OBITUARIES OBITUARIES (April 10, 2001)

Richard Kirby

Irrigation consultant

Richard H. Kirby of Portola Valley , a former president of the Los Trancos Community Association, died suddenly at home April 4. He was 65.

Mr. Kirby grew up in the Bay Area and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for two-and-a-half years during the Korean conflict. He returned to graduate from San Jose State University.

Mr. Kirby worked with Braman Pipe and Supply and Aqua Dial Irrigation Supplies before starting his own business as an irrigation design consultant. He co-founded the American Society of Irrigation Consultants and served as its president.

As well as being active in the Los Trancos Community, he was president of the Los Trancos Water Board for four years. He was a scout master for a local troop of Boy Scouts for two years and a member of Palo Alto Lodge #1471, BPOE.

Mr. Kirby is survived by his wife of almost 39 years, Jeanne; son John of Davis; daughters Susan Kirby of Aptos and Joan Whitman of Los Gatos; and sister Ruth Ann Hosken of San Rafael.

A memorial Mass was held April 7 at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, Portola Valley.

Charles Newell Aldous

Electronic engineer

Charles Newell Aldous, a resident of Ladera since the 1950s, died at home April 1 of pneumonia after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 78.

Mr. Aldous was born in Philadelphia and raised in Tooele, Utah. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in Guam.

He graduated from the University of Utah in 1948 with a degree in electrical engineering, and received an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.

He was an electronic engineer, including 20 years with Lockheed.

Mr. Aldous was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and loved family activities, singing, dancing, woodworking, gardening, hiking and travel, says his family.

Mr. Aldous is survived by his wife Verna, whom he married in 1946; children Charles Aldous III of Davis, Karen Aldous of Mt. Shasta, and Susan Aldous Strachan of Mr. Shasta; sister Marjorie McBride of Alameda; brothers Melvin of Salt Lake City and Dean of Tooele, Utah; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services were held April 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Menlo Park. Burial was in Preston, Idaho. Memorials may be made to a favorite charity. Arrangements were under the direction of the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.

Richard Buckley Jr.

40-year Atherton resident

A memorial Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, at St. Raymond's Catholic Church, Menlo Park, for Richard Fitzgerald Buckley Jr. of Atherton who died March 29. He was 81.

A third-generation San Franciscan, Mr. Buckley attended Lowell High School and the University of San Francisco. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout with the Troop 14 in San Francisco.

During World War II, he served as a aviator with the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor.

A 20-year employee of Lockheed, Mr. Buckley was a member of the Serra Men's Club, the Pioneer Society and the Menlo Circus Club.

Mr. Buckley is survived by his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth; sons Richard and Peter of Mill Valley; Robert of Novato; daughters Susan Buckley Kramer of Newport Beach and Mary Louis Wilhelmy of Diablo; sister Anne Buckley Jensen; and 14 grandchildren.

The family prefers donations to a favorite charity.

Lois Arscott

Retired teacher

Lois Coffin Arscott, widow of the late Dr. John R. Ascott of Princeton University, died March 23 at the home of her son, David Arscott, in Atherton. She was 87.

Mrs. Arscott was born in Albany, New York. She was a graduate of Cornell University and Katherine Gibbs secretarial school in New York City.

While working at Princeton University, she met her future husband whom she married in 1938. Dr. Arscott taught English at Princeton and was chairman of the English department until 1961. He preceded her in death.

Mrs. Arscott taught in elementary schools during the 1950s and 1960s. She was also a music lover and sang in her church choir.

She is survived by her sons John of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey; David of Atherton; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Donations in Mrs. Arscott's memory may be made to Cornell University, Information Services, 55 Brown Road, Ithaca, New York 14850.

Joseph Becken

Longtime Menlo Park resident

Joseph M. Becken, who had his own tax-preparation business in Redwood City, died March 29. He was 80.

Mr. Becken was a native of Minnesota who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked for many years at the Royal McBee Corp. before establishing his tax-preparation business.

Mr. Becken is survived by stepchildren Virginia Johnstone of Menlo Park and Richard Cusimano of San Jose; sisters Lucy Barkovic of Springfield, Oregon, and Marie Hammer of Wahkon, Minnesota; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife, Jennie M. Becken, preceded him in death.

Donations are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association, 2065 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View.