The Graveyard Rabbit of the California Central Coast

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Patti LONG and Bertha DANIELS

Patricia Marie LONG was born on 11 December 1953 in San Mateo County, California. She died on June 4, 1969 at the age of 15 in Santa Barbara County, California.

Bertha Louise (Houx) DANIELS was born in California on 21 November 1902, and died on 19 May 1997 at the age of 94 in Santa Barbara County, California. Her parents were William Frederick HOUX and Eva Alice ROBERTS. She was married to Fred E. Goss, Herbert H. Booth, and (Unk) Daniels.

Bertha was a member of the Mission Canyon Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

I do not know why the date next to Bertha's name reads "11-21-02." Perhaps to commemorate that she would have been 100 years old on that date?

Both are buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California, Section 4 West, Lot 16, Spaces 4 (Bertha) and 5 (Patti).

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Headstone of Patti Long and Bertha Daniels photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Bring a Veterans Cemetery to the Central Coast

In Tuesday's Lompoc Record, there was an article by Denny Anderson, president of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, regarding the possibility of locating a veterans cemetery on the Central Coast.

Why is a veterans cemetery needed on the Central Coast?

Some 1,600 "Greatest Generation" WWII veterans pass away every single day. There are approximately 24 million veterans in the U.S., including 9 million WWII and Korean War vets in need of final resting arrangements, and yet there is no National Cemetery within 100 miles of California's Central Coast cities. Even the recent Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley National Cemeteries are out of range for Central Coast veteran families. In addition, interment at a National Cemetery saves veterans approximately $2,000 in burial fees alone, so the lack of a Central Coast National Cemetery is placing a significant burden on the shoulders of Central Coast veterans and their families.

The proposed Central Coast VA National Cemetery would be located near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and would serve veterans from the Central Coast counties of Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. There are an estimated 137,324 veterans in these counties today (if Los Angeles County is included in the mix, that brings the count up to over 345,000). The Veterans Administration estimates that there will be over 15,000 veteran deaths annually.

And let's not forget our troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be veterans too, someday.

For more information, please visit the web site of the Central Coast National Cemetery. Click on "Get Involved" to download a petition to show your support.

Our Central Coast veterans need and deserve an affordable final resting place close to friends and family. Honor their service by helping to make this a reality with a Central Coast National Cemetery.

"Headstone of Wesley M. Houx." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 19, 2009, Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Tuesday's Child: Annie Grace YOUNG

ANNIE GRACE

YOUNG

Nov. 15, 1894

Apr. 26, 1896

Annie Grace YOUNG is buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California, Section 1 East, Lot 3, Space 8.

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Headstone of Annie Grace Young." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 27, 2009.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Sarah E. YOUNG

SARAH E.

wife of

D. A. YOUNG

MARCH 26, 1854

JUNE 25, 1888

Sarah E. YOUNG is buried in the Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California, Section 1 East, Lot 3, Space 1.

D.A. YOUNG does not appear to be buried in this cemetery.

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"Headstone of Sarah E. Young." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 27, 2009.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Upcoming Event: Santa Barbara Cemetery Walking Tour

David Petry, author of the book, The Best Last Place: A History of the Santa Barbara Cemetery, will host a walking tour of the Santa Barbara Cemetery this Halloween weekend:

Saturday, October 31, 2009
10 AM to 12:30 PM
901 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara
$15 per person
Meet at the Cemetery Chapel

The Santa Barbara Cemetery is unique among cemeteries. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the cemetery is home to actors, industrialists, authors, musicians, sports stars, and many of the town’s founders and leaders. It was, for the duration of the Reagan presidency, the chosen site for the Reagan’s burial plot. The Cemetery Chapel is the only sacred structure designed by famed architect George Washington Smith; inside are the only completed murals of Mexican muralist Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Where most cemeteries are corporate-, church-, or government-owned, the Santa Barbara Cemetery is owned and operated by a nonprofit board whose by-laws were originally drafted in 1867.

More information about this event is available here.

P.S. I have a copy of Mr. Petry's book, and it is excellent. The history of this cemetery is really quite fascinating!