Tag Archives: Class of 1948

Lillian Anna (Fair) Todd — Class of 1948

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Lillian Anna (Fair) Todd was born on August 12, 1930, in Bloomington, CA: the 4th of six children of James Clarence and Verdie Mae (Osborne) Fair. Lillian grew up in the orange grove where her father was caretaker. The family moved to Trona, CA in 1947 and she graduated from Trona High School in 1948. Lillian then earned an AA in Business at San Bernardino Valley College. She was an excellent typist – 100 WPM!

Lillian met Robert Madison Todd (“Todd”), the love of her life, in Trona where he was her high school sweetheart. Todd joined the US Marine Corps in 1950 to serve during the Korean War. They married in 1951. Their son, Jeffrey Madison Todd, was born in 1953. Both Todd and Jeff passed away prior to Lillian.

After the Korean War, the Todd family settled in Riverside. They enjoyed an active social life along with sports including swimming and skiing. Jeff was born with diabetes, and Lillian was a pioneer in finding ways to provide a “normal” life for him (diabetes care was more challenging then). She did a great job! Todd worked for Bourns Electronics in Riverside and later in their Hong Kong office. Todd and Lillian traveled extensively in Asia and elsewhere. Jeff pursued his love of skiing and music, and after college became a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain. In 1986, Jeff’s diabetes had caused his kidney function to decline to a point where he needed a transplant. Lillian flew back from Hong Kong and donated a life-saving kidney to him: an action that was credited with extending Jeff’s life by more than a decade.

After Todd’s retirement, he and Lillian lived in Paradise, near Bishop, then relocated back to Riverside in 2014, where Todd passed. Lillian moved to San Diego in 2024 and passed away peacefully on May 3.

Lillian is remembered as a vibrant, social, caring, witty and very fun woman. She loved animals and the outdoors. She was a great hostess and the life of the party. She loved her “titty pink” Porsche and always had Andre Extra Dry Brut for any occasion. Above all else, Lillian was a devoted wife and mother, and a great friend. CHEERS to Lillian for a life well lived!

Lillian will be interred at Riverside National Cemetery to join her husband. Donations in her memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.

 

https://www.legacy.com/

Elizabeth Richmond Colter — Class of 1946

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Elizabeth Richmond Colter “Liz” 92, formerly of Phoenix, Prescott and Eagar, Arizona, died Wed., November 2, 2022 in Dana Point, CA. Born February 17, 1930, in Philadelphia, PA. Liz was the daughter of John O’Donnel Richmond and Emily Acker Richmond. Both her siblings, Lee Richmond Barker and Lincoln Acker Richmond predeceased her. Survivors include five children: Emily Taranta, Nancy Greene, John Harrison (Barbara) Colter, Mary Lee (Marsden) Stewart and Ann (Kyle) Matthews; 18 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She attended the University of Arizona where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and Mortar Board. She was Student Body Secretary in the 1949-1950 school year and met her husband James Harrison Colter “Jim” while in college. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. at Burnham Mortuary, Eagar, AZ.

Posted online on December 01, 2022

Published in The Arizona Republic

Elizabeth and her husband Jim were married at the China Lake Navy Base in the base chapel by a Navy Chaplin, Lieutenant Commander W. I. Wolfe in 1950. Elizabeth came to China lake in 1944 when her father, John O Richmond became commander of the Navel Ordinance Test Station at China Lake. She began school in Trona because at time there wasn’t a high school in the Indian Wells Valley.

Bakersfield, California •
Mon, Nov 6, 1950

Thomas G. Dunne — Class of 1948

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October 10, 1930 – April 5, 2020

Thomas G. Dunne, Ph.D., 89, of Tualitin, OR, died peacefully on Sunday, April 5. Born in 1930 in Los Angeles, he was the son of the late Thomas J. and Mary A. Dunne, and grew up in the small chemical company town of Westend, CA, on Searles Lake in the Mojave Desert. He graduated from nearby Trona High School in 1948, and received a B.S. in Chemistry from UCLA in 1952 and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from The University of Washington in 1957. Dr. Dunne then worked as a chemist at Central Research labs at IBM and as a post-doctoral fellow at MIT.

In 1963 Dr. Dunne joined the faculty of Reed College in the Chemistry Department. For over four decades, he taught a variety of Chemistry and Environmental Science courses to Reed undergraduates, advised dozens of Reed thesis research students, and chaired the Chemistry Department for several years. In his honor, one of his Chemistry advisees endowed an annual lecture named after him.

