New Arrivals

WOODY BARNES

A third generation native of Julian, Franklin Lockwood “Woody” Barnes, Jr. passed away peacefully July 25 at the age of 86. His family was able to spend the last hours by his side. A trained botanist, Woody was born in San Diego and attended Julian Elementary and High School, Pomona College, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Woody and his father Franklin operated the largest apple and pear orchards in Julian, a family business since 1906. The family built the iconic Manzanita Ranch store in Wynola— literally—from forming the cement blocks to laying the roof. Although he worked seven days a week, Woody quipped that when you love what you do you never work a day in your life.

In July of 1962 Woody married his beloved fiancé from Pomona College, Jane Caroline Mathis from El Toro, with whom he shared many adventures, including travel to Europe, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, South America, Russia and most of the 50 states. The couple owned and managed cattle ranches in Northern California and Oregon, moving their Angus crossbred herd back and forth with the season.

Kind and gentle, full of wisdom and grace, Woody possessed an inner toughness that could inspire awe. In an iconic incident, taking too many risks while driving a wheel tractor, he rolled it down an earthen dam, bouncing left and right, tumbling the tractor head over kettle, until Woody found himself trapped by his seatbelt twenty-five feet underwater. He managed to free himself by remembering that the tractor had been made in India—the belt fastened on the left side not the right. He undid the buckle, swam to the surface, changed his clothes and attend two functions that same day.

In addition to fruit, Manzanita Ranch grew lilacs, lily of the valley, peonies, tulips and other flowers. Woody once wrote, “My parents Alice and Franklin were married Christmas day at the Julian Hotel (in 1924). Mom and Dad raised fruit and flowers, and by the 1930s were selling lilacs as cut flowers to vendors in San Diego. I fell in love with lilacs early on. In addition to my family influence, my first “paying job” was for a Julian neighbor, taking care of his pigeons, chickens, horses, dogs and yard for 50 cents a week. The yard included a long row of lilacs.” With the International Lilac Society, Woody developed and registered a beautiful dark-purple lilac named after his parents, the Alice-Franklin.

Woody was very active in agricultural organizations and in his community, including 18 years with the Julian Volunteer Fire District, and many years with the California Cattlemen’s Association and Julian Community Planning Group. He was one of 30 California farmers selected in 1970 to the first class of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. He served on the boards of the San Diego County Farm Bureau (including one year as president), the Council of California Growers, the California State Board of Forestry and the California Rangeland Trust. He remained on the Julian Planning Group and on a committee for the Rangeland Trust until his final breath.

Woody was just selected by the San Diego Planning and Development Services as one of the 2021 County Volunteers of the Year.

Woody is survived by his wife, Jane, his sister Mary Alice “Jo” Geary (Jim); two children, Franklin Lockwood “Barney” Barnes III (Diane), and Scott T. Barnes (Grace); grandchildren Chelsea (Lance), Emmalee, Weslee, Elizabeth and Kaylynn; and three nieces, Mary Lynn Cravey, Karen Conely and Julie Kemp (Mike).

Many of Woody’s memories have been preserved in the book Woody Barnes—A Farmer’s Life in Julian. Of the agricultural life in Julian he said, “It’s an era that’s completely gone and I’m probably the only one who remembers most of it.” Well Woody, we will remember you. Always.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 11:30 a.m on the property known as Manzanita Ranch. Friends of Woody are welcome.

GLEN VAN SCHAACK

Glen Van Schaack passed away peacefully with family at his side on July 31.

Glen served honorably as a U.S. Navy Officer during the Korean War on the USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869). After his time in the service, he established his career as a leader in the cattle industry. He received the Cattleman of the Year award as well as serving as president of the California Cattle Feeders Association and the International Livestock Identification Association along with other industry related leadership positions. At the end of his career, Glen retired as the California Bureau Chief of Livestock Identification. Glen, a true cowboy and gentleman, also competed in team penning rodeo events with his son Bobby. As a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) parish for 60 years, he was involved with school activities at OLPH and Garces. He was also honored to become a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Glen’s number one passion was family. He loved to take the family camping and fishing as part of the great outdoors experience. He would patiently smile as he was untangling fishing lines for the kids and grandkids for hours on end. A devoted family man, he cherished every new grandchild and great-grandchild that came along. He considered himself blessed by having such a large and extended family. He loved the gatherings and reveled in the laughter.

Glen is survived by his wife of 10 years, Mary McGovernVan Schaack. He is also survived by five of his nine children: Stephen (Dale), Kathy Cronk (Greg), Elaine Thompson (John), Jeanne Tunnicliffe (Scott) and Joanie Haenelt (Bob) and Mary’s four children, Michael (Laura), Theresa Amarante, Mary Ann Britton (Phillip) and Donald (Heather). Glen is predeceased by his first wife of 56 years, Jeanne, and four of his children: Susan Eaton, Bobby, James and Gregory. Glen was also a proud grandfather and great-grandfather to 36. A man of integrity, kindness and wisdom, he was cherished and will be missed by all of us until we are joined again in God’s kingdom.

Funeral services were held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Bakersfield August 18. Memorial donations can be made to to CVAF- Calif. Veterans Assistance Foundation at 2215 Buena Vista St., Bakersfield, CA 93304.

JIM DOBBAS

James “Jim” Birdsall Dobbas passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 31, in Sattley, in the comfort of his home with his surrounding family. His cause of death was cancer, although, he would prefer you to believe it was from witnessing a lifetime of corrupt politics.

