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MARGERY D. CRUZ
Aug. 27, 1932 – Jan. 13, 2020
D Cruz obit pic
Retired Finance Director, City of Oakdale Margery Digby Cruz 87, of Oakdale, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2020.
“Marge” was born in St. Louis, MO, on August 27, 1932. She then spent most of her childhood years in New Orleans, LA. As a young adult, she moved with her family to California’s Bay Area and graduated from Hayward High School in 1950 and worked at her father’s accounting firm. She raised her family in Fremont before moving to Oakdale where she continued to live an active life for the last 46 years. Her stay in Oakdale was interrupted for seven years when she moved to Farmington and learned “the art” of becoming a walnut rancher.
Marge was the Finance Director for the City of Riverbank before joining Oakdale as their Finance Director where she retired in 1998. During her tenure, she also served two terms as the Treasurer of the City of Oakdale.
As a tremendous supporter of the community, she was a member of several organizations such as; the International Order of Job’s Daughters, Wives of Hayward Police Officers Association, Soroptimist International of Oakdale (53-year member), Oakdale High Booster Club, Horseless Carriage Club of the Bay Area & Modesto, Southern California Model T’s, numerous RV clubs, Oakdale’s Women’s Book Club and was a devoted member of the Farmington United Methodist Church.
She also supported many charities such as; Operation Finally Home, Lab Rescue, and The U.S. Olympics to name a few. She and her husband Harold also started Zylstra Farms where they grew and harvested Pomegranates. They were proud of producing this healthy fruit and the fun it generated. Her goal was to simply make the world a better place for all.
She was preceded in death by her Father, Ralph Digby, Mother, Jane Digby, Brother, David Digby and Husband, Richard Cruz. She is survived by her Husband, Harold L. Zylstra, her Brother, Robert Digby (Arizona), and her children; Richard and Lizanne Cruz, (Roseville) Vernon Cruz (Roseville) Cathy Cruz-Adkins (Reno, NV), Greg Watts (San Diego), Valerie Siebler (Clifton, CO), Kristin and Darren Hill (Fresno) and 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren. Marge is also survived by Harold’s children; Carrie and Tony Chiappe (Farmington), Tim and Michelle Zylstra (Linden), Denise and Tim Wall (Escalon) and nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2020, at the Oakdale Riverbank Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Soroptimist International of Oakdale or Farmington United Methodist Church.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Jan. 22, 2020