Claremont Obituaries

Patricia Steeper Carl, 95, died peacefully in her sleep on January 7.

She was born Sammie Patricia Moyer on January 28, 1927, in Lawrence, Kansas to a U.S. Cavalry officer and his wife, and was the third of four daughters.

Barbara Jean Ellenhorn, a clinical social worker, museum docent, tireless homemaker, passionate gardener and loving wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep on January 21. She was 93 years old.

Daniel Gould, beloved son of Donald Gould and Pamela Gould of Claremont, brother of Julia Gould, and stepson of Rhonda Raider Gould, died unexpectedly on August 1, 2022. He was 31.

A service honoring Daniel was held at Temple Beth Israel in Pomona on August 9, 2022, preceded by a graveside service at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont.

A casual celebration of life and open house for Thomas Michael Thornstrom, who died December 14, will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 18 at 1180 Morningside Dr., Claremont, CA 91711. Lunch will be served.

Donald Theodore “Ted” Sheldon, Jr. died January 23 at home in Claremont.

Ted was born in 1945 to Dr. Donald T. Sheldon, M.D., and Mary Andrews in Salinas, California. His brother Greg was born two years later. He attended elementary school in Los Angeles, and when he was in eighth grade his family moved to Claremont.

Marcia McGuff Jenkins, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, and a former resident of Claremont, died peacefully on November 27, 2022.

Born in Norwood, Massachusetts on March 28, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Lydia (Manley) McGuff.

Marcia (aka “Mike”) was the beloved wife of the late Robert Edward Jenkins (aka Bob, aka Bobby, aka “the Bob”), and devoted mother to Eric and his wife, Terah, of Temecula, California, Mark and his wife, Jennifer of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Kara of Playa del Rey, California, and the late Kristine Jenkins. She cherished her grandchildren Katie, Chris, Thomas, Quincie, Colin, and Elliot Jenkins, Tyler Nutting, Natalie and Todd Oldroyd, Makenzie and Peyton Raab, and Trevor Nutting, and great-granddaughter, Cassie Oldroyd.

Joseph Austin Erickson, Jr., a clinical psychologist in Claremont and a former rector of St.. Mark’s Church in Upland (1954-1963), died December 28 at his home at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in Pomona. He was 98.

Phyllis Chamberlain, 88, died in her sleep on January 4. She was born in Ontario on June 17, 1934 to John Edward Maurer and Felicia Spillard Maurer.

Longtime Claremont resident, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother Mollie G. Ornelas died December 12 at age 94, the last survivor among her nine siblings.

On Tuesday, January 3, John Eichinger, most loving and deeply beloved husband and father of two children, died at the age of 70 after battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year.

Claremont resident for 57 years Edmund Warner “Ted” Fisher, Jr., died suddenly on December 26 at home while watching “Bonanza” in his recliner. He was 88.

Clara Berg Zink, age 87, died peacefully at her Claremont home in the early morning of November 27. Her ashes were scattered at sea. The first child of Eastern European immigrants Samuel and Sophie Naliboff, Clara was born in El Centro, California on March 16, 1935.  Her formative years were shared between the family home in El Centro and a working ranch in Julian. During the sweltering summers at the Julian ranch, she and her beloved brother David would rest in the shade of an oak tree and read the encyclopedia from A to Z. This undoubtedly formed the foundation of her lifelong love of learning and explains the amazing depth and breadth of her knowledge.

Longtime Claremont resident, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Leilani June Scheetz died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on December 15 at the age of 85. “Throughout her life she was an anchor for her family and an inspiration to those around her,” her family shared. “She absolutely loved life.”

John Blair Ceniceros died peacefully, surrounded by his children, on Thanksgiving day, 2022 at the age of 89. Blair was born in Los Angeles in 1933 and grew up in Redlands, graduating from Redlands High School, and then attending Occidental College in Los Angeles. He left college to serve in the U.S. Army for two years, posting in Germany. In 1957 he returned to Occidental College to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to earn his master’s degree at the University of Redlands.

homas Michael Thornstrom died unexpectedly on December 14 of complications from a stroke he had in July. He was surrounded by his mother, brothers and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Thomas was born September 18, 1985, to Rob and Lynn Thornstrom, following the births of his older brothers Todd and Tyler. He resided his entire life in Claremont, attending Mountain View Elementary School, El Roble Intermediate School, and Claremont High School. He also attended Citrus College. He lived with his mother and brother Todd at the time of his death.

Bernice (Bunny) Spanier died peacefully in Irvine, California recently after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and complications from pneumonia. Bunny was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The family lived in Mobridge where her father owned and operated the town’s only general store. His customers were mostly Native Americans who lived on reservations at Standing Rock and Cheyenne River.