OBITUARIES Click here

Robert ‘Whitey’ Diehl – Coached Analy Basketball 22
years
Robert Diehl died on April 7, 2009, in his Sebastopol home. Born
and raised in Iowa City, IA, Diehl attended City High and received
both his BA and Masters from University of Iowa, where he played
basketball and baseball. He went on to play minor league baseball
for Cincinnati with the 1953 Championship Knoxville Smokies.
He eventually settled in Sebastopol with his wife of 50 years,
Donna Kay Meier. Diehl taught at Analy High School from 1959 to
1991, coached varsity basketball for 22 years, and freshman
football, in addition to mentoring many students.
Diehl is survived by his wife, four children; Dan, Tom, Ted, and
Tamsen; and nine grandchildren.
Michael Dale Crawford – Avid horticulturalist,
landscaper
Michael Crawford died April 7, 2009 at home in Guerneville at
the age of 63. Crawford was born in Bakersfield, CA, raised in
Pismo Beach, CA, Hawaii and numerous other cities and towns
throughout the Western U.S., as they moved often due to his Dad’s
occupation in construction. He was educated at Baldwin H.S. on
Maui, attended Maui Community College, Loma Linda University,
Columbia Junior College and Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA.
Michael served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era. He was
a member of the Oahu Orchid Society for many years. He was an avid
horticulturalist including landscape design. Crawford is survived
by his beloved partner of 29 years, Paul W. Lepore of Guerneville;
cousins of the Simmon’s family, many close friends and the Lepore
family. Donations may be made in his name to The Stewards of the
Coast and Redwoods at stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org.
Frances A. Croy-Auerbach – On Senior Center board 23
years
Frances A. Croy, also known as Frances A. Auerbach, died at her
home in Sebastopol on February 16, 2009 at the age of 97.
Auerbach was born in Alberta, Canada, on April 4, 1911 to
William Jackson and Mary Elizabeth Jackson. She was the youngest of
nine children, five girls and four boys. She came to the U.S. in
1931 at the age of 20, and in 1941 married Walter Croy, a
self-employed builder-contractor who built custom homes in the
Sebastopol area. He died on November 22, 1984.
Auerbach met and later married Daniel Auerbach with whom she
lived until his death on September 15, 2004.
She was involved in many local civic affairs and served as a
volunteer for several local non-profits. She served on the board of
directors of the Sebastopol Area Senior Center for 23 years, which
was earlier known as the Burbank Activity Center, and served
several years as that organization’s president. At the age of 90
she was honored as Sebastopol’s “Volunteer of the Year” for her
long-time community service.
Auerbach is survived by several nieces and nephews, some of whom
live in Canada and some in the United States, and two
granddaughters, Sheila May Conway of Petaluma, California and Ethel
Marie (Midge) Lewis of Castro Valley, California.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on
Saturday, April 18 at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park and
Mortuary, 1700 Pleasant Hill Rd., Sebastopol. A reception will
follow the ceremony at the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, 167 N.
High Street, Sebastopol.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to be made
to the Sebastopol Area Senior Center, the American Macular
Degeneration Foundation, or to your favorite charity.
Adrian Merrill Griffin  – Vietnam veteran,
landscaper
Adrian Griffin died on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the age of
63. Griffin was born in San Francisco, California on February 14,
1946. His mainstay was on the “Corner” of Bloomfield and Cunningham
Rd., Sebastopol. He served in the Navy as a Fireman on USS
Kearsarge an anti-submarine aircraft carrier during Vietnam. His
trades included upholstery and landscape. After improving many
highways, parks and businesses around the Bay Area he retired after
serving 30 years in the labor union. He was the jack of all
trades.
He is survived by his son Jason Griffin (Jasmin) and companion
Kathy Rodrigues; brothers Brad and Eldon (Jeanne); sister, Corlis;
and three grandsons: Adam William Griffin, Samual Richard Griffin
and Ivan Adrian Griffin; also numerous nieces and nephews and
countless friends.
Roy Travis Fowler – September 8, 1919 – April 9, 2009,
Age 89
Roy was born in Bonita, Texas to Ottis and Bevlah Thompson
Fowler. He was the oldest of six children and was predeceased by
his parents, his brother William and his sister Gladys Skinner. Roy
leaves a brother Emerson Fowler and sisters Lucy Wood and Ethyl
Grant plus many nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife of
almost 30 years, Alva McClain Fowler, his son Wayne (MaryAnna) 
Dodd, of Phoenix Az, Stepsons Steve (Julie) McClain of Santa Rosa,
and Greg (Jewell) McClain of Hidden Valley, California, and two
grandsons, Greg McClain Jr. of Virginia and Mark McClain of Hidden
Valley, CA. Roy worked on farms in Texas and Oklahoma in his early
career. He started repairing farm equipment, including crop
dusters, then went on to be a car mechanic. he retired in 1984 from
Petroleum Engineering in Santa Rosa after 10 years of taking care
of their fleet of work vehicles. He served in Germany and Belgium
in WWII, earning a Purple Heart. Roy lived in Sonoma County for
about 40 years and enjoyed square dancing, traveling, camping,
playing card games and visiting with friends and family.
His last two years were spent at Creekside Convalescent Hospice
in Santa Rosa due to a series of strokes and Alzheimer’s
Disease.
Friends are invited to attend funeral services at 11 a.m. on
Friday April 17 at Romano’s Healdsburg Windsor Mortuary, 9660 Old
Redwood Highway, Windsor. Interment will be private at Santa Rosa
Memorial Park, Shiloh addition in Windsor. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Roy’s
church, Windsor United Methodist Church.
