While clearing brush on their Felton property, a family has uncovered the headstone of an infant named Bobbie Lee Rice. They contacted me via my local history blog and have asked for my help to try and locate the family. After assuring them of complete anonymity, they have given me permission to post a photo of the headstone with the hope that someone out there can help us solve the mystery of little Bobbie Lee, born Oct. 21, 1930, died Dec. 1st, same year.
Headstone uncovered in Felton.
Felton Homes and History 
Vicki –
This is so amazing! You have hit the History Jackpot!!!! Top of the heap local blogging- congratulations!!.
I’m sure you realize, you can use your contacts (or John’s) at your favorite title company and title officer. He can do a chain of title and find out who owned the property 12/1930 and you can take it from there. Get a copy of the Grant Deed – perhaps the prior owner o& the successor after Rice//….at least you have three names to research.
This could be like a 1920’s serial film, if the owners allow it, periodic updates would be so great!!! So fun….
R
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Hey Ronnie, thanks for you wonderful words of support! Since I’ve promised the property owners 100% confidentiality, I’ll be doing my own research for now. Work has been crazy busy, which I’m VERY grateful for, but when I have a bit more time…It is a very exciting story to work on!
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Wow, what a story!!! I I would suggest researching the title in 1930 and see where it leads. What a great story, I can’t wait to hear how it unfolds! Please keep us updated as things develop.
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Yes, isn’t this an exciting story? I intend to research the title, census, local directories, etc. here and there as I have time. I’m also hoping readers might be able to help and I’ve asked the Press Banner if they’d like to do an article about it to see if their readers can help. Will definitely keep you posted! One of the early owners of Felton Grove Auto Camp in 1922 was a David Rice. Randall’s checking to see if he has the wife’s name. It’s possible there could be a connection.
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The California birth index shows a Robert L Rice, born 21 Oct 1930, in Ventura County. Mother’s maiden name, Hatcher.
California Death index also shows a Robert L Rice, born about 1930, deceased 1 Dec 1930 (age 1/12), also in Ventura County.
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The State file number listed in the death index is 68702
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Thank you Duane!
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thanks duane.
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Duane, thank you so very much for helping us solve the mystery! We are very grateful to know who this child was. Now we’ll be left wondering how little Roberts headstone came to be in Felton. Again, thank you!
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I’m wondering… is it possible the body was buried there. That would explain why the headstone is there.
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thanks duane.
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On Ancestry.com I found the birth record for Robert Lee Rice born 21 Oct 1930 and his mother’s maiden name is Hatcher. He was born in Ventura County. I’d like to add his photo to Findagrave.com if it is okay with you? I could start chasing the mother if you want? I love a mystery. Sorry I was a little late to the game only got wind of this article late last night.
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thanks sheryl.
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I’ve been in contact with the people at the Ventura County Genealogical Society and received the following email from them yesterday. I will continue to pass on any other information that comes my way.
Duane
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This is an update…I have a number of folks working on this mystery, but don’t have any definite answer yet.
We have found that Bobbie Lee and his father, Claude do have plots at Nordoff Cemetery in Ojai. I don’t live near Ojai, so would need to send someone out there to check to see if there is a stone for Bobbie there currently.
It sure is a mystery as to why the stone is in Felton…We believe that the mom and dad split up pretty soon after Bobbie died. So, the question is whether the mom moved north and took the remains with her. She was part of the Ventura County Hatcher family, so one wonders why she would have gone north after the split up of her marriage. I believe she died before 1934…so she was pretty young when she passed away.
Everything in this e-mail is speculation…no proof yet. But, I thought I’d let you know what we have found up to now.
When we find some more definite answers, I’ll let you know. If there is no stone in Nordoff for Bobbie, then it might be appropriate to return it there.
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thanks duane.
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Another update from the Ventura County Genealogical Society.
I’ve also ordered a copy of the death certificate.
Duane
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I went to Ojai over the weekend and have located the father’s grave. There is an enclosure next to his grave that is unmarked. It would be easy/tempting to conclude that it’s Bobbie’s grave, but we have no idea if it’s accurate. If you do get the death certificate, I’d be interested to know what it contains.
One of our members has located a woman in Sacramento who is related to the Ventura County Hatchers (Bobbie’s mother). She and her 97 year old mother believe that it is Bobbie Lee’s marker. The mother says that she used to visit the grave and that a few years ago it was vandalized. Claude “Jiggy” Rice and his wife Lucinda “Cin” were divorced early on (they were both very young when they got married and had Bobbie). They tell me that Cin remarried and passed away in 2007. She and her second husband were cremated and their ashes were spread over the desert. From what I understand, Bobbie Lee was her only child. I haven’t been able to find out if Claude ever remarried.
I’m attaching a photo of Claude’s marker and one showing the unmarked area next to Claude’s. Claude’s marker is to the right of the fenced enclosure. There is an empty area to the right of Claude’s marker, too. That might be Bobbie’s. We need to gather more information.
If I am able to fill in more details, I’ll be in touch.
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Another update from the Ventura County Genealogical Society.
I should have a copy of the death certificate in hand within a few days. It should show what was done with the body. If he was indeed buried in Nordhoff the headstone should be returned there.
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I think we have pretty much solved the issue of the headstone. The friend who went with my husband and I to Nordhoff cemetery was taking to a friend who grew up in Ojai. She kind of incidentally mentioned the headstone mystery. This woman said that Bobbie Lee’s father was a friend of her grandmothers. Yes, Bobbie Lee was buried in Nordhoff!
I can do a bit more searching if you would be more comfortable with more “official” records.
Now, if you are satisfied with the answers we’ve found, we need to figure out how to return the headstone to Nordoff.
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I have obtained a copy of Bobbie Lee’s Death Certificate.
It shows he was indeed buried in the Ojai Cemetery on December 3, 1930.
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thanks duane.
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Another update from the Ventura County Genealogical Society.
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We have pieced together a bit more of the story. I have a friend who lives in Ojai. She went to the Historical Society. The man there says that unfortunately, there has been lots of vandalism, with headstones being stolen. Apparently the photo I sent you of the fenced enclosure is that of Bobbie Lee
I have not communicated with him yet but there is a cousin to Bobbie Lee Rice in Ojai. I’ll try to see if I can communicate with him. Bobbie’s aunt (age 97) apparently also still lives in Ojai.
From those clues, I would say that the headstone you have probably belongs in Ojai/Nordhoff.
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Well thanks to Vickie and Duane’s efforts I was able to bring the headstone back to where it belongs on Feb. 8th. It was quite a journey that day, 725 miles in all. When we first discovered the headstone I couldn’t believe it at first. I thought possibly there was a body burried there. When I found out no, that it belonged in Oaji CA it became my mission to return it where it belongs. It’s quite a mystery as to how it traveled up the coast 300 miles & landed on my property. Needless to say the family is very appreciative that I returned the headstone. We placed flowers at Bobbie’s grave and his fathers as well. My mission is complete and my heart has been warmed. Respectfully Joanne Lunardi
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This was a story that touched the hearts of so many people. Without the deep caring and emotional pull that Joanne had to find the final resting place of little Bobbie Lee, and Duane’s willingness to take on the challenge and solve the mystery, we may never have known where the newborn child’s headstone belonged. Also a big thank you to the Press Banner for the story they wrote after the initial request for help came through my blogs: feltongrove.com and feltonhomesandhistory,com. A heart warming life experience I never guessed I’d be a part of.
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