Obituaries
Larry T. Barnard
Larry Barnard, 75, died Aug. 4 due to declining health. He was the only child of Charles (Louie) and Mabel Barnard (Whitcher), born on June 30, 1942 in Ontario, CA. Larry was a 1960 graduate of Chaffey High School and a 1963 graduate of Chaffey College.
He married Patsy Ann (Warren) on March 7, 1964; married for 34 years up until her passing in 1998. Larry is survived by his daughters, Dawn Barnard-Dingman and Kimberly Barnard, son-in-law Luke Dingman, grandchildren, Trenton and Corine, several relatives and friends.
In 1965, Larry was hired by the California Department of Transportation in San Bernardino as a student assistant. In 1968, he transferred to the San Diego district, and in 1969, he transferred to the Headquarters Division of Accounting in Sacramento and retired in 1999 as an Accounting Administrator III. While at Caltrans, he developed many life-long friendships and had quite a few memorable lunches at Posey’s.
Larry was notorious for his jokes and funny one-liners. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, poker nights, camping, bowling leagues (once appearing on the television show “Bowling for Dollars”), playing cards and pool, wine tasting, light traveling, and he could watch or listen to any amateur or professional sports show on TV or radio from beginning to end.
Larry was a loving, fun and wise father and an incredible listener, teacher and mentor. He was laid to rest at the Fair Oaks Cemetery in Fair Oaks, CA.
Si Si Han
Si Si Han
On the morning of December 2, Caltrans employee Si Si Han was killed on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge when a box truck collided with her toll booth just 11 minutes into her shift.
Han is the 188th Caltrans employee to die on duty. The 46 year-old San Lorenzo resident began working for Caltrans as a toll collector in March 2007. She’s the first toll booth worker to be killed on the job since 2009.
In an email sent out to Caltrans staff on December 2, Director Malcolm Dougherty said, “Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to Si Si’s family and all those who worked with her.”
The box truck driver, Daniel Berk, 32, of Foster City, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter and was hospitalized with serious injuries.
Si Si was born November 16, 1971, in Myeik, Burma. She earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Burma and met her husband before migrating to the United States in 2002. After her arrival to the states, she earned an associate degree in accounting from Skyline College in San Bruno.
She was described as a “beacon of light” by the drivers at the Bay Bridge. She was reliable, accurate and optimistic. Si Si is survived by her husband, Ryan Saw; 10-year old daughter, Ashly; mother Daw Po; and sister Soe Soe Han Htoo. Si Si was preceded in death by her father, U Han Hto.
Si Si is most remembered by family and friends for being a selfless and generous woman. She would always work early morning shifts to spend time with her family during the remainder of the day.
Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi said, “We will never forget Si Si and her years of service to the Department and the people of California.”
The California Transportation Foundation has established a memorial fund for Si Si’s family to help them during this difficult time. If you’d like to make a donation, you can send your check to the California Transportation Foundation Worker Memorial Fund, 581 La Sierra Drive, Sacramento, CA 95864 or visit www.transportationfoundation.org/donate. Checks should be made out to CTF with “Han” written on the memo line.
Jon Hirtz
Jon Hirtz
Retired Caltrans Photographer Jon Hirtz passed away Aug. 23. He is survived by his wife Linda Sallee-Hirtz; son Daniel Mennick, grandson Tyler Everitt, granddaughters Heather Mennick and Julie Tolbert, and many friends, and family members.
He graduated from Mira Loma High School in 1966 and studied anthropology, cinematography and creative writing at San Jose State University, where he graduated in 1970. He went on to study the psychology of the film experience at Goddard College in Plainfield, VT. He was an Eligibility Worker at Sacramento County, owned his own photography business, and took pictures for Caltrans from 2000 to 2014.
He enjoyed meeting people, putting them at ease and capturing them at their best. He rode a motorcycle and enjoyed going on road trips. He was funny, well-read, kind, and had an old-school sense of morality. He enjoyed playing the French horn and serving as a Lincoln Rotary Club member. He and his wife lived on property in Lincoln where he did a lot of handyman work, including making Adobe bricks and the house he and his wife lived in. He loved animals and had dogs and cats, and used to keep and ride horses. Jon had some pretty serious health issues but didn’t really complain about them and tried not to let them prevent him from doing what he enjoyed. He visited his doctors so often that they became friends and went on desert camping trips together. Friends and family held a memorial for him at the Lincoln Funeral Chapel on Sept. 8.
Walter Alvin Lyons
Walter Alvin Lyons, 88, died on Oct. 22. He was born to Floyd and Louise Lyons in Everett, Washington on Dec. 1, 1928.
Walt served four years in the Navy during the Korean Conflict and graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Washington State College in 1957.
Walt retired as a Caltrans District 3 civil engineer after 35 years, as well as three years with Boyle Engineering. He worked on the 1-80 Donner Pass, the Bay Area Rapid Transit system and the Sacramento Light Rail system.
