Obituaries 3-24-16

Paula Combs Wurlitzer
Dedicated volunteer
Born to Calvin and Cara (Lind) Combs in Los Angeles, California, Paula (Lynn) Combs Wurlitzer grew up in the Los Angeles area. She attended Inglewood High School and El Camino Jr. College. While studying nutrition and zoology at UC Davis, she met Lindsay Wurlitzer in the freshman dorms and he knew she was the one very early in their relationship; he chased her for five years and they were finally married in 1977 in Chico. Lindsay’s job brought them to Sonoma County, where they have been residents for 39 years. She spent time after graduation helping to set up her family’s apricot and olive ranch in Oroville by researching and selecting apricot varieties, learning about pruning, pollination and tractor driving from classes at the junior college. She became a homemaker when their daughter Carrie was born, and then son David, raising them in Healdsburg. She founded the Gadders and Sitters babysitting co-op that created life-long friendships for the children and parents. On Saturday morning March 12, after almost a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, Paula died peacefully at her home in Healdsburg, surrounded by her family. This wonderful woman touched a lot of people in her 65 years. Her spirit lives on in the dozens of friends, family and volunteers whose lives were fortunate to be touched by her high energy and can do attitude. 
She lived life without a bucket list because if there was something she wanted to do, she just did it. She was known for her positive attitude, her amazing creativity, her obsession of wearing loud colors, especially teal, dressing for all of the holidays, her Christmas card letters and her tiny parrot Max which could usually be found hiding in her hair. She was especially known for selling her delicious Combs Ranch apricots at Healdsburg Farmer’s markets every June. She was a dedicated volunteer for many organizations related to Healdsburg schools that continued long after her own children were grown, including HALL, HEF and eScript. She was passionate about early language learning for children, specifically Spanish immersion. Paula’s many loves included spending time at family cabins, flying domestically as co-pilot with Lindsay piloting their piper Comanche, Tuesdays when granddaughter Lindsay would visit, beekeeping and drinking champagne for no reason at all. She embodied a zest for life that was contagious and travelled to all seven continents. She had uncompromising faith in Christ and even as the end drew near, that faith never wavered. She didn’t let being diagnosed with cancer and testing positive for BRCA2 define her or how she lived the rest of her life. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 14,203 days (almost 39 years) Lindsay, her daughter Carrie (Charles Thor) Wurlitzer of San Francisco, her son David Wurlitzer of Sacramento and her granddaughter Lindsay Thor. She leaves behind her brother Chris (Dawn) Combs of Durham, California and her sister Holly (Bob) Paget of Redding. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and a bevy of loving friends. The Wurlitzer family would like to recognize all those whom provided Paula with outstanding care during her battle with cancer and especially during the final months. Special thanks to Dr. Peter Brett, Cheryl Caletti and the phenomenal oncology staff at Sutter Pacific Medical in Santa Rosa, to Dr. John Chan of CPMC in San Francisco, to Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, Healdsburg Hospital and the nursing staff with Sutter Hospice who all made a huge difference in the quality of Paula’s last four years and especially the last few months of life.  A celebration of life for Paula will be held at The Villa Chanticleer (900 Chanticleer Way, Healdsburg, CA 95448) on April 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. A private family burial already took place at Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to caringbridge.org, which allowed friends and family to stay updated on her journey with cancer or to FORCE: fighting hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA) at FacingOurRisk.org.
Billye Greer Tsarnas
Active in church
Born Dec. 28, 1937, in Bakersfield, California, Billye Greer Tsarnas, died on March 14, at her home in Myers Flat. She was 78 years old. 

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Henry, her children John (Sandra), Trina (Bert), Andy (Sheila) and Jeff; grandchildren, Alexa, Tara, Anna, Andrew, Kala, Matthew, Jillian, Elizabeth, Isaac and Faith; sisters June Swinnock and Edith Young and brothers Benson (Sonny) Greer and Lloyd Greer. Billye grew up in Humboldt County graduating from Miranda High School in 1955. She went to work in the office at Morrison-Jackson Sawmill in Myers Flat where she met the love of her life, Henry Tsarnas. They were married Sept. 15, 1956, just three short months after meeting. In 1965 they moved their family to Healdsburg where they raised their four children. Henry retired in 1991 and they moved back to their original house and property on Elk Creek Road in Myers Flat. Billye became active in church and loved spending time with her sisters living in Humboldt County. Words that characterize Billye best are loving, generous, joyful and kind. She had a big heart and lived a life of prayer and love. Mom, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. We deeply miss her. A memorial service will be held on March 26 at 1 p.m. in Weott, California at Weott Faith Chapel, 60 Weott Heights Road. She is being buried at Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg.