Kay Bogendorfer Orner; Former Postmaster

Kay Bogendorfer Orner, the first woman postmaster in Van Nuys and former president of the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission, has died in a Newbury Park convalescent home. She was 81.

A former Van Nuys resident, Mrs. Orner died Sunday of complications of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and pneumonia, said her brother, Irving De Witt of Northridge.

Born in Presque Isle, Me., she came to California in the early 1930s. She served from 1953-60 on the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission, which conducts appeal hearings for civil service employees. During her tenure on the commission, she served as president.

In 1957, she finished second behind James Corman in a bid to represent the mid-Valley area on the Los Angeles City Council. She was known through much of her civic activities as Kay Bogendorfer. In 1960, she was chosen over 11 other candidates to serve as Van Nuys postmaster. She held the position until 1972.

Mrs. Orner, who called herself a “professional volunteer,” was active with numerous civic affairs, including membership on the board of directors for Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, where she helped organize several women’s guilds. Mrs. Orner was past president of the Van Nuys Woman’s Club, the San Fernando Valley Republican Women’s Club and the Chapter A.N. PEO Sisterhood.

She was a trustee of the Congregational Church of the Chimes in Sherman Oaks. She was also active with the Valley Council of Girl Scouts, Business & Professional Women’s Club, State Republican Central Committee, Assistance League of Southern California and the Hollywood Bowl Committee.

In addition to her brother, she is survived by her sisters, Dorothy Ward of Sherman Oaks and Gwen Thompson of Houlton, Me. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Paul A. Bogendorfer, who died in 1965, and Harold S. Orner, who died in 1986.

A funeral, with burial to follow, is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, in the Hollywood Hills. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills, is handling the arrangements. Donations can be made in Mrs. Orner’s name to the Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Assn.