Obituaries

Nancy Lee Gilbert, Virginia Kaull, Hoda Kronfli, Annaliese Mayer, Cheryl Partridge, Louise Pitts, Harold Roe

Nancy Lee Gilbert

Nancy Lee Gilbert, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on April 13, 2006 after a year-long courageous battle with lung cancer.

Nancy was born on March 21, 1939 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the only child of Lyle and Myra Bartholomay. At the age of 7, her family moved to the Burbank-Glendale area where she attended Verdugo Woodlands and R.D. White elementary schools, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High and Glendale High School, where she was active in student activities and was a model for the William Adrian modeling agency.

Nancy first met Dick, the love of her life, in her senior year on a bus going to Young Life camp in the San Bernardino Mountains. He asked her to the sophomore dance and afterward to the Tam O’Shanter Inn for after-dance snacks. The rest was history. They graduated high school and Nancy went on to a three-year career with the telephone company in downtown Los Angeles where she worked in the art department. Nancy was very artistic. She appeared on the June La Vante TV show where she represented the phone company.

After a steady two-year courtship, the couple were married on June 27, 1959 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glendale and resided in their first apartment on Eleanor Drive in Chevy Chase Canyon. In July 1960 their first child, Christine, was born. In the fall of 1960 the young threesome moved to San Luis Obispo where Dick pursued a degree in air conditioning and refrigeration engineering and Nancy received an honorary “PHT” (for “pushing hubby through”). While trying to make financial ends meet, they moved a few miles north to Cayucos where Nancy managed the town laundromat in return for free rent to the apartment adjacent to the laundromat.

With degrees in hand, the family moved back to the Los Angeles area in 1963 to an apartment in Eagle Rock where Eagle Rock Plaza now stands. In December of that year, Curtis was born to complete the package. All the while after the birth of Christine, Nancy assumed the role of homemaker. Taking her artistic abilities to advantage, she was a stay-at-home mom for the remainder of her life, painting, sewing and doing expert professional seamstress work for others.

In 1964 the family moved to La Cañada. Their first house here was demolished to make way for the 210 Freeway and they moved to their present home in La Cañada.

Nancy was always by her man, even when some camping trips to primitive areas, ocean voyages in small boats to Anacapa Island in rough seas, target practice with a 16 gauge shotgun, horseback riding and riding in the company single engine plane at night in a blizzard turned out less pleasant than she had expected. She was truly a good sport.

Nancy was an active member in several philanthropic organizations: PEO Chapter OM, Children’s Home Society and Tuesday Afternoon Club Jrs. Her contributions included doing all the artwork for fund-raising events, and trips to Baja California orphanages. In promoting these efforts she was twice on the cover of the Valley Sun newspaper. She was also active in PTA and Campfire Girls.

Nancy loved music, dancing and art. Some of the rather off the wall things she loved and participated in was winemaking, when Dick and a neighbor would go to Bakersfield in September and bring back 400-500 pounds of grapes; she helped crush them, the first time with her bare feet. She cured olives that the family picked from the trees on their property, made jerky and did the final butchering of wild game that Dick would bring home. She refused to clean fish.

Nancy was probably the most organized lady in La Cañada. She was also an excellent cook. She could cook gourmet or plain and wild game and had a recipe collection that occupied a large portion of a kitchen cabinet.

Her main claim to fame was her sewing. She was a professional seamstress, but in her spare time she enjoyed hooking rugs, macramé, needlepoint and embroidery. She also worked in clay and there are numerous works of art in oil, watercolor and colored pencil. She also made some of the most original and elaborate Halloween costumes.

Nancy loved life and family. She was strikingly beautiful and also beautiful on the inside. Her motto for a successful marriage was to make it a 60/60 proposition where each spouse gives the other an extra 10%. Over the years, Dick’s job took him to every state in the U.S., Mexico, most of the Canadian provinces, and he took the family on most trips, especially in the summer time in their motor home.

Nancy drove a distinctive 1972 racing green Corvette for 20 years. Everybody in town knew where she was so she couldn’t pull any shenanigans. She was a member of the Marquis, a car club established in Glendale in 1954, and enjoyed going to car shows in their yellow ’41 Ford and attending Marquis annual reunions.

Nancy loved Big Bear and decorated three homes in the area, each more elaborate than the one before, to her now dream home on Boulder Bay with boat dock and a view to the max. Nancy loved flowers and spent many hours in all of her gardens planting and nurturing.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4467 Commonwealth Ave., La Cañada. A reception will follow in the family garden at their home following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nancy Lee Gilbert Lung Cancer Research Fund, USC Norris Cancer Center, 1441 E. Lake Ave., Room 8302, Los Angeles, CA 90033.

