obituaries
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Dr. Robert Morell Talley 03/13/24-09/11/17
Robert Morrell Talley passed away peacefully on September 11 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. True to the person he was, Bob handled the challenges of his condition with grace and acceptance, keeping his optimism and humor throughout. At the time of his passing, he was home and in the company of the two women he loved most; his "wonderful wife" of 69 years, Susie Talley and his "darling daughter" Carol Talley. Bob was born on March 13, 1924 to Robert Taylor Talley and Laura (Morrell) Talley in Erwin, Tenn. It was in Erwin that he met the love of his life, Susie Williams, whom he married in 1948. He went to the University of South Carolina, Cornell University and the University of Tennessee (UT) as part of the NROTC and served as the skipper of a minesweeper in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He got his PhD in Physics & Mathematics from UT. He and Susie moved to Silver Spring, MD where he worked for the U.S. Naval Ordinance Laboratories specializing in infrared detectors. His daughter and son were born there. In 1958, Bob moved himself and his family to Santa Barbara where he took the position of Director of Research and Development with a fledgling aerospace company, Santa Barbara Research Center (SBRC). As the company grew, he became Vice President and ultimately, President. By this time, SBRC was the largest private employer in Santa Barbara county. Bob was very well liked and highly respected by all those he worked with. During his time at SBRC and after his retirement, Bob was involved in a number of organizations including: Santa Barbara County Education Office: Computers for Families, UCSB Foundation, Industry & Education Council, SBCC Continuing Education Advisory Council, UCSB Engineering Advisory Committee and Santa Barbara Industrial Association. He had a strong interest in supporting education, particularly the study of science, and started a scholarship fund for promising undergraduate students in the Physics departments of both UT and UCSB. Bob enjoyed traveling and he and Susie visited many countries around the world. He was a great fan of parties and was fortunate to have a wide circle of friends in Santa Barbara. He was an avid golfer and loved card games. Even as his memory was failing, Bob remained a wicked bridge player, seldom loosing a game. He was interested in genealogy and travelled around the US and Europe tracing his and Susie's family roots. He loved wine, particularly Pinot Noir from Talley Vineyards (try as he might, he could not find a family connection) and delighted in 18
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bi-weekly picnics under the redwoods of Stow Grove Park with his wine tasting group. Even after he had to give up wine, he treasured the friendships and eagerly anticipated each meeting. He was a big fan of college basketball, attending games of the Lady Gauchos at UCSB and watching The Lady Vols of UT and Duke's men's team on TV with Susie. However; next to his family, Bob's greatest love was fishing. Every weekend, he could be found sitting in his boat at Lake Cachuma or fly fishing in the Sierras or, his favorite, trolling in his boat in the Santa Barbara channel, enjoying the view of the city and coastline he loved. Catching fish was merely a bonus. Bob was a man of great kindness, and showed it to with all who knew him. He was also well known for his humor and, in spite of his many accomplishments, his modesty. He was greatly loved by his friends and family. He is survived by his wife Susie Talley of Santa Barbara, CA and children David Talley (wife Patricia Behan) of Raleigh, NC and Carol Talley (partner Mark Viney) of Santa Barbara, CA, and grandson Max Wiedmann of Long Beach, CA and granddaughter Eva Wiedmann of Denver, CO plus a number of nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Dayton, an infant sister and his grandson, Benjamin Wiedmann. A funeral service at The First United Methodist Church will be held on Monday, September 18 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation, Dr. Robert M. Talley Scholarship. The family would like to provide a special thank you to Dr. Michael Bernstein of Sansum Clinic for his care of Dad over many years; DASH of Santa Barbara, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara for their acute and end of life care; and especially his skilled and compassionate home aides for their wonderful care given Bob over these last 5 years.
Joseph Manuel “Manny” Osuna 04/25/49-09/01/17
Joseph Manuel "Manny" Osuna was born on April 25, 1949 and he passed away peacefully on September 1, 2017. He is survived by his beloved love of his
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life Margaret, his two children Damian and Antonia, his son in law Alberto "Beto" and his two beautiful treasures his grandchildren Nyah and Kastor. His sisters Linda (Raul), Cynthia, and Carol (David) and all his nieces and nephews. Manuel touched many lives with his love and kindness and he will be forever missed. Always in our hearts. Celebration of life will be held on September 23, 2017 at the Mission Club at 4300 Clubhouse Road at the Sage Restaurant in Lompoc at 11:00am
Eileen Jo Said Dykema 06/13/57-08/29/17
Eileen was a beautiful woman who loved God first and loved her family and friends deeply. She touched many souls with her contagious laughter and beautiful smile. She was "best" friend to many including her daughter, husband and mother. She was active with her church in many ways but most recently through serving food to those in need. She was truly a child of God with an unquenchable thirst to know him better daily. Eileen was born on June 13, 1957, in Inglewood, CA. to her parents Jerry and Bettie Said. Eileen was the eldest child of 3 with younger brothers Matthew and David sharing the home. As a child, Eileen grew up in Santa Barbara graduating from San Marcos High School. While in high school and college her family was members of Trinity Baptist Church. Where she and her brothers sang in choirs and they toured two weeks every summer to churches, prisons and military bases. Camp Pendleton, CA. was a favorite to visit and share the gospel. She went