Arline Carol Lakes of Oxnard, California passed away on June 13th, 2021.
Arline was born April 3, 1932 in the small town of Owatonna, Minnesota to Cecil and Florence Franks and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Arline graduated from Murray High School in 1950.
Arline met her future husband George when he rented a room from her parents while attending Veterinary School at the University of Minnesota. They married on February 21, 1952. After George's graduation from the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1956, he secured a position in California. Pulling a U-Haul trailer behind their 1949 Packard, George, Arline, their daughter Kathy, and son George III, made the trip from St. Paul, Minnesota to Oxnard, California in July of 1956. They were blessed with two more children, Bob and Ron, who were born in Oxnard in 1957 and 1958, respectively.
As a stay-at-home mother, Arline was very involved in the lives of her children and always encouraged their interests with love, kindness, and compassion. Arline was a strong advocate for her children and often volunteered to support their interests, including serving as a den mother in Cub Scouts, attending Little League games, and watching from the bleachers during swimming lessons.
Arline also served an integral role at her husband’s veterinary practice as the bookkeeper and office manager.
Outside of raising her family, caring for others, and her faith, Arline had many hobbies. From an early age, Arline was passionate about horses; Arabians, Morgans, and especially the American Saddlebred. She owned several horses over the years, and continued to compete in horse shows through the 1990s.
Other interests kept Arline busy, as well. With the advent of home computing, she and George joined the Channel Islands Personal Computer Users Group where she held various positions. An appreciation of music, particularly the theater organ, had Arline and her husband participating as active members of both National and State Theater Organ Societies as well as several other local organ clubs. Arline also led the Santa Clara Bereavement group for many years.
Once both retired, Arline also enjoyed cross-country journeys, touring the United States by car with her husband, allowing them to visit their many friends and family along the way while collecting cherished memories.
Arline will be forever and lovingly remembered by her children and grandchildren: daughter Kathleen (Thomas) Friel and granddaughter Amanda Friel of Camarillo, CA; son George Lakes III of Oxnard, CA; son Robert (Alexis) Lakes of San Diego, CA and grandson Steven Lakes of San Diego, CA; and son Ronald (Consuelo) Lakes and granddaughter Daniela Lakes of Chalfont, PA.
A Catholic Mass will be held at Santa Clara Church (323 South E Street, Oxnard, CA) on August 12th at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Santa Clara Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to support progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) research through PSP & CBD Foundation, https://pspcbdfoundation.org/honor/ or 7961 Falling Creek Road, Bedford, VA 24523.