Elsie Caroline Lichau Henry

1911 - 2008

June 26, 1911 Oct. 16, 2008

Elsie Caroline Lichau Henry, age 97, of Oxnard, died Oct. 16, 2008, from natural causes. She was born June 26, 1911, in Sawtelle, Calif., to the union of Charles Fabian Lichau and Jessie Catherine Farrer. She was the youngest of three children.

Her family moved to Carpinteria when she was 3 years of age. In 1916, the Lichaus moved to the Lloyd-Butler Ranch near Saticoy. She attended grammar school at Del Norte then on to Oxnard Union High School and graduated in 1929. She was active in tennis, Girls' Athletic Association and basketball.

After graduation, she married L. Robert Henry. They had one son, Robert Eugene Henry. Elsie enjoyed traveling and took many vacations with her brother Ray and sister Eunice. They went to Hawaii, camping and trout fishing. She loved being in her garden, tending her roses and other flowers. Another joy was her Daschund "Fritz." She had two Fritzes, and they were pampered. She also visited Alaska and Europe.

Elsie loved having family and friends over for a barbecue or holiday celebrations. She will be missed.

After her divorce in 1947, Elsie was employed at NAS Point Mugu as a fiscal accounting clerk until her medical retirement in 1972.

In 1956, she married Tim M. Owens. They divorced in 1966.

She was very active in the Woman's Republican Party Organization of Ventura County, the Elks Auxiliary Club No. 115, where she made many friends, and bowled at Tournament Bowl in the "Powder Puff League."

She is preceded in death by her mother, Jessie C. Lichau; her father, Charles F. Lichau; son, Robert Eugene Henry; sister-in-law, Dorothy Lichau; sister, Eunice Covarrubias; brother-in-law, C. Mason Covarrubias; nephew, Thomas Byrom.

Elsie is survived by her brother, Charles Raymond Lichau of Ventura; grandsons, Robert E. Henry Jr. (Julie) of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Michael S. Henry of Ventura; granddaughter, Victoria C. Griffith of Oxnard; great-granddaughters, Jennifer Swenson, Heather Henry, Brittney Henry (all of Oklahoma City, Okla.); Taylor Griffith, Melanie Griffith both of Oxnard; great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth of Oklahoma City, Okla.; ex-daughter-in-law, Patsy Henry Eure; nephew, Charles M. Covarrubias (Emma) of Oxnard; niece, Jacqueline Byrom of Montalvo; and many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Arrangements are under the direction of James A. Reardon-Payton Mortuary, 511 North A St., Oxnard. 805-483-2233. Family and friends are invited to a graveside service at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. Pastor Ron Freeborn of Oxnard Church of the Nazarene will be officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Oxnard Elks Club, Charity Fund No. 1443.