Carl E. Statler; Farmer, Candy Maker

Ventura resident Carl E. Statler, a farmer who enjoyed making candy canes, died Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 84.

Statler was born July 28, 1913, in Sedgewick, Ark. He was the only one of his brothers and sisters to graduate from high school, doing so at age 20.

He arrived in California in 1939 in the back of a Model A. He later moved to Arvin, near Bakersfield, where beginning in 1946 he farmed cotton, corn, peas and other crops before retiring in Ventura in 1971.

His daughter, Sharon Kaye Teberg of Exeter, Calif., described her father as a “humble, simple little guy” who enjoyed traveling to South Africa, Denmark, Scotland and England. He also enjoyed ballroom dancing and gardening.

“He was raised in the woods in Arkansas, and his father was a farmer and a merchant,” Teberg said of her father’s early career influences.

Teberg said a truck driver invited her father to a candy cane-making party 35 years ago, which prompted Statler to start his own holiday tradition.

In addition to Teberg, Statler is survived by his son, John, of Shaver Lake, Calif.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by Marie, his wife of 46 years.

Visitation is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

Services will be held in Walnut Ridge, Ark. Statler will be buried next to his wife at the Lawrence County Cemetery in Walnut Ridge.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.