Minor D. Willman; Retired Times News Editor

Minor Derryl Willman, a longtime news editor for The Times, has died at a Valencia hospital. He was 64.

Willman, a Canyon Country resident since 1976, died Friday of congestive heart failure, said his wife, Martha Willman, a veteran Times reporter.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hollywood, Willman attended Los Angeles City College, where in 1957 he received his bachelor’s degree in journalism.

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Willman served aboard the USS Boxer as an aerial photographer for the U.S. Navy. He later worked for 10 years as a picture editor for the Los Angeles Examiner during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Willman came to The Times on Feb. 11, 1963 as a copy reader, a position he held for two years. In the spring of 1965, he became a section editor at large for The Times’ suburban editions.

Willman was appointed editor of The Times’ Westside section in July of 1973, where he remained for six years. In September of 1979, he transferred to the paper’s San Fernando Valley bureau, where he served as news editor for five years.

In January of 1984, Willman returned to the paper’s headquarters at Times Mirror Square, where he worked as a suburban news editor. He retired on May 1, 1991.

“Minor dedicated most of his career to community-level journalism in Los Angeles and here at The Times,” said Bob Rawitch, director of editorial operations for the Valley and Ventura County editions of the paper. “He will be missed.”

Willman was also an avid horse breeder, raising pure-breed Arabian horses at the Santa Clarita Valley ranch he shared with his wife. He was a member of the Arabian Horse Assn. of the San Fernando Valley since 1975.

In addition to his wife of 24 years, Willman is survived by his daughter, Carol Willman of Newhall; stepdaughter, Kim Niemi of Canyon Country; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will take place today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Eternal Valley Mortuary, 23287 N. Sierra Highway, Newhall. Graveside services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Garden of Whispering Pines, Eternal Valley Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Willman’s name to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, 5225 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 705, Los Angeles 90036.