Virginia Kaull

Virginia Ravn Whitington Kaull, 89, of Salinas passed away Tuesday, April 11 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.

She was born on June 22, 1916 at her family home in Manteca, Calif. She was the only child of Dorothy and Asger Ravn. She was raised in Glendale, graduating from Herbert Hoover High School and Glendale College. She attended UCLA for two years and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Before marriage she was a buyer for Desmond’s department store in Los Angeles. After marriage she was a dedicated housewife. She was an avid bridge player, golfer, reader, gardener, traveler, and hospital volunteer. In her later years she enjoyed all sports on TV, especially baseball’s World Series and golf.

Virginia moved to Salinas last summer from Laguna Woods to be closer to family and was a resident of Villa Serra.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Colvin Whitington and husband of 14 years, Richard Kaull. Survivors include son Trent Whitington of Grass Valley; daughter, Karen Padres (Richard) of Salinas; stepsons Jeff (Lou) Kaull of Trabuco Canyon, Stan (Barb) Kaull of Escondido; granddaughters Mary (Vince) Cimino of Salinas, Lindsey Kaull of Trabuco Canyon; grandsons Ravn Whitington of Washington, D.C., Ross Whitington of Davis, Mike (Courtney) Kaull of San Diego, Brian Kaull of San Diego and Brent Kaull of Newport Beach; great-grandchildren Nicholas and Sophia Cimino of Salinas.

At her request, no services will be held. Burial was at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to donor’s favorite charity.

Hoda Kronfli

Hoda Kronfli, a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and a longtime resident of La Cañada, finally and peacefully surrendered to cancer on April 13, 2006. Mrs. Kronfli is survived by her children, Patrick, Danny, and Robert, all alumni of St. Bede and Loyola schools, as well as her two grandchildren, Patrick Jr. and Donovan, two sisters, Hala Douglas and Aida Saroufim, and her brother, Elie Kawkabani. She was 53 years young.

Mrs. Kronfli will be remembered as a vibrant member of the La Cañada and St. Bede communities, who has left a mark on everyone she has ever come in contact with. Her love and devotion to her children and family was unparalleled, and her deep religious beliefs are a great consolation as she passes away.

Rosary and funeral services were held at our Lady of Mount Lebanon on Monday, April 17, and a private burial ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 22. A memorial service will be held at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church on Sunday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a mercy reception at her house on 1720 La Floresta Drive in La Cañada. All friends are invited.

Annaliese Mayer

The beloved Annaliese Margaret Emma Mayer, 93, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2006. She was born in Altona, Germany to Wilhelm and Wilhelmine Sass on March 11, 1913.

She was just a teenager when her family immigrated to America in the mid 1920s, settling in Oakland where she met her late husband, Stefan. She was a devoted wife and mother of two.

The family moved to La Cañada in 1955, where she resided form more than 45 years. She worked alongside her husband in their successful wire product manufacturing business in Los Angeles until his death in 1970. Escondido had been her home in recent years.

Along with her daughter, Helen Boyd, Annaliese contributed many hours to the Verdugo Hills Hospital Women’s Council Boutique for whom she made wonderful holiday decorations. At the drop of a hat, “Omi” or “Mutti”, as many called her, was always ready for fun whether shopping, traveling, or just being with friends. There was nothing like the friendly competition of a good board or card game. Her love of music was only sweetened by dancing to a lively polka. She was a great “from-scratch” cook, loving mother and terrific grandmother.

Annaliese is predeceased by her younger brother Bill, husband Stefan and daughter Helen Boyd. She is survived by her son, Ronald Mayer of Julian; five grandchildren, Eric and Stephanie Boyd, Stacy Hodo, Chad and Corrine Mayer; and by two great-grandchildren, Lillian and Kyra Boyd.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at the Community United Methodist Church of Julian, Highway 79 and Pine Hills Road, Julian. Annaliese’s son can be reached by calling 760-765-1577.

Cheryl Partridge

Cheryl Partridge passed away on April 10, 2006 in Santa Barbara. Services will be held today (Thursday) at 3 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Los Olivos, Calif.

Cheryl was born on Dec. 15, 1938 in Macomb, Ill., where she grew up on a farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse before moving with her family to Hot Springs, Ark. in the seventh grade.

After graduating from high school, Cheryl moved with her family to Whittier where she attended Whittier College and then graduated from San Jose State University.

She married Fred Partridge in 1960 and, after starting her teaching career in the Long Beach Unified School District, moved with him to an outdoor education school in Lake Arrowhead and then to Hi Hill Outdoor Education School near Mt. Wilson.