Dr. Dunne was a very active, 64-year member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Portland Section. He was the former chair of the Portland Section, where he served on the committee to select the Linus Pauling Medal Award. He was an active member of the ACS Northeast Regional Board of Directors. Dr. Dunne was a longtime member of the Sierra Club and active in environmental issues. He was a longtime participant in the Reed Emeritus Book Club, and also active in the City Club of Portland, and the Searles Valley Historical Society of Trona, California.

Dr. Dunne leaves his brother, C. Patrick Dunne, Ph.D., and wife Maureen of Framingham, MA, his nieces and their spouses, Kerry Dunne and Adam Steiner of Framingham, MA, Eileen Dunne and Jack Daniels of Boise, ID, Erin Dunne and Ryan Ellis of Waltham, MA. He leaves three grand nieces, Nora Steiner, Margaret Steiner and Veronica Ellis, and a grand nephew, Indigo Ellis. He is also survived by Beatriz and Stokely Beckford of Chicago, IL, his cousin, Joan Murphy of Palo Cedro, CA, and close friend Ron Sato, of Portland, OR.

There will be no services. Remembrances may be sent to Reed College, the Portland Section of the American Chemical Society, or the Alzheimers Association.

https://davies.mem.com/Obituary/9115489/173039300/173039307?title=Obituary

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Garnett Lucille (Traylor) Johnson Thornton – Class of 1948

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Bingo Extraordinaire and Loyal Laker Fan Garnett Lucille Traylor Johnson Thornton peacefully passed away in her sleep on Friday, April 28, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. After a brief illness, Jesus decided to send a dove to fly her to heaven to watch over her family and be reunited with her loving husband James Coleman Johnson.

Born in Adel, Oklahoma on February 23, 1924, Lucille spent her first 21years in her home state, later moving to Trona, California for 38 years and spending her last 34 years in Lake Isabella, CA. Lucille married James Coleman Johnson on February 22, 1939. While in Trona, Lucille graduated from Trona High School in 1948, attended some college, worked for the US Post Office (33 years), and attained her Real Estate license. She really ramped up her 36-year Real Estate career in Lake Isabella and still held her license.

During her full and eventful life, Lucille enjoyed sewing, oil painting, Bingo, the Lakers, serving in her community, bowling, traveling, exploring new places, & working at the Senior Center, the VFW and the Moose Lodge. She never met a stranger and was always very fair and honest. She was strong and everyone relied on her for advice, assistance and guidance.

Lucille is survived by her sister Lillie Traylor Archer in Oklahoma, her two daughters-Bessie Johnson Wiles and Anna Sue Johnson Eldridge and son-in-law Benny.

Five grandchildren and spouses: Cindy Greenwood (Russell), Lauretta Eldridge, Alan Wiles (Jan), Justin Eldridge (Leslie), Chimene Jackson (Johnnie).

Great Grandchildren and spouses: Brandon Aldridge (Megan), Kelly Rueby (Robert), Victoria Flame (Tony), Brooke Waltman (Danny), Jessica Greenwood, Westley Heidelberger (Braelynn), Isaac Greenwood, Emmett, Evan, and Julia Sarver.

Great-Great Grandchildren: Heather Rueby, Elijah Aldridge, Mason Waltman, Drake Rueby, Caroline Aldridge, and Katherine Flame.

Her friend Albert Ellison.

… Many nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

Lucille is preceded in death by her husbands James Coleman Johnson, and Reppard Thornton, her parents Adolphus and Laurenia Traylor, her sister, brothers and their spouses: Ethel Morlan (Everett), Tommie Traylor (Bea), Ikey Traylor (Ruby), and son-in-law Dewey Wiles.

Viewing on Friday, May 12th, will be from 9:00am-1:00pm at Lake Isabella Valley Mortuary located at 5108 Lake Isabella Blvd, Lake Isabella, CA 93240.

Services are planned for Saturday, May 13th at Mountain View Southern Baptist Church, Lake Isabella, CA. Viewing will begin at 10:00am, service following at 11:00am.

Graveside services will be 2:30pm, at Desert Memorial Park, Ridgecrest, CA.

Guests are encouraged to wear her favorite color of purple and/or a hat in her honor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Lake Isabella VFW Auxiliary.