Obituaries - Feb. 29, 2008

C. Keith White

Charles Keith White, also known as “Coach White” and “Doctor White,” a longtime local resident, died Feb. 22 of respiratory failure.

He was born Nov. 23, 1926 at Glendale Adventist Hospital. Keith attended Glendale schools and was very active in school activities, but especially favored sports. He graduated from Glendale High in 1944 and joined the Navy for the end of World War II. He served on the USS O’Brien, based out of San Diego. He was on that ship when it was sent into Tokyo Bay as a decoy for the USS Missouri before the surrender papers were signed.

After being discharged from the Navy, Keith attended Glendale College, playing football and baseball there. After a year at GCC, he was offered a scholarship to play football at UCLA and USC. He chose the latter and has been a faithful Trojan ever since. He was injured playing defensive tackle and his football career ended, but he played baseball as a catcher in the semi-pro league.

He graduated from USC with a master’s degree in science. He taught two years at the Boys Republic in Chino before being hired by the Glendale Unified School District. After teaching briefly at Clark Junior High School (before it became Crescenta Valley High) he became a fixture at Hoover High School, where for several decades he taught biology, life science, health and science. He also coached Hoover’s baseball and football teams.

Keith was a bus driver and camp director each summer at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA Singing Springs facility and also volunteered to take youth groups from his church to many trips around the states, to scout camps and canoeing down the Colorado River. He was heavily involved in youth service projects.

In the 1970s he became a chiropractor, setting up his office in La Crescenta.

On retirement he moved to the Ventura harbor and enjoyed golfing, shuffleboard and playing with his dog, Buster.

He married Joanne Peterson in 1948. They had three children: Chuck, Marilyn (Bayles) and Keith. Joanne was a well-known Realtor when she died in an accident in 1981.

Nearly a year later, Keith married La Cañada resident and Los Angeles school principal Ferol Holman Ellsworth. Her children, Phil, Phyllis, Beth, Jim and Matt, became part of the family, making their current posterity eight children, 27 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and many wonderful spouses. He is also survived by his brother, George Carlyle White.

Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4550 Raymond Ave. on March 1. Viewing and visitation at 11:30 a.m.; funeral at 1 p.m. Dr. White will be buried in the Spanish Fork, Utah Cemetery.

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Susan Ann Klassy

Susan Klassy of Glendale passed away surrounded by her family on Feb. 16. She was 50 years old.

Susan was born on Oct. 2, 1957. She is survived by her husband and daughter, Gilbert Klassy, Jr. and Samantha Klassy; her brother and sister, Michael Faunce and Linda Orr; and her father, Russell Faunce. Susan was also the beloved aunt to many.

A celebration of life will be at the Church of Religious Science in La Crescenta on Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m.

Donations should be made to The City of Hope in lieu of flowers.

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Marjorie Brunson

Marjorie Brunson of Sunland passed away recently. She was born in 1934 and was a student of the first graduating class at CSUN. She was a devoted teacher for 35 years, and also loved her family, friends, and hometown. She was a docent at Bolton Hall in Tujunga for many years. Her many contributions to the community will be long preserved.