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Obituaries
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/Bakersfield
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Robert Bruce Montgomery 1920 - 2009 Robert Bruce (Bob) Montgomery, local
businessman and founder of Montgomery Drilling Co., died Saturday, October 31,
2009, in the presence of his family after a short illness. He was 89. Raised in
Bakersfield from birth, Bob spent his youth playing sports, hunting, fishing,
riding horses and re-building his own Model A. He attended Kern Union High
School and Bakersfield Junior College, transferring to Stanford University in
1939, where he was for a time a member of the team that went on to win the 1941
Rose Bowl. He and fellow Bakersfield native Don Hopper joined the Navy together
just before the outbreak of World War II in 1941, hoping to be assigned to a
warship. However, with his engineering background, Bob became the Lieutenant
Commander of the Naval Repair Base in San Diego. In this capacity, he
coordinated the maintenance and repairs of amphibious vehicles and their crews
for expeditious return to battle in the Pacific arena. When the war ended, he
returned to Stanford, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial
Engineering in 1947. He met Ruth Ann Greene while at Stanford, and kept in touch
with her during the war. In 1950, they were married in Calabasas, California in
the house used for the movie "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House". Immediately
after graduation he began his career in the oil business in the Los Angeles
basin, first with Atlantic Richfield, then with Howard Nelson Company and Pike
Drilling. In 1954, he returned to Bakersfield and co-founded Casey and
Montgomery Drilling Inc. with one drilling rig. He bought his partner out three
years later, and over the next two decades built Montgomery Drilling Co. into
the largest privately owned deep-well drilling company west of the Mississippi,
with 26 rigs drilling wells from California to the Alaskan North Slope, Canada,
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. One of his rigs broke the record for the
deepest well ever drilled offshore California. For a short time he drilled in
the North Sea. The success of the drilling business allowed him to help others
along the way, and he was instrumental in the success of other Bakersfield
entities such as Cates Trucking and B & B Surplus. He also helped further
the career of horse trainer Greg Ward, with whom he partnered in a training
operation south of Porterville. He had a passion for ranching and farming, and
he became a significant citrus farmer and cattle rancher in Tulare County. An
excellent golfer, he purchased and renovated River Island Country Club located
between Porterville and Springville, selling it to members after making it one
of the premier courses in the central San Joaquin Valley. An avid hunter, he
built a duck club in the Buttonwillow area. When the drilling industry all but
disappeared in the late 1980's, he turned to real estate development near the
golf course, and he and a partner formed Montgomery Ranch, a planned community
of one-acre home sites. He assumed control of the local Wendy's restaurant
franchise, Four Corners, Inc., and partnered with his son to make it a success.
It still operates four Wendy's restaurants in Santa Clarita, California. He is a
former director of both Stockdale and Bakersfield country clubs, past president
of the latter and a member of Valley and Birnam Wood Country Clubs in Montecito.
He was a founding director of San Joaquin Bank and served a year on the Grand
Jury. Other affiliations include the Jonathan Club, Balboa Bay Club, Rancheros
Visitadores, Petroleum Clubs of Los Angeles and Bakersfield, the Century Club,
the Stanford Buck Club and the Downtown Rotary Club. Along with his wife, Bob
was a generous supporter of many organizations, most notably the Assistance
League of Bakersfield, which his wife founded. He was a loyal Stanford alum and
created an endowed scholarship fund for undergraduates. The Montgomery home was
the venue for many fundraisers, the most memorable being for President Reagan
when he ran for his first presidential term. He will be remembered for his quick
wit, his business acumen, his integrity, and his passion to help those who have
the will to succeed. He lived his entire life according to a personal philosophy
of hard work, competence and perseverance, and shared this philosophy with his
children. He will be greatly missed. Preceding him in death was his brother
Wayne. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann, his sister Irene and three
children: daughter Melinda and husband Kurt Thomas, daughter Marilee and husband
Joe Green, son Robert Jr. and wife Rhonda. He took great pride in his nine
grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Nicholas, Kelley, Natalie, Jessica,
Michael, Amber, Thomas, Jess, Lisa, Audrey, Sarah and Michelle. The family is
grateful to Rachael Peralta, his driver, caregiver and friend; to Susan
Freilino, for her on-call medical help; to longtime bookkeeper Carol Holloway;
and to housekeeper Marty Barron. Heartfelt thanks to Tammy, Jessica, all the
caregivers at Interim Healthcare and Mercy Hospice, and a special thanks to
Monsignor Craig Harrison. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 6,
at 11:00 AM at St. Francis Church, 900 H St., Bakersfield. A private internment
will take place at the Bakersfield National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
donations in his name may be made to the Stanford Fund, 
George Vincent Strelich 1917 - 2009 Recitation of the Rosary and Funeral Mass
will be held Wednesday, September 30, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi
Church, 900 "H" Street, for George Vincent Strelich, who passed away peacefully
in Bakersfield surrounded by his family, on September 25, 2009. Viewing will be
held Tuesday, September 29, at Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara, 1100 Truxtun Avenue,
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. George was born in Bingham Canyon, Utah, to Anton and
Katherine Strelich. George's father owned a general grocery store at the time.
During his early years his mother took in boarders, and George and his brothers
stocked shelves in the store until they were old enough to work at Utah Copper
Mines. Over the years George shared rich stories of that rough but exciting time
toiling in the copper mines of Bingham Canyon. After high school, George met and
fell in love with his life's partner, Lucille Fassio, while a guest at a
housewarming party. It was one party he would never forget. With her parent's
permission, George and Lucille were married on December 17, 1939. A short time
later the couple moved to Bakersfield where they would eventually start their
family. George joined the Bakersfield Police Department in 1942, but soon after
was called to military service. George served in the U.S. Navy Sea Bees during
World War II while Lucille remained in Bakersfield. George returned from
military service and resumed his law enforcement career in 1945, working as a
forgery detective. After 32 years of distinguished service George retired from
the police force in 1974. George's brothers Steve, John, Mike and Tom also
pursued new beginnings in California. Steve and John opened Strelich Brothers
Conditioning Club while they continued to wrestle and box throughout the western
states. Later, Strelich Stadium opened in the winter of 1941 and became a
sought-after venue for professional wrestling and boxing. George enjoyed
participating with his brothers in the management of these locations and was
very proud of both family ventures. George and Lucille shared 68 wonderful years
together and were blessed with two adoring children. George valued his faith and
family above all else. He was a devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Church and later, Christ the King Church. George was also mindful of his
heritage. As a longtime member of the American Slavonic Social Club and the
Italian Heritage Dante Association, he enjoyed attending social events with
Lucille where his ancestry was celebrated. George enjoyed teaching the languages
of Italian and Croatian to the staff at Glenwood Gardens. George's kind and
gentle demeanor put everyone he met at ease. His deep, caring voice was matched
by his infectious smile and gracious personality. He was large in stature but a
gentleman with a kindhearted way about him. He loved nothing more than to spend
time with the people he cared about and share stories with family and friends.
Often that extended to the Elk's Lodge where George made daily visits to the
steam room to engage in lively conversation with his fellow Elks young and old.
George was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lucille; his parents and
brothers, Steve, John, Mike, Tony and Tom Strelich; and sisters, Ann Damjanovich
and Mary Kirkendall. George is survived by his children, Steve Strelich and wife
MaeLeslie; daughter, Tina and husband Tim Lewy; and grandsons, Tim Lewy and wife
Chris, Jasen Lewy and wife Melissa, and Stefan Strelich. George is also survived
by his great grandchildren, Michael, Grace and Matthew Lewy; and numerous loving
nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Tim Lewy, Jasen Lewy, Stefan Strelich,
Thomas Strelich, Charles Devers and Joseph Jannino. Honorary Pallbearers will be
Daryl Smith, Richard Lemucchi, Ronald Strelich, Anthony Strelich, Gary Anich,
Clyde Goodwin, Carl Fanucchi and Larry Fanucchi. Heartfelt thanks to Jackie and
Daryl Smith, Dean Hisey and the caregivers of Glenwood Gardens Assisted Living,
Colleen with Hoffmann Hospice, and Drs. Tommy Lee and Edward Nichols, Around the
Clock Care and Armida Lopez. George Strelich was an honorable man whose life was
a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, donations in George's memory may be made
to UCLA Department of Neurology, attention Jeff Bronstein, M.D., 710 Westwood
Plaza Suite A-153, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Donations should be made to UC
Regents, indicating 'Parkinson's Disease Research' on check.
Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara 