Los Angeles County, California Obituary and Death Notice Collection
(Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in the Downey and surrounding towns.)
Many of these obituaries do not have the year of death included. Use the Social Security Death Index to determine this information.
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Downey, Los Angeles County, California Obituary Collection
GenealogyBuff.com - Downey, Los Angeles Co., California Obituary Collection - 14
Posted By: GenealogyBuff.com Date: Wednesday, 31 July 2024, at 4:24 p.m.
David Michael Powers
SOUTH GATE - David Michael Powers, a former Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and later a Court Security Officer for the Federal Marshal's service, died at his South Gate home Aug. 31.
Born Oct. 3, 1932 in New York City, he spent a lifetime serving his country and community.
At age 16, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves, and at 18 became a Corpsman in the U.S. Navy, 3rd Marine Division.
After leaving the military, he joined the City of Bell Fire Department.
He later became a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff serving 24 years until his retirement in 1986.
He then worked as a Court Security Officer for the Federal Marshal's Service, a job he held until his illness forced him to resign.
He enjoyed the ocean and boating, and lounging around a swimming pool.
He was often called a "sun worshiper," and always seemed to have a smile and a joke to tell.
He was a member of the Paramount Elks Lodge 1804, Sheriff's Relief Organization and the Police Officers Protective Association.
Survivors include his wife, Jo; his mother, Mary; a son, David Jr.; a daughter, Felicia Overmeyer; a sister, Dorothea Diamond; six grandchildren, one great-grandson and four nieces; stepsons Clayton and Jeffrey Hibbitt; and a stepdaughter, Moli Neves.
He was preceded in death by a son, Stephen.
He will be missed by family, friends and neighbors.
Richard G. Duran, Sr.
DOWNEY - A Funeral Mass for Richard G. Duran, Sr., a former 24 year Downey resident and truck driver for the Penberth Lumber Co. for 39 years, was heard Wednesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Downey.
He lived in Artesia and died Sept. 6 in Downey Community Hospital.
He was age 71, born in Los Angeles, and served in the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, Mary E. Duran of Downey; sons Michael E. of Commerce, Richard G. Jr. of Downey; and James V. of Artesia; four brothers; two sisters; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pastor John Maloney officiated.
Burial followed at Resurrection Cemetery.
Arrangements were by the Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary.
Robert Lewis Falke
DOWNEY - A Funeral Mass was heard Thursday, Sept. 11 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church for Robert Lewis Falke, who died Sept. 4 in Bakersfield.
Born Sept. 6, 1922, in Wisconsin, he lived in McFarland, California.
Survivors include his son, Mark Falke; his daughter, Michelle Kenney; sisters Harryette Farquharson, Blanche Williams, and Ida Mae Simpson; a brother, George Falke; and three granddaughters.
Burial followed at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo.
Arrangements were by the Morrow's Pico Rivera Directors.
Maridelle Annette Pernal
DOWNEY - Graveside services will be held today (Friday, Sept. 12), at 11:30 a.m. in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier for Maridelle Annette Pernal, a resident of Downey since 1953 and a homemaker for 46 years.
Formerly of Los Angeles, she was age 73 and was an active minister with the Jehovah's Witnesses.
She died at Brea Community Hospital Sept. 9.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph F. Pernal of Downey; her daughter, Patti Jo (Mark) Flores of Artesia; her son, Robert J. (Deborah) Pernal of Chino; and grandchildren, Zachariah and Wendy Pernal.
Arrangements are by the Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary.
Betty Lunday
DOWNEY - Services for Betty Lunday, a Downey resident since 1973, were held Thursday, Sept. 4 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 10511 Paramount Blvd., Downey.
Born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia Jan. 7, 1921, she was 76, and died Aug. 31 in Downey Community Hospital after a long struggle with cancer.
She came to America at the age of 16, living at first with an aunt in New Jersey, and later in Ohio, where she met her first husband.
She worked as a civilian nurse for the U.S. Navy for four and a half years in Norfolk, Virginia.
Then, in 1949 she and her first husband moved to Bell, California, where she worked as a nurse for the Santa Fe Railroad Hospital.
Divorced in 1956, she suffered back injuries when trampled by a horse in a paddock mishap at Santa Anita Race Track.
After fused vertebra and six months of paralysis she gave up nursing, and, at the age of 39, became qualified as a pharmacist.
Returning to her homeland for a visit in 1962, she was accused of being a spy.
With the help of her family she escaped back to America, but her assets were lost.
Returning to South Gate, she resumed work as a pharmacist at the hospital, and through a friend who was an L.D.S. realtor, began acquiring rental units.
She later was introduced to the L.D.S. Church and baptized.
In 1964 she met her husband, Wilbur. They were married Feb. 24, 1968, and moved to Downey in 1973.
Survivors include her husband, Wilbur Lunday of Downey; and her brother, Jozef Karnis of the Slovensko Republic.
Bishop Dennis Clinton officiated.
Burial followed at the Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
Arrangements were by the Biby & Belyea Mortuary of South Gate.
Lawrence Henry Vincent
DOWNEY - Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 8, at the Miller-Mies Mortuary Chapel for Lawrence Henry Vincent, a 28 year Downey resident and retired employee of ICX Trucking Co.
He was 62, born in Michigan, and died Sept. 2 in the Lakewood Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; his daughters, Denise and Crystal Vincent and Pamela Dought; and grandchildren Louis, Joshua, James, Bernice and Sabrina.
Pastor John Rose officiated.
Burial followed at Riverside National Cemetery.
Arrangements were by the Miller-Mies Mortuary of Downey.
Marvin Stevenson, 94
DOWNEY - Funeral services for Marvin Stevenson, a longtime resident of Downey, will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 13) at Downey Memorial Christian Church, 8441 E. Florence Ave.
He died Sept. 6 and was 94.
Leona Marie France
DOWNEY - Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary Chapel for Leona Marie France, a 13 year Downey resident and a former 20 year employee at Rockwell International, who died Sept. 8 at Coast Plaza Doctor's Hospital.
She was born in Cameron, Oklahoma, was 83, and was preceded in death by her husband, and a son, James France.
Survivors include her daughter, Ramona Jervis of Downey; a sister, Lorene Yost of San Diego; granddaughters Cindy Nelson of Texas, and Kristin Ronnenberg of Corona Del Mar; and four great-grandchildren.
Burial followed at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
Arrangements were by the Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary.
