Student Crash Victim Remembered as Caring

A Mission Viejo woman who died in a car crash while on her third missionary trip to Mexico was remembered by friends and acquaintances Wednesday as a loving, caring and devout Christian.

Lisa T. Bebout, 24, was one of three who died in a head-on collision near Ensenada on Monday, San Diego authorities said. The other passengers were listed Tuesday in fair and serious conditions at a San Diego hospital.

Bebout was one of 500 students from small, nondenominational Westmont College in Santa Barbara County who were in Mexico during their spring break to do missionary work, said Ronald Cronk, vice president for finance and administration of the college.

For the past 11 years, students have gone to Mexico to help provide medical assistance, visit orphanages, conduct Bible studies and generally help the poor, Cronk said.

“I would describe her (Bebout) as perky, energetic, committed to Christ and serving him and helping other people.”

Bebout, a senior scheduled to graduate in May, was a starter on the women’s soccer team.

“She was a good player, a consistent team leader and was looked up to by her teammates because of the kind of person she was,” said Crystal Jordan, chairwoman of the physical education department. “She will be missed.”

In a paper, Bebout wrote that she most wanted to be remembered for her “Christian example of leadership and patience,” Jordan said.

“She was the most sweet person you can think of,” said Armandina Carrera, 21, a fellow student who worked at the bookstore with Bebout.

“It was the best way of dying,” Carrera said. “She had just celebrated Easter, and on Monday she was going out with her team to help out poor people--doing things she wanted to do and helping God. God decided to take her, and she’s probably jumping up and down because she’s so happy to be with God.”

Funeral services will be conducted Friday at Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano.