Roberta "Bobbie" Ochoa, a lifelong Woodland resident and volunteer who was a driving force for many groups and events, died Jan. 9 of complications from a leg injury, her family said. She was 81.
Mrs. Ochoa supported almost every area of civic life. She chaired the local blood drive. She planted and cared for roses at the public library.
She worked behind the welcome desk at the senior center, volunteered with Girl Scouts and school activities, and helped organize community events.
She put in almost 20,000 hours as a Woodland Hospital Auxiliary volunteer for 51 years. She was an active member of Woodland Friends of the Library and the Heidrick Ag History Museum. She was a docent for the Woodland Opera House, the annual Rose Garden Tour and the Stroll through History and Dickens in the Valley events.
"She wanted to give back, and she had very strong feelings about it," said her daughter Melanie Goddard. "She loved living here."
Mrs. Ochoa was born to walnut farmers Marjorie and Robert Lamborn in Woodland in 1930. She graduated from Woodland High School in 1948 and was a clerk for the state Department of Employment Development for 25 years.
She had two daughters during a 25-year marriage to Louis Ochoa that ended in divorce. An avid gardener, she planted almost 400 rose bushes at her home.
Mrs. Ochoa was honored with a 2004 City of Woodland Community Service Award and a 2010 Outstanding Volunteer award from the Woodland Community and Senior Center.
Besides Goddard, survivors include another daughter, Marsha; a sister, Penelope Fiedler; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A service was held Jan. 20. Donations in memory of Mrs. Ochoa may be made to the Woodland Health Care Auxiliary, 1235 Cottonwood St., Woodland, CA 95695.
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