Ralph R. Beal Jr., Naomi Susan Farr, Evelyn Kirst
Ralph R. Beal Jr.
Ralph Raymond Beal, Jr., 93, died in his sleep at Carmel Valley Manor on Feb. 15, 2010 from natural causes.
Born on May 18, 1916 in Palo Alto, Mr. Beal attended Stanford University, Cornell University and graduated cum laude in aeronautical engineering from New York University.
He worked as an aerodynamicist at Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica from 1942 to 1953 and at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as wind tunnel test manager, technical facilities design and construction manager and facilities office manager from 1953 to retirement in 1982. Living in La Cañada Flintridge for 46 years, he moved to Carmel Valley in 2002.
Ralph Beal was a Past Master of La Cañada Masonic Lodge No. 739, member of Pasadena Scottish Rite, San Gabriel Valley York Rite Commandery, Al Malaikah Shrine, The Royal Order of Scotland and The Robert Bruce Association.
He was a past president of the Pasadena High Twelve Club, and member of the Arcadia High Twelve Club, Mountain High Twelve Club and Pasadena Shrine Club (past secretary, vice president and director). Mr. Beal was an Associate Fellow in American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Golden Legion member of Phil Delta Theta Fraternity, and a Golden Years member of the Silver Wings Society.
He was married in 1942 to Marjory Runyon Beal, who predeceased him in April 2008. Ralph Beal is survived by sons Richard Allen Beal living in Lamy, N.M. and John Everett Beal living in Toluca Lake; grandchildren Chandra Moira Beal of Brighton, England and Andrew James Beal of Cave Creek, Ariz.; plus a great-grandchild, Rebekah Elizabeth Beal of Saratoga Springs, Utah and a step-grandson, Matthew Laidlaw of San Diego.
Mr. Beal will be interred with his wife Marjory at El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles.
Naomi Susan Farr
Naomi Susan Farr, 62, died Friday, Feb. 12 in La Crescenta after a year-long struggle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder.
Naomi was born at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Hollywood on May 12, 1947 and grew up in Torrance and Westchester. She then attended UCLA while also working in the transportation department. Following her graduation she became a researcher for the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica. Later, she worked as a researcher for The National Economic Research Associates in downtown Los Angeles.
Naomi was active in the Sierra Club, an organization in which she met her future husband, Doug. She worked in the area of conservation and was awarded the Galen Clark Conservation award. She and Doug co-chaired the Conservation Committee of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club.
After marrying in 1975, she worked with Doug in the family pension consulting business, while going to night school to earn a credential as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher. She worked in the family business during the day and taught ESL in both Glendale and El Monte at night. After 17 years with this schedule she again went to night school at Point Loma Nazarene University in Pasadena and eared a master’s degree in elementary education.
From 1996 until 2009 she taught first grade in El Monte. She was in charge of the school’s California English Language Development Test program. She was nominated and voted by her peers as Teacher of the Year for the 2003-2004 school year at Baker Elementary School.
Naomi’s love was traveling and she visited all seven continents before her death. Her last trip abroad was to the continent of Antarctica, which she visited with Doug in 2008.
Naomi is survived by her husband Douglas and sister Jennifer Dalziel; children Andy Nick and Emily; and granddaughters Carlie and Kaitlyn.
Her memorial service will be for immediate family and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Naomi’s name to the CJD Foundation, P.O. Box 5312, Akron, Ohio 44334.
Evelyn Kirst
Evelyn Ann Webster Kirst died peacefully at her home Feb. 11, 2010 at the age of 84.
She was born to John Michael Webster and Ann Ethel Delaney Webster on Dec. 18, 1925. Evelyn married into a La Cañada pioneer family on Oct. 20, 1946 when she exchanged vows with Albert Blake Kirst at St. Therese Catholic Church in Alhambra.
Al and Evelyn honeymooned on Catalina Island, which became a multi-generational family summer vacation destination. Together, they experienced La Cañada’s transition from a ranching and farming enclave to today’s diverse community.
Evelyn was a proud American, who hosted the national elections at her home, making it an official polling place. Family and friends frequently congregated at the Kirst home on Kirst Street in La Cañada. Evelyn was known for her warmth and hospitality, which was regularly demonstrated at her social gatherings, especially her annual New Year’s Eve party.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Albert, her sister Mary Webster, and her granddaughter Shannon Clancy Boone. Evelyn is survived by her brothers Jack (Joyce) Webster, Joseph (Gloria) Webster, and Bob (Rosa) Webster, and five children: John (Cathy) Kirst, Joanne (Mike) Clancy, Susan (Rick) Coffey, Bob Kirst, and Kathy (Kevin) Harrington. She was “Grandma” to nine adoring grandchildren; Christos (Desiree) Kirst, Shannon (Jason) Boone, Patrick, and Ryan Clancy, Janet (David) Wright, Steven Coffey, and Megan, Kelley, and Thomas Harrington. Evelyn was introduced to her first great-grandchild, Addison Wright, in 2009.
A Rosary will be held at St. Bede’s Catholic Church on Feb. 19 and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Feb. 20 with interment immediately following at San Fernando Mission cemetery in Mission Hills. Arrangements are being handled by Cabot & Son’s Funeral Directors.