Cheryl taught for 12 years at Chilao Mountain School, which was at that time the only one-room schoolhouse in Los Angeles County, where she had the opportunity to teach her own children and to provide unique learning experiences for her students, such as nature hikes and snow skiing for physical education.

Cheryl later taught ESL at La Cañada High and then fifth grade at La Cañada Elementary School. She received much recognition during her teaching career, including Teacher of the Year for La Cañada Unified School District and the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Teacher’s Medal.

She was also selected by the Japanese Businessman’s Association to tour Japanese schools on a cultural exchange. Cheryl earned a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on school administration from California State University at Los Angeles. She also completed the Los Angeles County school administration certificate and participated in the UCLA writing and math projects.

She taught in the education program at California State University at Northridge and, after retiring to Los Olivos, served as a supervisor for student teachers at Chapman University.

Cheryl spent her summers in her husband’s hometown in Nova Scotia, Canada and still remained active in her new community as a member of the Santa Ynez Cottage Hospital Auxiliary, the Ladies Guild of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Women’s Valley Hikers and the Artists’ Guild.

She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who especially enjoyed cooking, painting, photography and the arts. She is deeply missed by her family and friends.

Cheryl is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Marjorie Boote. She is survived by her loving husband, Fred; her children, Jennifer and husband Marc Garrubba and Jeff and wife Joo Eng; grandchildren, Philip and Katy Garrubba and Lian and Hudson Partridge; and siblings, Charlene Miller and Ron Boote.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Los Olivos or the Santa Ynez Valley Hospital Women’s Auxiliary in Solvang.

Louise Pitts

Louise Helen Pitts, 104, passed away at a Glendale hospital on March 19, 2006.

Louise was born in Petosky, Mich. Her Swiss parents moved to America in the late 1800s and homesteaded in Petoskey. She was one of 13 children. She recalled happy times spent on the farm where her family was totally self-sufficient.

Louise had been a resident of La Cañada for about two decades and more recently lived at Mountain View Retirement Home in Montrose. She was featured in the Valley Sun in a story that ran on June 7, 2001 marking the occasion of her 100th birthday.

“I don’t feel like 100, but then I don’t know how a 100-year-old should feel,” she told a reporter at her centennial birthday party. “I don’t feel any different than I did 10 years ago. I don’t have any aches and pains at all.”

Her true passion was the stock market; reviewing her stocks was a daily challenge for her that she believed kept her mind clear-thinking.

Experiencing the many advances in technology since her birth, Louise said the most memorable for her was when men walked on the moon for the first time. Other memories included sitting with her family listening to their radio, watching as gas lights were replaced by electric ones and being on hand when the old ice box was removed to make way for an electric refrigerator.

Louise met her husband, Gilbert, in 1921 at the Rose Parade. She had come to the Southland to visit a sister and ended up staying to marry Gilbert, a World War I veteran. The two of them combined their talents and were very successful in building a nursery and floral business in Los Angeles.

They later moved to Escondido, where Louise worked with Ralphs Grocery Company not only as a clerk but also in the business department. In fragile health since World War I, Gilbert died in 1959 after 37 years of marriage. Following his death, Louise became a world traveler who would often find ways to extend her visits to a country to months so that she could truly become part of the culture.

Louise is survived by her nephew, Richard Gilbert of La Cañada. A private inurnment service was held at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. Crippen Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Harold Edwin Roe

Harold Edwin Roe died April 5, 2006 at the age of 89 in an assisted care home in Placentia. Services will be held in Brea on June 10.

Harold was born on Jan. 22, l917 in Caldwell, Kan. He attended Kansas University and received a bachelor of arts degree in business. After graduation from college, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas where he worked for the Pacific Finance Company (later know as Transamercia) in collections.

Harold met his wife Gwendolyn, when he was in college. They married in 1940 and were together for 62 years until her death in 2002.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945-1946.

They started their family in Texas and lived there until he was transferred to California in l958.

Upon arriving in California they settled in La Cañada Flintridge to raise their family. Harold liked to golf and always looked forward to playing with his friends at the Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena.

La Cañada Flintridge was home until l972 when his company transferred him to Northern California to assist with the development of the Pyramid Building in San Francisco.

Harold spent 36 years with the Transamerica company, working his way up to director of purchasing.

After retiring from his work in 1983, he started his own company, JDR Associates, which sold office supplies to San Francisco’s lawyers.

They couple lived in Moraga, Calif. from l972 until Gwen’s passing in 2002. Then Harold moved south to be closer to his children and grandchildren in the Orange County area and lived there until his passing.

Harold is survived by daughter Dana Roe Waite (Edward) of Brea; daughter Janey Roe Perle of Manhattan Beach, son Clinton Roe (Jodie) of Buena Park, daughter Debra Roe Faler (Gary) of Capitola, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.