021

On January 14, Jorge Carbajal Rivas peacefully passed away.  He was 75 years old.

Jorge was born on October 13, 1945 in Sahuayo, Michoacan, Mexico.  He came to California in the early 1960’s settling in Santa Cruz, California.  Here, he bought his first home.  Jorge later expanded his one-bedroom house to a five-bedroom, two story home where...

Jan 13, 2021

Darla Jones died peacefully on Jan. 13 in Truckee, CA. She was 85. Darla was born in Mangum, Oklahoma on Dec. 26, 1935. She was a Watsonville High School graduate of 1953 and a history major at Stanford University. She married fellow high school and college classmate William R. Jones in 1954. While married, she lived in Yosemite National...

Jan 9, 2021

Socorro Ochoa Espinoza was born on the 21st of November, 1945, in Tasinaxtla, Jalisco, now known as La Canada. She was born to her father Jose Ochoa and her mother Rosa Maria Martinez. She has 3 siblings: Lino Ochoa (deceased), Norma Orozco, and Bertha Macias. Socorro is better known to her family as “Coco” short for “Coconoots”, a nickname...

Jan 9, 2021

On January 9, 2021, Rufina Zambrano Tehandon peacefully passed away.  She was 85.

Rufina, born on July 10, 1935, was a resident of Watsonville.  She loved making quilts and spending time with her family and her grandchildren.  She also loved going to flea markets, dancing, and listening to music.

Rufina and her dear husband Santiago...

Jan 2, 2021

Gildardo Gomez, peacefully passed away on January 2 at the age of 85.

Mr. Gomez was born on February 9, 1935, in Jalisco, Mexico. He came to the U.S. through the Bracero Program, working in several areas of California before settling in Watsonville, CA in 1972.

He was self employed in the agriculture business and loved...

Dec 26, 2020

Richard “Dick” Lang peacefully passed away on December 26, 2020 at the age of 85.

Mr. Lang was born on February 7, 1935 in Iowa.  He was very active in motorsports; everything from being on the pit crew at the Old San Jose Speedway, to 4-wheeling, to all aspects of motorcycle riding.  From dirt and dual sport...

Dec 25, 2020

On December 25, 2020, Santiago Estrada Tehandon peacefully passed away.  He was 79.

Santiago, born on February 6, 1940, was a resident of Watsonville.  He was a hunger fighter of 2020 for Second Harvest Foodbank and a volunteer for Our Lady Help of Christians. Santiago loves spending time with his grandkids and also loved going to flea...

Dec 23, 2020

On December 23, 2020, Judith Kay Dowler peacefully passed away.  She was 80 years old.

Judith, born on February 12, 1940 in Mound City Kansas, was a resident of Royal Oaks, California at the time of her passing and for many years preceding.  Judith went to Salinas High School.  She was a caretaker to many; she loved...

Dec 17, 2020

Vicente A Hernandez, a former resident of Watsonville, CA, peacefully passed away on December 17 at the age of 87.  He was born on January 14, 1933 in La Precita, Guanajuato, Mexico to Guadalupe Hernandez and Edubijes Arellano. In 1960, he immigrated to the U.S. through the Bracero program. This placed him and his family in Texas and later...

Dec 17, 2020

Life-long Watsonville resident, Fred Callesen died Dec. 17, 2020, at his beloved home in rural Watsonville. He was 90 years old. Fred was the eldest son of Fred and Marie Callesen. He attended Notre Dame grammar school and graduated from Watsonville High School where he played tuba in the marching band. He graduated from Hartnell College and served in...

Dec 17, 2020

Miriam Villalobos passed away on December 17, 2020, at 9:30 am. She suffered from COVID, and other complications that took her life. Miriam left us too soon. This time of her transition has been very tragic and heartbreaking for everyone. We are very sad that she left us so soon.

Her sudden illness came rapidly. We are...

Dec 16, 2020

James Phillip Carter Sr went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. He was born in Carter 9 camp outside of Shilar, Oklahoma on January 27, 1928.   He graduated from Fairfax high school in Oklahoma in 1945 and then started college at Oklahoma A & M (now called Oklahoma State).  He interrupted his college...

Dec 13, 2020

On December 13, Francine Arnaz peacefully passed away.  She was 74 years old.

Francine, born on April 8, 1946 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was a resident of San Jose, CA at the time she passed.  She was a Watsonville High School Graduate of 1964.  Francine was a Alum Rock School District retiree of 35 years.  She collected...

Dec 12, 2020

Long time Watsonville resident, Clara Le Peters went to be with her Lord peacefully on December 12, 2020. She was at her daughter’s home, surrounded by family.  Clara was 87 years old.  Clara was a devoted Christian, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and friend to many in the community. She will be dearly missed.

She was born 12/22/32 in...

Dec 4, 2020

Ana Maria Garcia peacefully passed away on December 4, 2020 at the age of 74. Mrs. Garcia was born on July 24, 1946 in Mexico City; she was a Watsonville resident at the time of her passing.

Mrs. Garcia was a member of the YMCA for more than twenty years.  She was also a member of Our...

Nov 29, 2020

Vera Jane Hernandez peacefully passed away on November 29, 2020 at the age of 84. Mrs. Hernandez was born on April 19, 1936, she was a resident of Watsonville, CA.

Mrs. Hernandez is preceded in death by two of her daughters Violet and Sandy Martinez, along with her beloved husband Herman G. Hernandez.

Mrs. Hernandez...

Nov 28, 2020

Donald F. Callesen

1932 to 2020

A native of Watsonville, Don Callesen died Nov. 28, 2020, at Watsonville Hospital. He was 88 years old. Born at Watsonville Hospital, Don was the second son of Fred and Marie Callesen. He attended Notre Dame grammar school and graduated from Watsonville High School where he was a member...

Nov 27, 2020

John Colburn peacefully passed away on November 27 with his daughter, Penney, at his side. He was 89.

Mr. Colburn was born on December 17, 1930 in Arkansas.  At the age of 18, John and his buddy hitchhiked from Arkansas to California where John has resided ever since.

Mr. Colburn is preceded in death by...

Nov 25, 2020

Nellie Garcia peacefully passed away on November 25 at the age of 106.

Ms. Garcia was born on October 3, 1914 in Madera, CA.  She moved to Watsonville in her early 30’s where she spent the rest of her years.  She loved going to parties and weddings because one of her favorite things to do was dance. ...