Webster-Morris Family

The people in the list below were all connected to San Luis Obispo County, California.

Posted on Thu, Feb. 14, 2002

Manuel Ruda

The Tribune

Manuel A. Ruda, 90, of rural San Luis Obispo died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, at his home.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. today at Reis Chapel in San Luis Obispo and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at the San Luis Cemetery.

Mr. Ruda was born Sept. 8, 1911, in See Canyon, to Antone and Georgia May Callaway Ruda. He ranched in See Canyon and worked for the County of San Luis Obispo Road Works Dept. for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman and had a deep understanding of nature.

Mr. Ruda is survived by his brother Mitchell Ruda of See Canyon; daughters, Dolores M. Lepley of Avila Beach, Sonia Bodine of San Luis Obispo, Nadine L. Lewis of San Luis Obispo, Gail Ruda of San Luis Obispo; sons, Arthur Ruda of Arroyo Grande, Frank Ruda of Oregon, John Ruda of Nipomo; grandson Fred Ruda of San Luis Obispo; 16 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lifesteps Inc., 3450 Broad St., Suite 104, San Luis Obispo, 93401.

Arrangements are under the direction of Reis Chapel of San Luis Obispo.

Posted on Wed, Apr. 10, 2002

William H. Jones, County Native

The Tribune

William H. "Hanger" Jones, 78, of San Luis Obispo, died Sunday, April 7, 2002 at home with his family.

A visitation will be held Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Reis Chapel in San Luis Obispo and a service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park.

Mr. Jones, a fourth-generation county native, was born Nov. 3, 1923 to Lewis and Mary Jones of See Canyon, the fifth of 13 children. He grew up on the family dairy ranch in Davis Canyon.

He served in the Second Marine Division in the South Pacific during WW II. He later worked as both a commercial fisherman and carpenter, recently being honored by the Carpenter's Union. He was also a member of the local American Legion, the Old-Timer's Association and Sportsman's Association. He enjoyed fishing trips to Alaska and hunting trips to Nevada.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ellen and his children and their spouses, Steve and Arline of Redondo Beach, and Judy and Ron of Los Osos. He is also survived by brothers Harry, Gene and Lawrence and sisters Wini, Nada and Lucille.

Arrangements are under the direction of Reis Chapel in San Luis Obispo.

Johnie Epperly

The Tribune

Johnie Epperly, 74, of Santa Margarita died March 29, 2002, at a Templeton hospital.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Arroyo Grande District Cemetery. The Rev. Lionel Johnson will officiate.

Mr. Epperly was born Feb. 11, 1928, in Santa Margarita, part of a long line of San Luis Obispo County residents. He served in the Navy before working for the San Luis Obispo County Parks Service until he retired. Mr. Epperly was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed measuring rain fall statistics and reporting them to local television stations.

Mr. Epperly is survived by his wife, Arlene, of Santa Margarita; stepdaughter Robin Epperly of Atascadero; and sisters Florence Fowler of Atascadero, Lila Thomas of Atascadero and Becky McBurney of Atascadero.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel of the Roses in Atascadero.

Posted: Sunday 31 March 2002

Marguerite Martella "Marge" Piper
Marguerite "Marge" Martella Piper slipped away from us at a local care center Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007. Marge was the third of six siblings born of immigrate parents in San Luis Obispo in May of 1918. She was a homemaker and keeper of the family hearth all of her life. She left us as she had lived her entire life, with love and peaceful elegance!

Marge's early life in rural San Luis County wasn't easy. She had to drop out of high school at an early age to help support her family after the untimely death of her father. At age 19, she met and married her first love, Joel. H. Webster, a carpenter from Santa Maria. The happy couple took up residence in Santa Maria and immediately started a family.

Soon thereafter, Joseph "Ronky", John "Puck", Peggy and Betty were born. With wars and the Great Depression, life for an itinerant carpenter and his young bride was no bed of roses. But with Marge, the wonderful homemaker that she was, and her hard working husband, they managed.

Following World War II the couple once again resumed a quiet peaceful life in Atascadero. However, in the fall of 1951, tragedy struck with Joe's sudden death. During the next several years, hearth keeper, Marge, and her four minor children managed to cling together as a family.

Once again providence stepped in. While on an impromptu evening of dining and dancing in Pismo Beach, Marge met the second love of her life, Eugene Piper. Gene Piper, also a carpenter, was immediately smitten with Marge. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married by a Justice of the Peace in 1956, oddly enough, at Joe's parents house.

Although Gene readily accepted his role of father for his ready-made family, he was eager for a child of his own. Hence, Louise Marie Piper was born in February 1957. As the older Webster children began to leave the nest, Louise's presence brought new life to the family.

Marge and Gene were married for over 50 years and shared many adventures together. They loved dancing and an occasional gambling excursion. But mostly, they loved spending quiet times together and puttering in the garden. During recent year's Marge's hard life began to take it's toll.

As it became more difficult for Gene to cope with the daily household chores and Marge's constant care, daughter, Louise, came to the rescue. Over the past several years as a live-in caregiver, Louise devoted herself entirely to her mother's care and well-being. The family is truly blessed for the loving care Louise unselfishly gave during this difficult time.

Marge is survived by her husband, Eugene Piper; children Joseph Webster of Atascadero, John Webster of Colorado, Peggy Schenewolf of Oklahoma, Louise Piper of San Luis Obispo, and numerous grand, great and great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Joel Webster and daughter, Betty Jones of Los Angeles.

Margaret Piper was laid to rest at the family plot at the Los Osos Valley Cemetery Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007.

Let it be known that Marge, loving mother, wife, homemaker, and the best friend will be sorely missed by all!

Farewell, Margaret, "VIA CON DIOS!"
Published in the San Luis Obispo Tribune on 12/27/2007.