We Remember

Fordyce “Ford” Lee Osborn
May 14, 1937 – Dec 5, 2024

Fordyce Lee Osborn was born on May 14, 1937, in Santa Rosa, CA to Maxine Ione Tolley Osborn and Fordyce Cicero Osborn. He attended schools in Santa Rosa and Oakland, CA. Ford served in the Naval Air Reserve as a radioman on board the P2V aircraft. He received his Batchelor of Science degree from San Jose State. He was a part of the start-up of Silicon Valley, working for a number of the early companies. For many years he worked as a Senior Research Engineer for SRI (formerly Stanford Research) in Menlo Park, CA, followed by Lockheed Martin.

He and his wife, Ellen, lived in Los Altos, CA. Ford had many hobbies, including: riding his Harley motorcycle, SCUBA diving, folk dancing, and above all, HAM radio. He was licensed by the FCC Amateur Radio League for 70 years. He held an Extra Class License, but kept his original call sign: K6ONE. He loved chess. At one point in his life, he was a nationally ranked player. He was a Master Mason of the Blue Lodge of California, serving as Master of Los Altos Lodge #712 in 1990. After moving to Pollock Pines upon retirement, he affiliated with local lodges.

Ford and his wife volunteered for the Eldorado National Forest and the Oregon California Trails Association to research the location of the emigrant trails, enjoying many days in the forest with fellow researchers. Ford was recognized for giving over 1000 hours of volunteer service to the Forest Service. He also volunteered with Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association, where he put in over 500 hours of work. In retirement, Ford took up new interests and developed new skills and talents, such as oil painting, furniture making and welding. He leaves us many precious examples of his skill.

Ford is survived by his wife, Ellen Osborn, of Pollock Pines, and children Nancy Berman of Saratoga, Florida, Michael Osborn of Turlock, California, and Ann Taylor of Patterson, California, and four grandchildren.

Thomas Mahach
Died 10/16/24

Colonel Thomas Gordon Mahach USAF (Retired) passed away on October 16, 2024 at the age of 86. He left behind his three children. Melinda J. (Glen) Pfeifer, grandchildren Brittney (Johnny) Hoelting, Courtney Pfeifer, Alex Pfeifer, and great grandchild Lydia Hoelting. Thomas G. Mahach II (Ronda) nee Cypret, grandchildren Jessica (Jeff) Piant, great grandchildren Reanna Piant, Alanna Piant, Gianna Piant. Timothy Mahach. Marla K. Mahach, grandchildren Thomas (Samantha) Stettler, great grandchild Harvey. Ashley Stettler. He was the only son of the late Frank and Katherine (nee Vano) of St. Louis, Missouri.

Tom was born August 31, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri. His full-time career in the military never brought him back to reside in Missouri. He served 26 years in the United States Air Force as a Vietnam Veteran and a command pilot earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and ten air medals. His military career took him all over the world, including a five-year assignment in Japan where he was married to his second wife, and where Marla was born.

After retirement in 1986, he started the second half of his life in El Dorado County, California, where he married his third wife. Here he became involved in the El Dorado County Historical Society, OCTA, working in the El Dorado County Services Division and serving on the Camino/Pollock Pines Fire Board as well as the El Dorado County Planning Commission in District II.

Even after his divorce, he stayed on his 10 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the California side and took great pleasure in his land. He will be sadly missed by all. Tom truly leaves behind a legacy, not only to his Vietnam “Spooky” brotherhood, but also to anyone who crossed his path. His aptitude and knowledge of everything in life was his greatest forte. He lived and died on his beloved mountain.

He was laid to rest in the family plot at Sunset Memorial Park, St. Louis, Missouri.

Jon Nowlin
Died 8/13/24

We are deeply saddened to share that Jon O. Nowlin of Carson City passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. His extraordinary life began in Eugene, OR in 1942. His family moved to Michigan where Jon and his parents, Ralph and Lucy Nowlin, lived on a beautiful lake. Jon met Janet E. Paepke in high school, and they married several years later in 1965 (spending 59 loving years together). This was a busy year as Janet gave birth to their first son, Mark J. Nowlin, and Jon got a job with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as a hydrologist.

Jon had attended Michigan State University where he got his geology/hydrology degree. Jon also served in the Navy Reserves and spent over 18 months in Vietnam in service to his country.

Jon and Janet gave birth to their second son, Scott R. Nowlin, in 1970. In 1975 the family made the move across the country to Carson City, Nevada, where he worked as a hydrologist for the Utah/Nevada division, working his way up to being the Director of the Nevada Water Science Center at USGS until his retirement in 2000.

In retirement, Jon and Janet enjoyed time with their grandchildren, Faith, Christina, Jonny, and Seth, all children of Scott and Joelyn Nowlin. Jon and Janet traveled extensively to visit family and went twice with the Men of Worth musical duo to both Scotland and Ireland with their son Mark and his wife Britt (Bridget). They spent time on Kauai with Janet’s sister, Carol and her husband Rodger. One of Jon’s dreams was to see the birthing whales in Baja, CA and he made this dream come true in 2023 when he and Janet took Mark, Britt, Scott, Joelyn, Faith, Faith’s husband Edgar Loera, Christina, and her friend Jenna, Jonny, and Seth on a National Geographic tour in Magdalena Bay, Mexico.

