Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Champness , Elwood December 13, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com December 27, 2005, 7:37 pm The Bakersfield Californian Champness, Elwood 1926 - 2005 Elwood Champness July 2, 1926 - December 13, 2005 Services: Sat., Dec. 17, 10:30 a.m. Visitation for Elwood Champness will be held at Basham Funeral Care (3312 Niles Street) on Friday, December 16, 2005 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Memorial services will be held at Riverlakes Community Church on Saturday morning, December 17, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. preceded by a private burial service. Elwood was born July 2, 1926 in Bakersfield, California and he passed away December 13, 2005. Born to Ed and Catherine Champness, he was the second of three children. He spent his early years growing up on the Digorgio farm learning to ride and Cowboyn during the summers for Tejon Ranch. His father served as Sheriff of Kern County from 1935-1938 and they were the last family to live in the old Kern County Jail. At sixteen, Elwood worked as firefighter and at seventeen, he joined the Navy during WWII where he also served as a firefighter. In 1950, Elwood met and married Ouida Carter, his wife of 55 years and together they had five children. Elwood dropped out of high school after his sophomore year and he went to work in order to help support his family during hard times. He acquired his GED shortly after his time in the Navy and went on to develop a thriving business that was to become Kern Steel Fabrication & Drill Cool Systems Incorporated. Elwood had a keen and inventive mind and he held several patents. He loved his family. He loved gathering together for holidays and birthdays and he was very proud of all his children. He loved riding horses and serving as a member of the Sheriff Posse as well as playing Gin with his friends. Elwood was a caring and honest man who came to know Jesus Christ the last 10 years of his life. His relationship with Christ changed him and gave him a great peace and assurance as he approached death. Elwood is preceded in death by his older brother, Eddie and his younger sister, Margaret. He is survived by his wife, Ouida Champness; son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Genevieve Champness; son and daughter-in-law, David and Karen Champness; daughter, Christine Champness; son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Carrie Champness; son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Kim Champness; 17 grandchildren; 1 great- grandchild; nieces, Lynn Roberts, April Kehoe, Melanie Downey and Kim Strong as well as other family members and friends. He was loved by all that knew him and he will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elwood's memory to the American Lung Association of Kern County or Riverlakes Community Church Building Fund. For additional service information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 873-8200. Basham Funeral Care Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian from 12/15/2005 - 12/17/2005. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased No other information available from submitter. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/c/champnes1296gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb