Family, Teammates Mourn Boy’s Death

About 600 people turned out Thursday to pay their last respects to a 10-year-old Ojai boy who was killed this week after being hit by a truck while riding his bicycle.

David Michael Utter, a Miramonte School fourth-grader and third baseman for his Little League baseball team, was buried Thursday at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura after an emotional service at the Oak View Little League field.

“It was a real good celebration of a short life well lived,” said the Rev. John Huffman of the South Coast Fellowship in Ventura.

David’s Yankee teammates, donning their uniforms, lined up at third base to release gold balloons in the team’s color.

Standing at attention throughout the service were SWAT team members from the Ventura Police Department, where David’s father, Glenn Utter, is a detective and SWAT member. David’s stepmother, Wenona, is also an officer with the Ventura Police Department.

“It’s just tragic,” said Police Chief Richard Thomas, who attended the afternoon service. “A lot of us have children that age or had kids that age and you think that could have happened to any of our kids. We all grieve with [Glenn Utter].”

The service was held at the Oak View baseball field because David “just loved the game of baseball and played it well and played it with all his heart,” said Hugh Thomson, David’s Little League coach. “I think that is the way we will remember him. He was a special boy. It’s hard to lose someone like that. The kids are dealing with it, but it is tough. It’s hard for everyone here.”

Standing at the third base box in honor of the third baseman, eulogies were said by Glenn Utter, Ventura Police Officer Jim Deck, Miramonte Principal Lawrence Hartmann, Thomson and Huffman.

David was born Dec. 11, 1985, in Thousand Oaks and lived in Ojai since his birth. He was hit by a truck Sunday while riding his bicycle a few blocks from his Cruzero Street home.

He is survived by his mother, Lisa Conley of Ojai; his brother, Greg Utter of Ojai; his father and stepmother, Glenn and Wenona Utter of Ventura; stepsister Erika Orin of Ventura; grandparents Bill and Susan Conley of Ojai and Jim and Clema Utter of Ventura; and numerous aunts, uncles and other relatives.

Memorial donations may be made to the Oak View Little League.