Jesus Cuevas Sanchez – Enjoyed music, dancing and
cooking
Jesus Cuevas Sanchez passed away peacefully on April 10, 2009 at
his home in Healdsburg, CA. Born on December 12, 1922 in La
Gavilanera, Coalcoman, Mexico. He worked for the Northwestern
Pacific Railroad Company and also did property caretaking. In his
younger years he was an avid deer hunter throughout Northern
California. He enjoyed his music, dancing, cooking and the
get-togethers with his family and friends. His grandchildren were
the joy of his eyes. Preceded in death by his parents, his brother
Benedito Sanchez and son-in-law Jesus Lopez. He is survived by his
wife of 59 years Angelita Sanchez; loving father of Alfonso
Sanchez, Andres Sanchez, Graciela Lopez, Rosalva Wagner (Tom),
Maria Licea (Javier) and Modesta Jacinto (Lorenzo). Loving brother
of Miguel, Elieser, Catalina, Jose, Rita, and Anita. Brother-in-law
to Jesus Zamora (Otilia). Also survived by 14 grandchildren and one
great-grandson, and several nieces, nephews and many dear
friends.
Family and friends were invited to attend the Rosary service on
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. and Mass on Thursday, April 16,
2009 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Church. Interment at Oakmound
Cemetery, Healdsburg, CA.
Gilda Gianoli – Had just celebrated 96th
birthday
Gilda Gianoli passed away April 7, 2009 at Healdsburg Senior
Living Community. She had just celebrated her 96th birthday. Gilda
was predeceased by her husband Caesar Gianoli. She is survived by
her brother and his wife, Angelo & Inez Micheli, two nephews,
Edward Micheli (Frances) & Clifford Micheli (Barbara). She is
also survived by a sister-in-law, Eugenia Gianoli and her Gianoli
nieces and nephews: Roberta Canup, Dennis Parker, Paulette Carroll,
Ray Gianoli, Eugene Gianoli, Penny Parker, Ron O’Connell, Ed
O’Connell, Russell Lambert and Lewis Lambert. She was great aunt to
many.
Gilda was born in Dry Creek Valley and graduated from
Geyserville High School. Gilda lived on Gray Court in Santa Rosa
from 1950 to 2007 and been blessed by many wonderful neighbors and
friends. She worked for Hall Brother Drugs for over 50 years and
spent seven years working at St. Francis Pharmacy. She belonged to
Las Roses Business and Professional Women’s Club and Native
Daughters of the Golden West. Gilda has had wonderful care at
Healdsburg Senior Living Community in both Memory Care and Skilled
Nursing.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday April 18th at 1 p.m.,
at Geyserville Oriental Hall (formerly Geyserville Grange) Highway
128, Geyserville. Interment was private at Oakmound Cemetery.
 In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Memorial Hospital
Hospice or Vineyard Hills Christian Church.
Samuel David Guinn – Jack of all trades
On March 31, we gathered to say goodbye to our son, our father,
our husband, our brother  and our best friend, at the Wiley Funeral
Home in Glen Rose, TX. Sam Guinn passed away unexpectedly on March
26, 2009  in Glen Rose, Texas. Sam was born in Torrance, CA and
lived most of his life in Healdsburg, CA. Sam is survived by his
father Richard Guinn; mother Karen  Hayner;  brother Robert Guinn,
brother Kenny Hayner; wife Dawn Knight; son Marine Private 1st 
Class Richard (Ricky) Mathew Guinn; mother to son Ricky, Lynn 
Segovia; son Christopher (Ray Ray) Eugene Guinn; son Robert (Bobby)
Bradford Guinn; nephew Robert Harris Guinn; niece Tiffany Guinn and
extended family. Sam was a jack of all trades and  worked as a
mechanic, welder,  landscaper, and heavy  equipment operator. He
loved fast cars, motorcycles, boats, anything  with an engine. Sam
was loving, loyal, protective and devoted to  his family and
friends and will surely be missed by all. Sam was extremely proud
of all his sons. He  loved watching them play football and never
missed a game. In honor of Sam’s memory, a Celebration of Life will
be held on Sunday, April 19 at the Geyserville Grange from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and is open for all who would like to honor his 
memory. 
Ione J. Pellegrini – Moved to Cloverdale in
1930
Passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at the age of 95 in Petaluma.
Ione was born in Fairfax to A. Jos. and Alice Giovannetti and moved
to Cloverdale in 1930. She was a homemaker who thrived in her role
as wife and mother.  She enjoyed crafts and playing cards; she did
volunteer work for many activities at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
She belonged to St. Peter’s Altar Society, the Italian Catholic
Federation, the Woman’s Improvement Club, and the Druids Circle.
Ione was the loving wife of the late Louis W. Pellegrini and the
late B. N. (Al) Ottoboni. She is the beloved mother of Sr. Patricia
Ottoboni, O.P., James B. (Mary) Ottoboni, and Louise (Jim) Johnson
and grandmother of Michelle Casad, Frances Pesavento, Dominic
Johnson, and Anita Johnson. She is the dear sister of B. E.
(Buster) Giovannetti and Dolores Cicchi. She is also survived by
six loving grandchildren in the Pellegrini family and their
children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son
Dominic Ottoboni, her granddaughters Janet Ottoboni and Lynn
Ottoboni, her sister Alice Picchi, brother Joe Giovannetti, and
step-children Louis Pellegrini, Jr. and Norine Holmes.
Friends were invited to attend visitation beginning at 2 p.m.
with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m., Monday, April 13, 2009 at Fred
Young Funeral Home, Cloverdale. A Funeral Mass was celebrated
Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Cloverdale. 
Interment will be private at Cloverdale Cemetery. Memorial
contributions preferred in lieu of flowers to your favorite
charity.