Marijane Stufflebeam Rinehart, 71

Marijane Stufflebeam Rinehart, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Sunday, January 15. She was 71. Born in Iowa City, Iowa on December 23, 1934, she moved to Southern California when she was 3 years old. She grew up in Santa Monica until she was 8 when her family moved to Pacific Palisades. She attended Palisades Elementary, Emerson Junior High, and University High schools. She was active in the music department at UniHi, starring in the musical production of “H.M.S. Pinafore.” After graduating from high school, she worked for Santa Monica Bank in the Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades branches. She also worked at McDonnell/Douglas. Rinehart was a charter member of the youth group at Calvary Church of Pacific Palisades. It was there that she met the love of her life, Ted, whom she married on November 6, 1955 in Santa Monica. She also served as the organist at Calvary Church for 50 years. She stayed home to raise her children, but returned to work in 1981, and was highly respected as the receptionist for three Pacific Palisades orthodontists. In 1996, she relocated to Thousand Oaks, where she then became the “voice” of DCH Saturn of Thousand Oaks and the Bunnin Saturn of Thousand Oaks until August 2005. Her greatest loves were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as her music. She loved to play her piano and organ, especially when she was alone in her home. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Donald Smith, grandson Tyler Rinehart of Ventura; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Connie Rinehart, granddaughter Jenessa Rinehart, and grandson Dallas Rinehart of Newbury Park. She is also survived by her step-daughter, Pamela Austin, and her children, Rafiel Duncan, Bradley Duncan, Eric Duncan, Lindsey and Shawn Pitsch, and Dane Austin; and great-grandchildren, DarCee Duncan, Shandy Duncan, Cheylynne Pitsch, Kallista Austin, Joshua Duncan, Neeley Pitsch, and Aiden Pitsch; and her brother, Richard Stufflebeam. She was preceded in death by her parents, R. Paul Stufflebeam and Velma Myers Stufflebeam; her husband of 25 years, Theodore B. Rinehart, and her great-grandson, Colten Riley Pitsch. Marijane had a loving heart and a quiet spirit. If you had the chance to meet her, you knew you had met a remarkable woman. She will be missed by all. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, 101 E. Wilbur Rd., Thousand Oaks. Encryptment will be private. A service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, January 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Newbury Park First Christian Church, located at 801 Knollwood Drive.