Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Wooner, Orval Loyd  January 2005
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 12, 2005, 5:03 pm

The Bakersfield Californian 
Orval Loyd Wooner
Services: Thurs., Jan. 13, 10 a.m.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., at 
Northminister Presbyterian Church. Visitation will also be held on Wednesday, 
January 12, 2005, from 4-8 p.m. at Hillcrest Mortuary. 

Orval Loyd Wooner was born on March 11, 1932 to William and Ora Wooner, the 
youngest of eight children, in Letcher, South Dakota.

In 1937 Orval moved with his family to Gridley, California. He graduated from 
Gridley Union High School in 1950. Shortly afterward he enlisted in the United 
States Coast Guard and was sent to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, 
Connecticut. There he met his wife to be, Cynthia Ann Karsmarski, on a blind 
date. Cynthia was from Meriden, Connecticut and Orval hitch-hiked many 
weekends to her family home in Meriden to spend time with her and her family. 
Orval and Cynthia were married on July 14, 1951. Three months later he was 
sent overseas to Korea. After an Honorable Discharge from the Coast Guard 
Orval and Cynthia moved to California. There Orval attended college under the 
G.I. Bill and Cynthia also attended college and they were in many classes 
together.

Orval received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the 
University of California, Long Beach.

A year later their daughter, Aurora Ann was born in December 1960, and their 
son, John Karl was born in December 1961.

Orval worked in Law Enforcement for the cities of Montebello, Huntington 
Beach, and Orange, California. He also was a substitute teacher in junior high 
school and taught Criminal Justice at Oceanside, Orange Coast and Long Beach 
City Colleges. In 1966 Orval accepted a position as Public Safety Advisor with 
the United States Dept. of State, USAID/OPS and served in Vietnam and Bengla 
Dash (East Pakistan). Among his numerous awards was the South Vietnam Medal of 
Honor, both 1st and 2nd class.

In 1971 Orval and Cynthia celebrated their 20th Wedding Anniversary by touring 
Europe and the Orient. Along with their children they visited England, Italy, 
Denmark, Sweden, Japan and many other countries. After returning to this 
country, Orval accepted the Chief of Police position in Arvin and the family 
moved to Arvin in 1972. After a few months Orval became the first City Manager 
of Arvin. During his 14 years there, Orval wrote and administered more than 
$20 million in grants and established the Pers State Retirement System for 
city employees. He improved and built up Arvin in many ways, creating a City 
of Industry which brought in many new businesses, was responsible for building 
many new homes, built a City Hall, a new Police Department and the list is 
endless. In 1933 Orval retired from the city of Arvin and Cynthia retired from 
the County of Kern. In 1998 they moved to Bakersfield to be near their 
children and grandchildren.

Left to mourn his loss are his wife, Cynthia; daughter and son-in-law, Aurora 
and Mark Roomsburg; son and daughter-in-law, John and Jennifer Wooner; four 
grandchildren, John Wooner, Corinna Wooner, Alexander Wooner and Olivia 
Wooner. 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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