Jim was raised in Auburn at Aeolia Heights with his mother Blair and father Dorman ‘Big Jim’ Dobbas. Dorman would instill the love of running cattle and driving trucks from ranch to ranch in his son Jimmy. Beyond life on the ranch, some of Jim’s fondest childhood memories were the summers spent in Meeks Bay, Lake Tahoe at the family cabin. During his teenage years, it was at Placer High School that he would listen to logging trucks run-up and down Lincoln Way, anxiously waiting to get out of class to get back in the truck and grab gears. It was there he met his girlfriend Barbara MacKenzie and the high school sweethearts would marry in 1952; in time they welcomed their two children Denny and Donny.

Jim lived an extraordinary life. As a young man he read every truck and equipment magazine he could get his hands on. “At the time, I thought I was the only one so obsessed with loud motors and diesel smoke,” he told Wheels of Time Magazine. His obsession for trucks would influence his entire career, beginning at the Auburn Fire Department as a local volunteer. Later, he would be recognized as one of the departments ‘Auburn Smoke-Eaters.’ His experience with trucks would land him a job with Cal Ida hauling logs. In 1968, he would take his Peterbilt truck and launch his own business in trucking transportation, under his namesake Jim Dobbas, Inc. “I formed the business on April 1st, 1968, April Fool’s Day, I figured it was a good day because I didn’t think the company would make it anyway.” He chuckled. Jim Dobbas, Inc. started in the living-room of the family’s home, the house line remained the same phone number for the business for 53 years.

On the morning of April 28, 1973, Jim’s trucking career would change forever. He was startled by the sound of bombs going off at the Southern Pacific Rail yard in Roseville, Calif. Jim jumped in his truck and hustled to find utter chaos. It was there that his ‘clean-up work’ launched for the Southern Pacific Railroad, that developed into railroad derailment services throughout Northern California, Nevada, Utah and Southern Oregon. Jim would spend nearly the next 30 years (on call) 24 hours a day re-railing trains for multiple railways in the Western Region of the United States. He was a fearless entrepreneur. No task or job was ever too large. If Jim wasn’t out there himself doing the job, rest assured one of his many employed comrades of the company were, a career that could only be described as hell on wheels.

In 1990, Jim proudly entrusted the railroad construction business to his son Don, who he knew would courageously expand the company’s reputation in the railroad industry. Jim found his happy place in a little town called Sierraville north of Truckee, Calif. For the next 30 years Jim spent his life on the ranch running cows in the Sierras. Raising cattle and conserving our Western Heritage was Jim’s way of life. He and his wife Carol thrived together in their passion for their Angus-based commercial cow herd, all while exhibiting the true importance of land stewardship. Jim held a soft spot in his heart and a great deal of respect for livestock.

Jim was a long-time member of the California Cattlemen’s Association. He was thoroughly committed to supporting the local 4-H, FFA and the Junior Livestock Auction programs. Jim was also a political activist for the Republican Party. He once hired an airplane to fly over Bill Clinton’s press conference at McClellan Air Force Base with a banner that read “Impeach Clinton.” Let’s put it this way, it resulted in mixed reviews and a dubiously timed IRS audit.

Of all the passions that Jim had throughout his life, one predominantly captivated his whole being. The love for Antique Trucks. He was an avid antique truck owner and collector. The deep passion he had for scouting trucks from miles away was extraordinary. Anything from a logging truck, fire truck, to an army truck, he saw a piece of gold in every one of those antiques. “Surely someone could use this for something.” He would convince his family. The beauty he found in restoring these trucks created a passionate community and a family bond that is irreplaceable. Jim was a lifetime member of the Antique Truck Historical Society (ATHS). He actively purchased ATHS memberships for numerous truck enthusiasts. He donated multiple trucks to antique museums across our nation. Jim was an encyclopedia of antique trucks and he thoroughly enjoyed sharing his knowledge with as many people as he could. And of all the incredible trucks he completed; his most cherished restorations were the trucks he so tirelessly worked, day-in and day-out, to create the life he could have only dreamt of for his daughter and son.

We remember a man who lived every single day with purpose and passion and who had great love for his Auburn and Sierraville communities. He was a man of fearless devotion to his craft. A man that left his mark on many lives. A man whose legacy will live on forever. Jim is survived by his wife Carol, beloved dog George, stepfamily, daughter Kacie (Jace) grandson Lathan, niece Amy; his children Denny and Don (Linda) and grandchildren Heather, Hannah, Farrah (Mark), Dillon (Madison); and great grandchildren Coleman, Allie, Dane and Grant. Jim also now joins hands with his granddaughter Brittany in heaven.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Auburn Ridge Golf Course, 2020 Golf Course Rd. Auburn, CA.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Jim Dobbas to the Antique Truck Historical Society or Plumas-Sierra Junior 4-H & FFA Livestock Auction program, which he fondly supported each year. Antique Truck Historical Society 10380 N Ambassador Dr, Ste 101 Kansas City, MO 64153 PSJLA (4H and FFA) PO Box 1060 Loyalton, CA 96118

TO SHARE YOUR FAMILY NEWS: obituaries, birth and wedding announcements, contact the CAlifornia Cattlemen’s Association at (916) 444-0845 or e-mail magazine@calcattlemen.org