Helen Hinkle Dies at 89
Her many friends in Culver City will be saddened to learn of the death
of Helen Hinkle, who passed away November 6, 1998 in Sacramento, California.
Helen was born in Ohio in 1910 and moved to Southern California in
1922. She attended UCLA, where she majored in industrial relations and
business management, and served as Manager, Industrial Relations at Hartwell
Aviation Supply Company on Venice Boulevard for several years.
She and her husband Tom (who preceded her in death) raised their son
Bob and daughter Pat Shea in Culver City, where Helen served on the Civil
Service Commission and as charter president of the 107-member Culver City
Business & Professional Women’s Club.
The energetic grandmother of five later moved to the San Francisco
Bay Area, where she served as assistant administrator of Laurel Grove Hospital
in Castro Valley for several years.
Services were held in Folsom, California with interment following at
Inglewood Park Cemetary.
Candice (Candy) Parker
Life was cut short for Candice (Candy) Parker who would have been 17
on February 11 [1998].
A fatal accident took her young life on January 3. The accident occurred
when the car occupied by Candy and her boy friend John Monroe was struck
by another car when exiting the diamond lane of the 405 freeway. The car,
rendered out of control, went into a spin striking some trees. The offending
driver of the other car sped off and was being sought by police. John is
in a coma suffering from multiple broken bones.
The Parker family have been Culver City residents for 45 years. Candy
was a student at Culver City High School in the home study program.
She liked to sing and most of all she liked people. Proof of her popularity
was in evidence at her funeral which was held Saturday, January 9, where
the chapel had standing room only.
Candy leaves her parents Frank and Nola Parker, two sisters, Danielle
and Lindsay, her grandparents Robert and Sharon Rajok; also an aunt, Mary
(Dale) Espina and uncle Robby Rajcok. many schoolmates and friends.
Gates, Kingsley & Gates Smith Salsbury, Culver City, were in charge
of services followed by internment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Tony Oliver Kimball
Long Time Culver City Resident Passes
Tony Oliver Kimball was born March 13, 1912, in Carterville, Mo. and
passed away November 28, 1998, in Culver City where he had been a resident
for 51 years.
He grew up with vaudeville as his mother was a professional dancer
and his father a singer doing world tours. Tony, himself was a singer of
popular songs.
He loved our city and enjoyed watching it grow. In years past he was
the MC for the La Ballona Festival and he and his wife would chaperon the
teenage dance. He loved children and especially liked to work with teenagers.
Tony never really retired. He worked in real estate and liked to keep
up properties and do repairs.
Survivors include his beloved wife Sue to whom he had been married
to for 64 years. He leaves his son, Nick Paige; daughter, Deborah Krelle;
three brothers: Julius, Robert and Ron Kimball; granddaughter, April Goodspeed;
grandsons Andrew and Zachery Krelle and great grandsons Jared, Cory and
Kade Goodspeed.
His demise was handled by the Neptune Society and his ashes were scattered
in the ocean.
Joel Yudess
Joel Yudess, infant son of Barry and Laurie Yudess and baby brother
of Jordan, 3 1/2, passed away suddenly Wednesday, June 23, 1999 at Brotman
Medical Center. Left to mourn are his parents, loving grandmother Reba
Yudess and a host of family members and friends. Services were held on
Sunday, June 27 at Hillside Memorial Park for the four-month old Joel,
and the family asks that contributions in his memory be sent to the SIDS
organization (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Timothy Joseph Layana
Timothy Joseph Layana, 35, beloved husband, father, son and brother.
Survived by his wife Tracey, daughter Carley, parents Frank and Carol;
brothers Matt, Nick, John and Michael, sisters Melinda Toth and Nancy Affinito.
He also leaves his grandmothers, Louise Malloy and Hortense Layana and
a multitude of cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends who
loved him dearly.
He graduated from Loyola High School and Loyola Marymount University,
played professional baseball and was currently teaching and coaching at
St. Monica High School. Visitation was Wednesday evening at Gates, Kingsley,
Gates, 4220 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City. Hundreds attended a celebration
of his life that was held today in the Sacred Heart Chapel, Loyola Marymount
University. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a memorial
fund, PO Box 2623, Culver City, CA 90230.
(Died 6/27/1999) See http://thedeadballera.crosswinds.net/Stats/layanastats.html
Civic Leader Ronald H. "Brick" Coombs Dies
.....Ronald H. "Brick" Coombs, 89, long-time Culver City resident and
civic leader, died Sunday, Nov. 7 [1999] after a prolonged
battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Coombs, known for years as "Brick" because of his dark red hair, and
often mistaken for entertainer Red Skelton, was a past president of the
Culver City Bar Association, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions
Club and a member of the local chapter of the Red Cross.
The son of Culver City pioneer Dan F. Coombs, the first mayor of the
city and a councilmember for 13 years, Coombs and his younger brother Charles
(Chick) were preschoolers when the family moved here from Alhambra in the
early 1900s.
Coombs’ mother, Fleda was the first president of the Culver City PTA
in 1917, and his uncle Bill became the city’s police chief.
In the late 1930s, Coombs attended Los Angeles College of Law, and
in February 1939 was admitted to practice in the courts. When he started
his law practice, Coombs shared space with the only other attorney in town.