to college first at Santa Barbara City College and then got her Bachelor's Degree from California State University Fresno in Fashion Merchandizing. She worked as a manager in retail sales after completing her degree. In Fresno, while going to college, she met the love of her life, soul mate and best friend Kevin Dykema. They were married on May 1,1982 and were blessed with 35 wonderful years of marriage. They started their marriage living in Santa Maria, CA where they bought their first home and where first son Chris was born. With the arrival of children, Eileen became a stay-at-home mom taking care of the family- a true blessing. After the Challenger Tragedy impacted Kevin's Job, the family moved to Littleton, CO, which is where son Jeff and daughter Brianne were born. The family had a wonderful life in Colorado and was blessed with wonderful friends who became their Colorado family. Memorable during this period were numerous summer camping trips and family vacations that created deep and lasting friendships and uncountable family memories which Eileen meticu-
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lously documented. In 2007, Eileen and Kevin moved to West Chester, PA again with Kevin's job and then in 2013 her final move was back to Palmdale, CA. Among Eileen's passions were travel (especially National Parks but really anything to connect with family), teaching junior high school girls about God, family history and genealogy, home decoration, church activities (especially fellowship with her small groups which were true blessings), do-it-yourself projects and absolutely anything to do with creating family memories. Eileen is survived by her husband Kevin, Children Christopher (wife KJ and Grandson Parker), Jeffrey (wife Bethany) and Brianne (Fiance Joe Parker), Mom and Dad Bettie and Jerry Said and mother-in-law Evelyn Dykema. Also surviving Eileen are brothers Matthew (wife Joanna,sons Jerry and Benaiah) and David (wife Julie, son Luke, daughter Elise); brother-in-law Kurt (wife Susan); Sister-in-law Kerri Spirakis (husband Greg, daughters Eleni and Yianna); and sister-in-law Kim Wells (husband Jack, daughters Jennifer Wells, Sara Matthews, and Nicole Wells). She was preceded in death by Father-in-Law John Dykema. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Eileen's life on September 23, 2017, at 1PM, at Central Christian Church in Lancaster, CA. In lieu of flowers,donations can be made to STOP homeless ministry at Central Christian Church (put "STOP for Eileen" in memo field of check) or Antelope Valley CareNet Women's Resource Center (again put Eileen's name in memo field of check).
Naomi Dawn Trinidad Alcasas Castanon 10/11/81-09/10/17
Passed away peacefully on September 10, 2017. Born October 11, 1981 in Santa Barbara. Naomi was a very proud & loving Mother of her 5 children, Jessica, Cristian, Gabriel, Michael and Aniyah. They are her pride and joy and in them you will see her. She attended local elementary schools, La Cumbre Jr. High & graduated with high honors at San Marcos High School. She loved family gatherings, her Native American Heritage, oldies & old school music & most of all she loved being in the presence of family and friends laughing and remembering the good times. She would like to be remembered as a determined fighter who inspired others to keep hope, faith, forgiveness & most important love for one another. Naomi did not lose her battle with cancer, she won, she is at peace, free of pain and in the arms of God. She took the cancer down in the process. Naomi is survived by her parents David and Mary
(Becerra) Alcasas, sisters Lisa & Sophia Alcasas, brothers Ruben & Tony Alcasas. Grandmother Antonia Becerra, several nieces, nephews and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A special thanks to Dr. Berkowitz and team, to all the nurses on the 51h floor who became "family", and to Hospice. A viewing will be held Friday September 22nd at the Seventh-day Adventist Church 425 Arroyo Rd. in Santa Barbara from 10am-11:30am. Services to follow from 11:30am-1pm. Burial immediately following at the Goleta Cemetery & a celebration of her life at the Church. "I hope you're dancing in the sky Nonies...may the flight of Angels sing thee to thy rest"
James Wm “Jim” Maddalon
James Wm Maddalon ("Jim") originally of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away at age 66 at his home in Maiden, NC, on September 5, 2017. Jim moved with his family to North Carolina twenty years ago to realize his twin dreams of building a beautiful home for his family on a large piece of land, and to work with a winning Nascar team. Jim is survived by his wonderful wife of nearly 40 years, Joyce, their daughter Aubrey (Steve) and son Brian, and 3 beautiful grandchildren, Tessa Rose (10), and twins Avery & Keaton (4-1/2), all of North Carolina. In Santa Barbara, Jim is survived by his father, James Maddalon, age 101, and his mother, Jane Maddalon; brother John and sister Joan, niece Anna Guerrero and nephews Anthony, Thomas and Joseph Maddalon. Jim was a wonderful and funny family man, and our hearts are forever broken with his way-too-soon passing. His Santa Barbara family has dearly missed Jim's charming stories and goodnatured joking at our family gatherings since he moved. He was so full of life, and we always knew we would see him again. Although Jim was dealing with a serious medical issue (too low blood pressure, essentially), he assured us he was doing okay. On holidays, the phone would be passed around after dinner. It was hard to let go of the phone after an hour of laughing with Jim. Even though Jim visited S.B. periodically over the years, there was never enough time with him. Jim, along with his 3 beautiful grandchildren, even attended his dad's 100th birthday party via Skype last year, a special day planned and provided for by loving sister-in-law, Denise Maddalon. A two-day celebration of Jim's good life will be held on Saturday, September 23rd at his home in North Carolina, and on Sunday, September 24th, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the Maddalon home on Turnpike Road, in Santa Barbara. All friends are welcome. Feel free to email us at plumcottage7@gmail.com for more information.
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