Jeannette Fletcher, Wife of S&L; Founder, Dies at 83

Jeannette Fletcher, a member of a prominent San Diego family and wife of the late Home Federal Savings & Loan founder Charles Kimball Fletcher, died Sunday in her Del Mar home. She was 83.

“She was a very scholarly, well-read person of great complement to Charlie Fletcher’s life,” said Joseph W. Rosa, Heartland Savings & Loan president. Rosa worked with Charles Fletcher for more than 10 years as director and general manager of a savings and loan in Hawaii.

“She was dearly loved by everyone and Charlie’s most faithful and lifelong supporter,” Rosa said. “She was a private person and anyone who sought her advice knew that it would be kept confidential.”

Mrs. Fletcher was born in Wichita Falls, Tex., to Charles Edward and Josephine Toberman. She was the oldest of three children.

While she was still an infant, the family moved to Hollywood, where her father became a prominent developer, known as “Mr. Hollywood.”

Mrs. Fletcher graduated from Hollywood High School in 1921, and attended UC Berkeley and UCLA. She graduated in 1926 from USC, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

That same year she married Charles Fletcher. For several years, the couple lived in Los Angeles, where Charles Fletcher sold stocks and securities.

The couple moved to San Diego in 1934, and later that year, Charles Fletcher founded Home Federal Savings & Loan, now one of the nation’s largest savings and loans.

Their son, Kim Fletcher, who is now chairman of the board, said his mother traveled extensively with his father and was devoted to her family. She had been a member of The Thursday Club, a Point Loma-based women’s group, since 1935. The group participates in a variety of charities and social work.

Kim Fletcher said his mother also was a member of the San Diego Yacht Club.

The Fletchers lived in Hawaii off and on for 10 years after Charles Fletcher retired from Home Federal. Charles Fletcher became president and chairman of Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan Assn. in Hawaii. The couple then returned to Del Mar, where Charles Fletcher died in October, 1985, of cancer.

In addition to Kim, Mrs. Fletcher is survived by her son Peter, of Rancho Santa Fe; a daughter, Dale Lingenfelder of Solana Beach; a brother, Homer Toberman; 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 334 14th St., Del Mar. The Fletcher family suggests memorial contributions be sent to The San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club.