Theodore E. Van de Kamp, 79; Executive of Family Bakery

Theodore Erwin Van de Kamp, 79, the son of the co-founder of Van de Kamp’s Holland Dutch Bakery who worked his way up from a 12-year-old cookie-baking apprentice to group vice president, died of natural causes Friday in La Jolla, Calif.

As a bakery executive, he helped guide Van de Kamp’s transition from a service or delivery operation to self-service sales from the shelves of some 900 Southern California supermarkets. Van de Kamp retired in 1970.

After attending Notre Dame University and USC, Van de Kamp served in the Army during World War II then completed his degree at UC Davis. Active in community and charitable activities, he served on the boards of the Catholic Youth Organization and City of Hope and was president of Junipero Serra Boys Club. He also was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.

In later years, Van de Kamp owned and operated a men’s clothing store at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and was a consultant to Alpha Beta supermarkets.