Then in the mid-1940s, he opened an office in the Meralta Theater complex.
In 1947 Coombs survived a small plane crash en route to a fishing trip
in Mexico and was rescued three days later with broken arms and legs.
In 1953 Coombs bought his law firm’s current building, a distinctive
ranch-style house converted to office space. In 1972 his son became a partner
in the firm which is today known as Coombs & Coombs, Inc.
He later became an author, writing more than 70 books on topics as
diverse as aerospace and children’s subjects.
Coombs was preceded in death by Esther, his wife of over 50 years,
who passed away on April 12, 1990. He is survived by his son Ronald E.
Coombs, daughter Judy Partridge and grandchildren David Coombs, Scott Odle,
Laurie Lombardo, Heather Coombs and Culver Coombs.
Services were held Thursday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at Gates Kingsley Gates
Smith Salsbury Chapel, 4220 S. Sepulveda Blvd. with interment in Forest
Lawn, Glendale.
Bonnie Melendres Dies at 75
Bonnie Melendres, a 50-year resident of the Lindberg Park area, died
at home Sunday evening after a courageous battle with cancer.
She worked for many years with the Veterans Administration, and was
preceded in death by her husband, Bud.
Melendres was a long-time member of University Christian Church.
She is survived by her sisters Louise Witt and Maxine Keith.
Services were held at University Christian Church in Ladera Heights
on Thursday, Nov. 11 [1999] at 11 a.m. and interment at Holy Cross
Cemetery.
Clifford R. Bollman
A Loss to Culver City
Clifford R. Bollman, a long-time Culver City resident and civic leader
who moved to our city in 1931, passed away Oct. 15 [1999] at the
age of 91.
Bollman attended college at North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D. and was
a top athlete in football, ice hockey and boxing. He was a Golden Gloves
boxing champion and in 1928 he was a contender in the boxing tryouts for
the Olympics. Bollman was a participant in the ROTC andwas a retired Captain
in the U.S. Army where he served in WW II.
After his move to Culver City, Bollman worked in the movie studios
and developed an interest in public speaking. After graduation from a Dale
Carnegie course, he became a well-respected Dale Carnegie instructor for
many years. The City Council honored him in 1964 for teaching its many
residents the courses for over 15 years. He is well known for teaching
leadership courses using the Carnegie method to many top Chief Executive
Officers (CEO's) throughout the United States.
Bollman had been active in civic affairs in the late sixties serving
as president of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce in 1967, and president
of the Culver City Rotary Club from 1969-1970, where he was their oldest
member until his death.
His wife of 58 years, Esther, passed away in 1993. Two sisters, Helen
Call of Orange, Calif., and Virginia Ripley of Oceanside, Calif., and three
nephews and three nieces survive Bollman.
Memorial services were Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Culver Community Church,
11312 Washington Blvd.
Morris Dodd Dies
On June 10 [2000], Morris Ellis Dodd slipped away without pain
in the presence of his family. He was the fourth child born to the late
Kermit Dodd and Alta Dodd of Nauvoo, Ala, on April 20, 1940.
Dodd was a man always willing to help anyone whether it was a family
member or a complete stranger whose car had broken down. He loved to tinker
in his garage and was able to fix just about anything, especially cars.
After completing his naval service with an honorable discharge, Morris
met Joann Galegor, and on Dec. 34, 1962 the couple were married. They had
two daughters, Kimberlee Ellen Dodd and Cynthia Marie Dodd Escovedo.
Dodd’s death came as a shock to many people, but it came as a sad end
to his family, who knew the suffering he went through since his accident
30 years ago that left him wheelchair-bound.
People’s advocate can best describe Dodd. If he knew someone was being
mistreated, he would give his all to bring justice and peace to the situation.
He loved people and loved helping those in need. He belonged and contributed
to many organizations.
Dodd leaves behind to mourn him his adoring wife Joann, his daughters
Kimberlee and Cynthia, two son-in laws Stan Murray and Lee Escovedo, a
grandson Shane Ellis Murray, a granddaughter Rain Marie Escovedo, his mother
Alta, a sister Vera Sue Brown and her family, a brother Douglas and his
family, his mother-in-law Maxine Burton, his sister-in-law, Judy Fulsom
and her family, and many dear friends and a host of other people who just
knew "the man in the electric wheelchair."
A memorial service was held on June 14 at Vista del Rey Christian Church.
At the service Dodd’s grandson Shane was overcome by emotion at losing
his grandfather, the person he called his best friend. Young Murray wanted
to be just like his grandfather, who he called a caring, loving man, able
to fix anything for anyone.
Young Murray says that his grandfather was always there for him. When
he was sick, Dodd would bring his grandson his favorite ice cream. When
he needed help with his homework, it was his grandfather who was there
to help him. Murray says he will miss his grandfather more than anyone
will ever know.
The family wishes to extend their appreciation and gratitude to all
of the friends, associates, and family members for all of their support
and condolences.
The family would also like to thank the city council for adjourning
its June 12 council meeting in memory of Dodd.
Contributions in Dodd’s memory may be made to the UCLA-Medical Services
Department, Peter V. Ueberroth Building, 10945 Le Conte Ave., Room 3132,
Los Angeles, CA 90024. |
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