Ensuring ‘Tomorrow’ for Orangewood Home

The sun’ll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow--there’ll be sun!

--Martin Charnin, “Annie”

If the Orangewood Foundation has its way, the sun’ll come out tomorrow for abused and neglected children and keep coming out in years to come.

“Helping build Orangewood Children’s Home was the first phase of the foundation’s work,” said Gen. William Lyon during an “Annie”-themed supper Sunday at his and wife Willa Dean’s new Coto de Caza mansion (where they entertained President Reagan and the First Lady two weeks ago).

“But now, the foundation is beginning to help young people who are ready to leave the home. We’re presenting scholarships and supplying support for foster parents.”

The highlight of the Orangewood Foundation’s annual fund-raising efforts is its elegant Orange Blossom Ball, set for June 11 at the Irvine Hilton & Towers.

As chairwoman of ball underwriters, Willa Dean Lyon chose to stage the supper party so that about 125 guests could enjoy the mansion’s Tara-like ambiance, wander through her husband’s Classic Automobile Museum, dine on Cajun fare by the pool, and then bid on ball underwriting opportunities. The event raised $100,000.

“This is one of our favorite charities,” said Willa Dean, welcoming guests along with her husband in the home’s vast foyer. “We became involved in the ‘60s when we had a daughter who was a cadet on the Anaheim Police Department and did volunteer work at the home (formerly the Albert Sitton Home).

“We learned about the needs of many of the children and that really gave us the incentive to become involved.”

Mint juleps awaited guests after they were received by the Lyons and ball chairwoman Kathryn Thompson and her escort, Gus Owen.

As guests entered the home through carved, white doors, they walked over white-marble portals onto oak floors as they passed the formal dining room, on the left, and the living room, on the right, and arrived at twin-glass cases that, besides holding Willa Dean’s Lalique crystal collection, separate the front and back entrance halls.

Beyond the glass partitions they saw the general’s claret study--with its claret marble fireplace--and Willa Dean’s sitting room, set with plump, matching love seats and white marble fireplace. (“I haven’t had time to sit down in there yet,” said Willa Dean, looking wistfully at her sitting room as she strolled with her husband out the back door, heading for the automobile museum. The museum is situated about 100 yards from the house. “Neither have I,” said Lyon, gazing at his study.)

While guests raved over the icy mint juleps--proffered from gleaming silver trays--Willa Dean eschewed the beverage after learning there was bourbon in it. “I don’t like bourbon,” she whispered. “I think it goes back to my childhood. When I had a cold, my father would always give me a teaspoon of bourbon with lemon and sugar.”

Lyon’s Classic Automobile Museum--which houses upward of 35 vintage automobiles--provided entertainment for guests as they enjoyed appetizers with a Cajun flair. “I’ll take the silver Duesenberg with the glass eagle,” said Tom Santley. “I like it because somebody else has to drive you around in it.”

“ I like the Bugatti,” said his wife, Perta. “I’ve always wanted to be a princess and drive around in something like that.”

The 1931 Bugatti Royale Coupe De Ville is the centerpiece of the museum, and as such, usually rests upon a turntable platform. But for the Sunday event, Lyon had replaced the $12-million automobile with the 1929 Duesenberg Dual Cowl Phaeton used by Daddy Warbucks in the film version of “Annie.”

“The car has a split-V windshield,” said Lyon, addressing guests as he stood next to the turquoise-blue automobile. “That means the left half of the cowl goes up on one side and you can get in without lifting the other (side of the windshield).

“For those of you who don’t care anything about that, I feel sorry for you,” he said, smiling. Guests roared. “But for me, that windshield is a real big deal .” Lyon--his left hand covered with Band-Aids--”I dropped the trunk of an old 1939 Packard on it”--said the car once belonged to J.B. Nethercutt--CEO of Merle Norman Cosmetics--of Sylmar. “He has a building that makes this museum look like a garage,” Lyon said.

A three-minute stroll from the museum--past emerald lawns, sapling oak trees, blooming flower beds and a tennis court--brought guests to the mansion’s sprawling veranda.

Pool-side, guests sat at tables set with vases of poppies and snapdragons and dined on Cajun clam chowder, corn bread, blackened chicken, black-eyed peas and banana cream pie with a sprig of mint.

“This is heaven,” said guest Linda Martin, her blue eyes dancing. “I just know Rhett Butler is going to show up any minute.”

Among guests: Joe Martin; Augusta and Ed Griffin; Ruth and Leo Cook; Nancy and Bill Steiner; Oralee and Jim McNamara; Mary Ann and Len Miller; Marilyn and Tom Nielsen; Judie and George Argyros; Nancy and Jim Baldwin; Paul and Virginia Knott Bender; Carol and Dennis Campbell; Carol and Jim Gilleran; Nora and Charles Hester; Elizabeth and Tom Tierney; Jan and David Wilson; Dorothy and Glenn Stillwell, and Joanne and Bill Stewart.