Fred Bewley; Official With County Schools

Fred W. Bewley, retired assistant superintendent of special services for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, has died at 88.

Bewley died Friday at his home in Whittier.

During his 13 years with the county office, Bewley specialized in unifying school districts and coordinating the mechanics for school elections. He was responsible for the formation of seven community college districts and the unification of 28 school districts.

He also spearheaded the move of the county schools office from Downtown Los Angeles to Downey in the early 1970s.

Bewley, who retired in 1973, served as secretary of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Assn.

A native of Cincinnati, Bewley moved to Long Beach with his family when he was a child. After attending Caltech for two years, he worked briefly for an architect before deciding on a career in education. He earned degrees at Whittier College and USC.

He began as a teacher in Cypress elementary schools and later worked as a principal in the Orange Unified School District in Orange County.

Before moving to the county office, Bewley served for a decade as assistant superintendent and then superintendent of the Whittier City School District.

He is survived by two daughters, Eleanor Bewley and Louise Bewley Eiler; a sister, Helen Bewley Hathaway, and three grandchildren. His wife of 59 years, Lucile, died last year.

Memorial services are scheduled for 9 a.m. July 8 at graveside at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3900 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, and for 11 a.m. that day in the Whittier College Chapel, 13406 Philadelphia St., Whittier.

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