Gladys Van Deerlin Dies at Age 99
Gladys Van Deerlin, the 99-year-old mother of former San Diego Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin, died Sunday afternoon, 15 days before her 100th birthday, in a Santa Ana convalescent hospital after suffering from pneumonia.
The youngest member of a pioneer family that came to the San Luis Rey Valley in 1894, Mrs. Van Deerlin was 2 years old when her family became part of an English colony east of Oceanside.
She had lived in the area almost all her life and served almost 15 years as a member of the Oceanside Elementary School Board. She was also a longtime vestry member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.
A widow of 40 years, Mrs. Van Deerlin is survived by her daughter, Gwendolyn Felton of Irvine; son, Lionel Van Deerlin of San Diego; 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
A graveside service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at the All Saints Church cemetery in San Luis Rey.
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