Jon also volunteered for the Trails West Emigrant Trail marking group and for the CA-NV Chapter of OCTA where he was currently serving as chair of the membership committee. He was a leader in the efforts to keep the Fernley Swales clean and protected. He was proud of this work and cherished the many friends he made at these organizations, at the USGS, and elsewhere.

Besides his wife, two sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren, Jon is survived by his brother Lee and his partner Barbara, and numerous other family members.

Kayle
2009 – 2024

The Historic Human Remains Detection Dog Kayle was a productive member of many of our OCTA field teams for many years. We will miss her!

Kayle’s work in confirming grave sites has been featured in many publications, including the Fall 2023 edition of Trail Talk and the Winter 2024 edition of the Overland Journal, about Kayle’s discovery of the Donner Snowshoe Camp of Death. Not only was this a difficult site to find, but there is archaeological evidence it is correct. Kayle’s search for Amelia Earhart’s grave site in the South Pacific was published in a National Geographic article in 2017. Her oldest confirmed grave site was Carbon-14 dated at 9,450 years Before Present.

John Grebenkemper is training Kayle’s great grand-niece to carry on her work.

Don Buck
Died 9/13/22

Don Buck, a charter member of OCTA and an active member of the CA-NV chapter, passed away at the age of 95 in Sunnyvale, CA on September 13, 2022.

Don was known for his on-the-ground discoveries and mapping, his diary collection, and research on the western emigrant trails. He mapped the California National Historic Trail for the National Park Service and worked with both the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service on historic trail preservation. He served on the Board of Directors of both OCTA and Trails West, Inc.

Don contributed much to promoting the scholarly side of OCTA. He could be counted upon for sound advice and the encouragement of new techniques for trail studies. He was active in organizing the long-range goal of computerizing OCTA’s overland emigrant documents. As a mapper, he was the principal author of the Mapping Emigrant Trails (MET) Manual, the standard for trail research, mapping and marking. The MET Manual is accepted as the standard by government agencies. He was also a key participant in the “Trail Turtles” which has provided extensive documentation of trails in the Southwest. He worked tirelessly on Trail West, Inc.’s trail guides.

Don received the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and the Trail Boss Award in 2009.

Richard Silva
Died 9/8/22

OCTA has lost a long-time friend with the passing of Richard (aka Dick) Silva, 92, of Yreka, CA, who died September 8, 2022.

Richard was one of the all-time premier emigrant trail and wagon road mappers. Richard’s focus over the decades was on numerous trails in northern California, southern Oregon and northwestern Nevada that include the Yreka Trail, Lockhart Wagon Road, Applegate Trail, Nobles Trail, Burnett Cutoff and sections of the Lassen Trail. He used a unique blend of cartographic computer techniques combined with Government Land Office surveyors field notes, historic map overlays, and old aerial photo overlays to locate these trails on the ground.  Richard also helped develop the most common method now used by archaeologists for field verifying the trail segments – the use of metal detectors to locate artifacts. Artifacts found with the use of the metal detector were recorded, GPS’d, and photographed. He was also essential to the process of further identifying the function and possible date of artifacts. Richard also produced detailed Mapping Emigrant Trails (MET) paper maps. Not only did the maps show detailed trail location, trail classifications and a host of other information, the margin notes, front and back had diary quotes, site locations, newspaper articles and any other research material he could find. His trail research was sought after by historians, libraries, museums and government agencies. He worked closely with the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service, protecting trails from timber harvests and development and provided the agencies with the results of his mapping experience and offered CalFire his knowledge of the location of emigrant trails.In 2016 Richard was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, the CA-NV Chapter’s highest award.

Carol Hodge March
6/11/35 – 3/3/19

Carol Hodge March was born and raised in Sacramento. Soon after graduating from college she married Hugh. Carol and Hugh raised two children. Carol was an active volunteer in many of the children’s activities as they grew up. Before their children were born, Carol taught English and Social Studies and then assisted Hugh with his business for many years. Carol spent many years pursuing her interest in history and family stories researching family genealogy.

Carol spent summers hiking in the mountains with her dad around Echo Summit very near the campground where their cabin was located are remnants of the Johnson’s Cutoff. Just a few years ago she hiked with OCTA members in the same area. One of Carol’s prized possessions was an iron ox shoe she and her dad found while hiking through those woods many years ago.

Carol’s years of exploring the mountains as a youth, and researching her ancestral families who migrated west along emigrant trails, encouraged her and Hugh to join OCTA. The first conference they attended was in Sacramento in 1991. On the Roller Pass hike, one of the Sacramento News channels sent a reporter/camera man along and Carol was just ahead of them on the trail. Her pink socks showed up on the news that night as part of their report. Carol was active in OCTA, assisting the planning for the Chico and Tahoe National OCTA Conventions, as well as serving as both secretary and treasurer of the California-Nevada chapter for many years. In 2013 Carol and Hugh were presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the chapter.

Carol played violin in the Stanford Symphony while a student and later played in the Nova Vista Symphony for 35 years, in pit orchestras for summer musicals at Foothill College, and most recently 20 years with the California POPs Orchestra. Tending a large rose garden, delving into family history and exploring the pioneer trails through OCTA with Hugh and daughter Karen were just a few of her other pleasures in life! She loved being with family and preparing for the holidays. She enjoyed working on puzzles and playing games and welcomed learning and adventure. Her generosity, sense of humor, contagious smile, and joy of playing music will be greatly missed and always remembered.

Ed Bagne
Died 2/18/19

Ed Bagne, an avid metal detector on trail mapping teams, died February 18 in La Canada at the age of 84.  Ed spent his career as a technical writer in the aerospace industry.

After retirement he became interested in metal detecting and its use in historical archaeology.  For years he and his wife Ann participated in the Forest Service’s Passport in Time program, using metal detectors to confirm the location of many historic trails as well as historic military sites.  He also became involved in trail projects with the CA-NV Chapter in the Sierras.Ed showed his commitment by traveling many, many miles to attend numerous OCTA outings and events. He provided many interesting moments while working his magic on the trails. He was a regular participant with the Beckwourth, Johnson Cutoff, Grizzly Flat, Carson and Georgetown Mapping groups. He never hesitated to wander the mountains and valleys looking for swales, clambering up and over obstacles and engaging in the work to uncover, document and preserve the artifacts that helped confirmed the work of those who had come before.

While doing the slow detail orientated work, Ed was always engaging in conversation, sharing experiences and special moments of his life. He did not hesitate to speak his mind, sharing his opinions on the work, life and any subject that came to the forefront.  Chapter member Dick Waugh said of Ed “..  I remember once there was a VERY steep section on the trail. I told Ed not to bother going up the hill, concerned about the difficulty of the climb. I got distracted on another matter. When I checked on Ed he was 100 yards up the steep incline asking me to come up and confirm a find he had made.  Ed was confident and entertaining. I spent many hours listening to his adventures and his take on life. When he and Ann participated in a project I always migrated to Ed and his smile. When Ed and Ann had to pass on outings along the Beckwourth I knew there would be a little less ‘sparkle’ during the work day. He is missed.”

Ed is survived by his wife, Ann, two daughters, and two granddaughters.

Patricia Loomis
Died 7/20/10

Patricia “Pat” Loomis passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2010, in Arroyo Grande after a short illness. She was born to Ivan and Christine Loomis in June 1920, in San Francisco, Calif. Pat had just celebrated her 90th birthday. She grew up with her family in Arroyo Grande. Her family came from pioneer stock; the Loomis family has resided in Arroyo Grande since 1882 and the Jattas since 1866. Pat graduated from San Jose State University in 1943 with a degree in Journalism, which she put to good use at the San Jose Mercury News. Upon retirement after 40 years she reminisced that she had “never worked a day in her life; it was 40 years of fun.”

During her years in San Jose, Pat was an active member of the Santa Clara County Fair Board and enjoyed her involvement with 4-H children. While working with the Mercury News, she wrote a column called “Signposts,” which encompassed historical vignettes detailing the lives of pioneers whose surnames provided the titles to numerous streets in San Jose. These columns were eventually published in book form. She also wrote a book called “A Walk Through the Past,” which highlighted the Overland Pioneers and other San Jose residents. Her love of history gave her reason to join organizations like the Argonauts, who would travel as a group to the Oregon Trail and other routes of the Overland Pioneers. She also belonged to the Oregon-California Trails Association.

During her time with OCTA she wrote for Trail Talk and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Pat returned to her original hometown of Arroyo Grande in 2007. Her family had grown considerably during the years she was in San Jose and they were delighted to have her return. Pat continued to pursue her interest in history and authored two books: “Arroyo Grande Cemetery” and “Streets of Arroyo Grande.” Pat came from a large family that honors its roots by the collection and documentation of local history and helps to preserve that history for the benefit of everyone. She; her brother, John Loomis, and cousin, Gordon Bennett, have contributed to the collecting of documents, photos, newspaper clippings, oral histories, maps, book and a few tall tales. Four years ago, San Jose’s History Park dedicated one of its streets Loomis Lane and honored her for her contributions as history writer for the San Jose Mercury News. In 2006, the South County Historical Society named a resource center after her in the Village of Arroyo Grande called the Patricia Loomis History Library and Resource Center and in 2010 named her Historian of the Year.

Her passions were family, stream fishing for trout, researching history, making jam and giving to others. The bumper sticker on her car read “Fish tremble at the mention of my name.” Pat was fun-loving, generous and encouraging. She always had a smile on her face and a “quick wit” about her. She was nonjudgmental, loved by all ages, was always interested in others and told the best stories. Pat stayed active until her death.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, as well as sister, Peggy David; brother-in-law, Andrew David; brother, John; and longtime friend, Genie McClay, who was like a sister to her. She is survived by brother, Richard, and his wife, Bobbie, as well as sisters-in-law, Nancy and Lindy. She has many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews that adored her and found her a delight to be with. She was known to all as “Aunt Pat.”