Newell Ray Phelps

1928 - 2009

Newell Ray Phelps, beloved father and grandfather, passed away Sunday, Dec. 20 after receiving injuries from a fall. He was 81 years old. Ray, as he was known to his friends, was a resident of Camarillo since 1965. He was outgoing, friendly, generous of spirit, and much loved by his family, friends, and his Baha'i Faith community.

He is survived by: son Paul, daughter-in-law Meg and grandchildren Cole and Emily of Santa Paula; son Scott, daughter-in-law Lisa and grandchildren Aidan and Ariel of Pasadena; and daughter Stacey, son-in-law Tom and grandchildren William, Gregory, and Allison of Lexington, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Marlin and Jack, and wife of 55 years Arthella Phelps.

Born in College Station (now Lincoln) Nebraska, he came to Southern California with his family in 1931 where he fell in love with surfing, spending many long hours catching waves on longboards; at age 13 he was surfing Santa Monica Bay when he learned of Pearl Harbor.

At age 15, too young to join the Navy like his big brothers he fibbed about his age to enter the Merchant Marines. He was later drafted into the Army during the Korean War where he served at the Port of Whittier near the Aleutian Islands. While in the Army he had the good fortune to hear the all-girl swing band "The Victory Sweethearts" at a USO event in Indianapolis, Indiana. The lead trumpeter, Arthella Louise Lust, immediately stole his heart; they were married in 1954 and settled in Southern California, living in Santa Monica and the Pacific Palisades.

In 1965, on a tip from a friend, he traveled to Camarillo to check out a new golf course, and returned home that day with a deed to a new house. When he broke the news of their new domicile to Arthella, she replied "be sure to write." However, Camarillo quickly became their home and they enjoyed that home for the rest of their lives. Their son Paul was born in 1958, Scott in 1963, and Stacey in 1964.

He was involved with the early development of applying computer code to enable business applications around Southern California. Additionally he moonlighted doing switch-service for the phone company, and driving a bread delivery truck. From the late '60s to 1991 he worked as a civil servant database administrator for the Navy at the Port Hueneme Sea Bee base.

In 1955, pulling graveyard shift with a friend, Ray heard about the Baha'i Faith, and immediately connected with its message of the Unity of Humanity. He and Arthella were active members of their Ventura County Baha'i community. They traveled on Baha'i pilgrimage to Haifa, Israel in 1986 and 2007.

Ray's enthusiasm for life was extraordinary. He was an avid, some might say rabid, golfer. Gin-rummy and bridge games with friends often became all-night marathons. He embraced any opportunity for a drive, the farther the better. He and Artie enjoyed music and dancing their whole lives.

To Ray, strangers were friends waiting to be made, regardless of their age, their background, or the color of their skin. He learned early in life what was important; material things were only important for the joy they brought to the spirit, and time and experiences with friends and family brought the greatest joy.

Friends of Newell Ray Phelps are welcome to attend services at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26, at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, with a reception following at the family home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, Memorial Park & Crematory, 2052 Howard Rd., Camarillo; 482-1959.