WOOSTER “ Jeffrey W. Araluce, 58, of Wooster passed away peacefully from complications of end-stage renal failure on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Akron General Medical Center.
Jeffrey Williams Araluce was born July 23, 1953 in Santa Barbara, California to Julio and Marilyn A. Williams-Araluce.
He was a native Californian and grew up in the Santa Barbara and Goleta California areas and had lived
in the Los Angeles area for over 25 years where he met his life-partner Charles Lemon in April of 1995.
Jeff and Charles shared their love in a commitment ceremony Nov. 16, 1996 at Hollywood Methodist
Church. Jeff and Charles moved to Wooster in July of 2003 to help with Charles’s mother Mary.
Jeff was a 1971 graduate of Dos Pueblo High School in Goleta, California. At a young age, Jeff began an
appreciation of classical music. During his high school years he became involved with the high school
band and played the clarinet, which gave him the opportunity to perform with the All American High
School Band in his youth. He was also an avid recorder player.
Later in his young adult life, he had studied voice with French baritone opera singer Martial Singher. Jeff
had performed as a tenor in music competitions with the Metropolitan Opera, Montreal International
Competition and the Victor Fuchs Competition in the early 1980’s. He was also an alumnus of The Music
Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, had performed with the Long Beach Opera in Long
Beach, California and had been a featured tenor vocalist on numerous recording that were composed
and conducted by Dr. Nick Strimple and has provided back-up vocals for many famous artists during his
music career.
Prior to moving to Wooster, Jeff had been on the music staff at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church for 21
years as a solo tenor in Beverly Hills, Calif. He had worked for the All Star Temp Agency in Beverly Hills,
Calif., for six years as an accounting/payroll manager and he had previously been Associate Music
Director and Choir Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster. Jeff was an avid listener of
Classical music and a wealth of classical musical knowledge which he loved to share. He also enjoyed
composing music, some of which had been performed locally in Wooster by the Westminster
Presbyterian Church choir and The Cantate Singers. He also enjoyed providing voice lessons when
possible. One of his great enjoyments was his three dogs Winston, Winnie and William and looking and
tending to his and Charles’s rose garden during the summer months. He also loved visiting every day
the ladies at Friendtique and browsing through the merchandise for a great find.
Jeff is survived by his life-partner of 17 years Charles J. Lemon, Jr. of Wooster; two sisters and a brother-
in-law, Gail Johnson of Davis, Calif., Elizabeth and Joe Mason of Goleta, Calif.; two nephews Matt
Johnson of Sacramento, Calif. and Nick Johnson of Davis, Calif.; a niece Janina Mason of Goleta, Calif.;
his extended adopted family; Mary Lemon of Wooster; Mike and Susan Mars-Lemon of Wooster; Raven
Phillips of Canton, 9 nephews and nieces and their spouses, Matt{Kim) Clarke, Sherry Clarke-Kopp,
Nathan (Jennifer) Lemon, Jessica Culp, Jonathan{Katie Millwood) Culp, Michelle (Joe) Harawasicz, Valerie
Lemon, Jason Phillips and Brent (Rebecca) Phillips; the 19 great nephews and nieces that called him
Uncle Jeff; a great-great nephew and a great-great niece due in June.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandparents Abel and Maria Olaquez- Araluce
and maternal grandparents Noel and Merle Edwards-Williams.
Friends will be received at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster on Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 6-8:00 p.m.
Services will be held Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Andries Coetzee officiating. Burial will follow in the Newkirk Cemetery, Shreve.
Memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home to help defray funeral expenses.

Memorial Contributions
To the funeral home to help defray expenses

Service
Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home

Visitation
Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 6-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home