Mother Dies, Family Critically Hurt In Holiday Accident

The following article appeared on the front page of the Thursday, January 7, 1954 edition of “THE OJAI” which is now called the “Ojai Valley News”. It is reprinted here with their permission. The author is unknown. Photos have been added by the Ojai Valley Museum.

Mother Dies, Family Critically Hurt In Holiday Accident

Still on the critical list of Southland hospitals following a New Year’s Day accident which killed Mrs. Jewell T. Mashburn, 49, Ojai, are four members of her family, her son Harold, 28, his wife, Arlou, 23, and their two children, Thomas [“Thomas” is a first name, but the boy goes by his middle name, “Drew”], two, and Michael [“Michael” is incorrect;  “Mitchell’ or “Mitch” should have been used], seven months.

The head-on collision occurred on Highway 101 at Malibu when the Mashburn car traveling south struck another car going north driven by Robert Jenning, 74, Sierra Madre, which swerved across the highway into the path of the Mashburn car. The Jenning car apparently swerved to miss hitting another car which had suddenly stopped in front of it. Both Jenning and his wife were uninjured.

Mrs. Mashburn, wife of Ojai real estate broker Clyde Mashburn, was killed instantly while the family was taken to Santa Monica hospital for treatment. The Mashburn’s were enroute to visit Mrs. Mashburn’s niece in Los Angeles.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Mashburn at the Loma Vista chapel of the Mayr funeral home.

Born Sept. 17, 1904, in Pleasant Hope, Mo., she had been a resident of Ventura County for 25 years. Besides her husband, Clyde, she is survived by her son, Harold of Ojai; a daughter, Mrs. Betty Jean Loomis, Ojai; three brothers, Charles Teeters of Ivanhoe; Glenn Teeters of Lynwood, and Fred Teeters of Ojai; three sisters, Mrs. Nora Voris and Mrs. Verda Barton, Ivanhoe, and Mrs. Willa Buckner of Santa Paula; her father, Thomas Teeters, Ivanhoe; and two grandchildren.

Rev. Emmett Parks officiated at the services. Burial followed in Ivy Lawn cemetery.

FROM LEFT to RIGHT: Drew, Jewell, Mitch and Harold Mashburn at Jewell's (Harold's mother) S. Lomita Avenue home in Meiners Oaks. This photo was taken on the morning of New Year's Day 1954.
FROM LEFT to RIGHT: Drew, Jewell, Mitch and Harold Mashburn at Jewell’s (Harold’s mother) S. Lomita Avenue home in Meiners Oaks. This photo was taken on the morning of New Year’s Day 1954.
FROM LEFT to RIGHT: Drew, Jewell, Mitch and Arlou Mashburn sitting on the front porch of Jewell's S. Lomita Avenue home in Meiners Oaks on the morning of January 1, 1954.
FROM LEFT to RIGHT: Drew, Jewell, Mitch and Arlou Mashburn sitting on the front porch of Jewell’s S. Lomita Avenue home in Meiners Oaks on the morning of January 1, 1954.
Clyde Mashburn and his daughter-in-law, Arlou Mashburn, months after the horrific automobile accident. Notice Arlou is using crutches. This photo was taken just days after Arlou was released from the hospital. Photo taken at Clyde's S. Lomita Avenue home in Meiners Oaks in 1954 or 1955.
Clyde Mashburn and his daughter-in-law, Arlou Mashburn, months after the horrific automobile accident. Notice Arlou is using crutches. This photo was taken just days after Arlou was released from the hospital. Photo taken at Clyde’s S. Lomita Avenue home in Meiners Oaks in 1954 or 1955.

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