Passages
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Wiley's Audi was sideswiped and forced into oncoming traffic by Brent Scott Norman. The head-on collision killed not only Wiley, but Leonard Myers, who was driving a Toyota truck in the opposing lane. David's wife, Susan was injured in the crash, sustaining a concussion and a broken arm; his son, Keenan, 8, was unhurt.
Susan, the daughter of Wayne and Felicia Sanders, grew up in Topanga, and had known David since kindergarten at Topanga Elementary. David was one of six brothers and sisters who were raised on 10 acres in Topanga that had been part of the historic Trujillo Ranch, originally homesteaded in 1886 by David's great-grandparents, Francisco and Manuela Trujillo.
According to all who knew him, David was a good boy who grew up to be a fine person. As a teenager, he worked in Topanga at the old gas station, gaining experience which eventually led him to a career as a Porsche/Audi mechanic. He married Susan at age 22, and moved to Ojai for 10 years, then Spokane, Washington, before finally settling in Oakhurst.
Serena Wiley, wife of David's brother Jimmy, said of David, "I can't say a bad word about him.He was the kind of guy who went out of his way to take care of people." David was an active community member and also helped with his son's Cub Scout events. In return, the community turned out for his service in huge numbers to support the grieving family. "It was an amazing thing that happened up there," said Serena of the turnout.
Norman, the man who caused the fatal crash, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, felony evading, felony hit-and-run and felony driving under the influence.
David is survived by his wife Susan, his son Keenan, his parents, his sisters Marguerite and Laura and his brothers, Robert, John and Jimmy. A local potluck and memorial service will be held in Topanga State Park on Sunday, August 13 at 10:00 a.m.
A trust fund has been set up for David's family at Yosemite Bank in Oakhurst. Donations and cards should be sent to the David Wiley Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 24891, Oakhurst, CA 93644. The account number is 109776.
Symphony Violinist Donald
Stork Dies
Donald H. Stork, a Topanga community member for 43 years, passed away on Wednesday, July 12. He was preceded in death by his wife, Philippa Stork, and is survived by six children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
His surviving children are Michele Stork
of Ferndale, CA; Brian Stork of Windsor, CA; David Stork of Miranda,
CA; Jennifer Stork of Livermore, CA; Christopher Stork of San
Luis Obispo, CA and Jeffery Stork of Topanga.
All of Donald's children attended Topanga Elementary School,
and three of his grandchildren currently attend the school.
Donald filled his life with travel, physics, art, music, homebuilding and the latest computer software. He was a professor of physics at UCLA for 37 years. After retiring from teaching and research at UCLA he became active in the Topanga Symphony as a violinist. His dream house, The House of Semicircles, was being realized at age 74. He talked of including a stained glass depiction of Topanga's fires and floods in the eave windows around the expansive semicircle of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Mary Cepin: 1922 - 2000
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Mary Cepin passed away
on June 17, 2000 after a short illness. Mary was born on September 29, 1922 in Scandia, Kansas, to Archer Bell (Pop) Carlson and Ruth (Howell) Carlson. She left Kansas after graduating from high school, and moved to Omaha where she met her husband Stan, who was in the U. S. Army Air Corps. They were married on March 28, 1945 and lived in Nebraska, Detroit, Florida, California and Ohio. They returned to California in 1949 and moved to Topanga in June 1952. |
Mary was very active in the Topanga community-involved
in local politics, the Girl Scouts, the P.T.A., Topanga Woman's
Club, Topanga Chamber of Commerce and numerous other community
organizations. She fulfilled her life-long plan to complete her
education when, in 1977, she graduated from California State
University Northridge with a Bachelors degree in Sociology. She
then began a career as an executive for the Girl Scout organization
from which she retired in 1990.
Mary is survived by Stan Cepin, her husband of 55 years; her
sister, Betty Fleming, of Chula Vista, California, and her brother,
Archer Carlson, of Baldwin, Kansas. She also leaves behind the
following children and their families: Vicki, Butch, Howard and
John Goodman; Ruth Bardini; Nancy, Jeff, Ivan, Lara and Max Sucharski;
Katie, Jack and Don Mahan and Kelly and Josh Baldwin; Judie and
Pete Ricci, Nichole and Tim Kitchersid and Jeremy Pine; Missy,
Vince, Angela, Whitney, and Kelsie Fuca; Mike Cepin; and Doug,
Karren, Aaron and Alec Campbell.
Family and friends will gather to honor Mary's memory on Saturday,
July 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Club House in the Top O' Topanga
Mobile Home Park, 3360 North Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The event
will be pot-luck and friends are invited to bring items they
wish to share for a memory table displaying photos and other
memorabilia. Parking at the mobile home park is limited, ride
sharing is encouraged.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made
to the San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council, 9421 Winnetka,
Chatsworth, CA 91311, in Mary's name. These donations will help
support activities at Camp Lakota, one of Mary's favorite projects.
Geer Scion Ian Flanders and Abby Craden to Wed
Ian Flanders and Abby Craden will marry
at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum next April 2001.
"We met in 1997 at the Theatricum during 'School Days.'
I (Ian) was on stage doing the morning improv warm up for about
300 kids when I glanced over and saw her (Abby). Within that
instance, I lost all train of thought, turned into a blithering
idiot, and couldn't gather my thoughts. When I turned back to
look at the audience, I had no idea what I was talking about.
I guess that's love at first sight. On our three-year anniversary,
I asked her to marry me in front of 350 'School Days' kids. After
a long wait (being an actress she was holding for applause) she
said yes!"
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Ian, son of Ellen Geer and Ed Flanders
grew up in Topanga, even went to Topanga Elementary and has been
teaching at Theatricum since he was 15.
"When I (Abby) came out to teach for 'School Days' three
years ago I was extremely nervous. I was asked by a friend who
was assisting that year to come help out and teach a few of the
bigger 'School Days.' I had never really worked with high school
kids and was very resistant. He convinced me and I am forever
grateful to him for his powers of persuasion. He mentioned an
Ian who I would meet in the morning and the minute I heard his
name I felt a little buzz in my stomach. It's a strange thing--yet
sometimes you just feel something. When I finally met this Ian
(who was doing the most intimidating thing to me, improv with
350 high school kids) I, too, felt time stop in that instant.
I believe in love at first sight and I also believe in love that
deepens and grows over time. I feel blessed to have both."
Abby grew up in New York and drove cross-country first to San
Francisco and then eventually to Los Angeles to pursue her acting
career. Finding love has been the best part of the journey. She
has appeared in numerous productions at Theatricum as Nina in
The Seagull and Abigail in The Crucible and this
season as Bianca in Taming of the Shrew and sharing the
role of Sunshine Dore with her soon to be sister-in-law Willow
in Harold and Maude (the part Ellen originated in the
movie). She also administrates the theatre's adult academy and
co-directs with Ian in the youth drama camp.
If you have any questions, please call Ian or Abby at (818) 999-3040.
Thanks!
Joe Stanley's Death Touches the Canyon
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Joe Stanley (center) with his daughter, Dawn Carter Rhodes (left) , and his son Joe Stanley III (right). |
By Michele Johnson Joseph Stanley Jr., who had lived and worked in the Canyon since the 1950s, passed away suddenly ,after a short illness, in his home on Topanga Canyon Boulevard on June 14. In recent years, many in the Canyon knew him as a jack of all trades, master of most. He could repair an air conditioner, fix your plumbing or paint your house expertly. Many Topangans are saying they won't know what to do without his skill and expert advice. But he was also loved for the force of his personality--warm and vibrant--and his great sense of humor. |
Joe was born on January 1, 1938, in Los Angeles, and grew up in Brentwood. He was voted president of his high school class and later earned a B.S. degree from UCLA. From 1959 to 1962, he served as a Staff Sergeant in the Air National Guard, which led him later to become Commander of our local American Legion post.
After graduating from college, Joe began a career as a troubleshooter for corporations like Teledyne. His career choices were never dull. He then became an inventor, holding patents for hot and cold packs, and for a time owned the Stoner bar in West Los Angeles.
After moving to Topanga in the '50s, Joe met and married his first wife, Joan, and bought a house with her on East Hillside in the early '60s. Joan and Joe had two children, Joe III and Dawn. Joe was very involved in his kids' upbringing, and served as a scout leader in the Canyon for many years.
In his later life, Joe met Gloria Cudlip, who became his life-partner for the last 23 years of his life, and was with him when he passed away.
Joe is survived by his son Joseph Stanley III, who still lives in Topanga and, following in his father's footsteps, is well known as an expert tile layer. Joe's daughter, Dawn Carter Rhodes, married another long-time Topangan, Shawn Rhodes, who is also an expert craftsman, working as an electrician in the Canyon. They have a daughter, Marlee Rhodes. Joe is also survived by two stepchildren--Andrew Williams and Annette Williams--his sister, Patricia Stanley and his brother, David Stanley.
[Click here for more on Joe Stanley]