Walt lived and worked in Sutter County for the last 60 years. He was a baseball coach for many years at Peach Bowl Little League Park. He enjoyed time at the family cabin outside Chester, and being around his family, neighbors and friends.
Walt is survived by son, Lawrence and his wife Linda; son, Donald; and daughter, Jennifer Rice Miller and her husband Robert. He also has three grandsons; Aaron Lyons and his wife Cheryl; Austin Lyons and his wife Kaylee; and Andrew Rice. He also has a sister in Spokane, WA, Donna Edelbrock and her husband Jerry. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Babetta and son Stephen.
James Alan Moe
James Alan Moe was born to Alan and Editha Moe in Fargo, North Dakota April 14, 1932, and died Nov. 6. He graduated from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1954 and his Master of Business Administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, in 1977. He married Beverly Johnson in June 1954. From 1954-1956, he served his country in the U.S. Navy on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet in the Far East as division officer of 80 enlisted men. He served another nine years in the U.S. Naval Reserve after his decommission. Following his military service, he worked for a private commercial construction firm, Pozzo Construction, in Los Angeles for 11 years, where he also began raising four children. He then joined the administration of newly elected Governor Ronald Reagan as the California State Director of Public Works and, later, as Director of Caltrans. James left public office in 1974 to join the Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco, serving in a variety of executive capacities, including assistant to the chairman and on-site program manager of the then-largest construction project in the world, building the industrial city of Jubail, Saudi Arabia. He retired from Bechtel in 1999.
James was a life member of the American Society of Engineers, where he served in several leadership positions. During retirement, he served as an elder at La Jolla Presbyterian church, volunteered for several social organizations and led several committees at Eskaton Village, Carmichael. James had many passions, including sailing, traveling, fishing, playing music, singing, and being with family and friends. He is survived by his wife Beverly, daughter Teresa (Robert) of Roseville, daughter Cynthia (Steven) of Phoenix, Arizona, son Jeffrey of Provo, Utah, son John (Nicole) of San Mateo, California, 17 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and sister Joan Arendt (Phil) of Fresno. He was preceded in death by grandson Nathan Hutchings and sisters Janet Moe and Jean Norman.
James Harland Woodstrom
Carmichael resident James Harland Woodstrom was born July 29, 1929, and died October 20. Jim was the ninth child of Carl and Helga Woodstrom, all of whom preceded him in death.
Jim was born and raised in Crookston, Minnesota where he met the love of his life, Dorothy. Jim and Dorothy moved to Southern California in 1951 where he began working for the Riverside County Road Department, then Caltrans in 1954. Jim and Dorothy moved their family to Sacramento in 1962 and the Del Dayo Riviera area of Carmichael in 1963 where the family home remains today. Jim worked his way up and enjoyed a long career as a professional civil engineer for Caltrans, specializing in concrete and bridge design. He retired in 1990. After retirement, Jim worked as a director, consultant and trainer for the American Concrete Paving Association (ACPA) in concrete pavement technology. In 2007, the ACPA presented him with a national lifetime award for his technical achievement in the concrete pavement industry.
In his spare time, Jim enjoyed diverse activities. He was masterful at woodworking and created many beautiful pieces of furniture for his home and his children. He had several sailboats and loved sailing with the family on Folsom Lake, along the California coast and with friends in Europe. Jim skied for years and also enjoyed golf, both with the guys and with his wife. Jim and Dorothy loved to travel, explore, and visit their kids, grandkids and relatives. Jim played the trumpet in high school band, and in later years, played in church orchestra and in a couple of jazz concerts. He was active at church serving as a deacon and elder at Carmichael Presbyterian Church. Jim was an active member and former officer of the Sons in Retirement El Dorado Branch 23, and enjoyed the fellowship of its members. His family has fond memories of playing cards, doing puzzles and playing games with him, as well as silly sayings that made the grandkids chuckle. Jim was known for his quick wit, great sense of humor, friendly disposition and inquiring intellect. He was a loving and loved husband, father, grandfather and uncle as well as a great friend to many.
Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dorothy, his children Sarah (Brad) Claus of Colorado Springs, Eric (Camile) Woodstrom of Redding, and Caty Woodstrom of Berkeley as well as grandchildren Kyle, Anne (Evan) Baxter, Jessica, and Jen Woodstrom, Tyler and Conner Claus, and many nieces and nephews.
Richard Carroll Young
Richard (Dick) Carroll Young, 85, of Yuba City, passed away August 6. He was born in Sacramento to Anne and Jacob Young and graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School. He married Joan Bosworth in 1954, graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, majoring in civil engineering, and began his 38-year career at the Division of Highways/Caltrans.
During his life, Dick was the Yuba City mayor and Lake Tahoe Historical Society president. He was also in the Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and El Dorado County Sheriff's Team of Active Retirees at South Lake Tahoe.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan Young; children, Sharon Wonder, Peter Young, Christina Estabrook; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two cousins.