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- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=81&GSmcid=46988653&GRid=52350393&
15 April 1940 census of Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA, found the Miller family living at 125 Grant Street. Ralph said that he lived in Watsonville, CA, on 15 April 1935. Nettie said that she lived in Sedan, Chautauquas County, KS, on 15 April 1935:
Ralph Miller 24 AR - 7 years of education, Truck driver - WPA Commodity, Earned $550 in past year
Nettie Miller 18 OK - Completed 3 years of high school education
Judith Miller 3/12 CA
The 1940 City Directory of Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, found Ralph and Nettie Miller living at Route 3 Box 274.
The 1943 edition of Polk's City Directory of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, found Ralph and Nettie Miller living at 175 1/2 North 7th. Ralph showed his employment as a driver.
The 1947 edition of Polk's City Directory for Fresno, Fresno County, CA, listed Ralph P. and Nettie J. Miller living at 149 Fulton. Ralph said that he was employed as a driver for the F. N. Rumbley Company.
In 1957, while in her first year at Chapman College, Nettie was hired by the Orange Council of Churches to oversee the Latin American Center in West Orange, Santa Ana County, CA. She later changed its name to the Friendly Center. This was her first paid job as an adult, earning $20 per month.
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Obituary - Nettie Jane Miller Belk
Nettie Jane Miller Belk passed away at age 88 on Friday, March 12, 2010. She was born November 4, 1921, on the Osage Indian Reservation in Nelagoney, Oklahoma, the eleventh child of Elmore and Nancy (Sterling) Lounsbury, both from Kansas. Her family returned to Kansas and then migrated to California in 1935, when Nettie was 14.
Nettie was living in Visalia, CA, when the sudden death of her husband, Ralph Miller, left her a widow at age 34. While attending a church camp with her children the following summer, the church minister and others convinced her to pursue a degree at Chapman University.
Nettie ran a small Latin American Community Center in Orange, CA, for two years before becoming a probation officer in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. She was one of the shortest probation officers ever hired, at only 4' 11" tall, but she was very successful. No riots. No runaways. Afterwards, she served six years in Child Welfare and Adoptions for the State of Arizona (where she also served as an under sheriff) before returning to Chapman University to finish her education.
With her degree in hand, Nettie was employed as a San Diego County probation officer in a girl's school (now a women's prison). While living in San Diego, she met and married Ernest Belk, a US Navy Chief serving aboard the same ship as her nephew, a navy officer. Although she swore that her daughter and others gave her a "shotgun" wedding, her marriage to Ernest lasted 32 "wonderful, fun-filled" years before his death in 1999. Over many of those years, she followed his ship to various ports around the world including Canada, Panama, Hong Kong and Korea. The final three years of his US Navy service were spent in Hawaii, which they enjoyed immensely.
Nettie was always active in community work wherever she lived. She worked for her church and helped build a school for Indians in Panama. She even taught catechism at Oceano's little Catholic church, even though she was protestant. She served on eleven different committees in Oceano, where she was much loved and admired. She also served four years as the chaplain of the Southwest Regional Gold Star Wives.
Nettie is survived by her daughter Mrs. Stan (Judy) Tenopir in San Jose, CA; son Michael Miller and wife Sharon in Honolulu, Hawaii; five grandchildren including Mrs. Kevin (Michelle) Roberts in Los Gatos, CA; Catherine Miller in Concord, CA; Mrs. Michael (Dianna) Lewis in Germany; Mrs. Michael (Jane) Vargas in San Diego, CA; and Mrs. Gloria Cox in Brentwood, CA; and eight great-grandchildren including Christopher, Chase and Courtney Roberts in Los Gatos, CA; Jason and Kevin Dhuyvetter in Vacaville, CA; Christopher Lewis in Germany; and Jacob and Ryan Cox in Brentwood, CA. She is also survived by Bill and Sherwin Senna of Oceano, long-time friends who were like a brother and sister to her and her late husband Ernest.
In keeping with her personal motto, "To love people is the greatest adventure in life", Nettie loved life and people, especially young people, including her many beloved nieces and nephews around the world and her "adopted" children in the Oceano area, who she loved greatly - Rick, Linda and Roberta.
Arrangements by Lady Family Mortuary & Crematory of Arroyo Grande. Services will be held at a later date. Lady Family Mortuary 489-4717 Arroyo Grande
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Nettie Jane Lounsbury Miller Belk
Please join with us to celebrate the life of Nettie Jane Lounsbury Miller Belk, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, 2010, at a place near and dear to her heart, the Oceano Depot and Community Center in Oceano. More information about the Oceano Depot, including a map, can be found at www.OceanoDepot.org.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Oceano Depot, P.O. Box 535, Oceano, CA 93475.
The Tribune Wednesday, May 5, 2010 (SanLuisObispo.com)
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At her request, half of Nettie's ashes were buried with her late husband Ralph Miller (under headstone) on 11 May 2010 in Section A Block 67 Grave 36 at Visalia Public Cemetery, 1300 W. Goshen Avenue, Visalia, Tulare County, CA.
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