Elizabeth Staben; Area Pioneer Descendant

Elizabeth “Betty” Staben, a homemaker and descendant of a pioneer family, has died after a lengthy illness. She was 72.

Staben, who died Wednesday, was born Dec. 14, 1927, in Oxnard to Hon and Katie Diedrich. Her relatives were among the earliest settlers of the Oxnard Plains, and she grew up at the ranch where her father was born in 1884. It had been purchased by her grandfather, Johnas, two years earlier, 11 years before Oxnard became incorporated.

Her other grandfather, Joe Sailer, was superintendent of the Oxnard Bros.’ American Beet Sugar Co. and was the city’s third mayor from 1910 to 1920. As mayor, Sailer helped design Oxnard’s water system.

Staben graduated from Santa Clara High School, then attended Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood.

In 1948, she married Frank Staben of Santa Paula. They settled in the Santa Rosa Valley, where they raised their family and where Frank still lives.

Elizabeth Staben enjoyed spending hours in her garden and creating egg artistry designs, which often were displayed at libraries and California Egg Artistry shows. She worked primarily with ostrich and goose eggs because of their size. Some eggs were filled with colorful carousels and horses or mechanical butterflies, others had electric lights and several played music. She did not sell these creations but gave them to friends and relatives.

Staben liked sports, especially tennis. She was a member of Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo and of the Pleasant Valley Historical Society, where she recently became a dona.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years; four sons, Frank Jr. of Camarillo, Jack of Santa Maria, and Tom and Roger of Camarillo; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A Mass will be said today at 10 a.m. at Padre Serra Catholic Church in Camarillo.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Pleasant Valley Historical Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard.