Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!James Ashley Wilson, Jr.
Retired Pan Am pilot
A celebration of the life of James Ashley Wilson, Jr. will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 22, at the Sequoias in Portola Valley.
Mr. Wilson died September 21 of myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow failure disease. He was 92.
Born in Dyersberg, Tennessee, Mr. Wilson graduated from the University of Memphis.
He joined the U.S. Naval Air Force, and in 1937, was assigned to the U.S.S. Colorado and was involved in the search for Amelia Earhart.
In 1940 he was hired as a pilot for Pan American Airlines and flew for Pan Am for 33 years.
During World War II he flew for the Army Air Transport Command, flying between Miami and North Africa.
In 1946 he received a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He worked in the Moerdyke Law Offices in Palo Alto for 21 years. He was also a building contractor.
At 84 Mr. Wilson earned a degree in computer science from Foothill College. At age 85 he became a member of MENSA. After moving into the Sequoias in 1995, he set up its square dancing program.
Mr. Wilson is survived by his two daughters, Gail Wilson Hynding of Woodside and Bonnie Wilson Miller of Palo Alto; four stepdaughters, Sheyla Kantor of Orinda, Susan Gibson of Yelm, Washington, Georgianna Maddams of Campbell, and Julie Rotary of Seattle, Washington; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family prefers donations in his name to the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, P.O.Box 613, Annapolis, MD 21404.
Clarence Walter
Retired Navy captain
Clarence John Walters of Menlo Park died September 25 at age 94.
Mr. Walters, a native of Blackfoot, Idaho, was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Georgetown University Law School, and the Stanford University School of Business. A retired captain in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Walters was a member of the Menlo Park Rotary Club and SIRS.
Mr. Walters is survived by his daughter Judith Jones of Mountain View; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Mildred Walters, died in 1997.
Services were held October 3 at Menlo Colonial Chapel, Menlo Park. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.
Emily Denis
Longtime Menlo Park resident
A memorial Mass for Emily Patricia Denis will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 8, at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park. Ms. Denis died September 23 at Stanford Hospital. A resident of Menlo Park for 65 years, she was 96.
Ms. Denis was born in Lovelock, Nevada. A twin, she weighed 2 pounds at birth. She grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming. After completing the ninth grade and working in the family laundry in Rock Springs, she met Marcel Denis. They were marriage in 1934.
A first generation American, she remained close to family members in France, whom she visited several times, the last time at age 86.
Ms. Denis worked for many years at the Cardinal French Laundry and the City of Paris Cleaners in Palo Alto. She loved conversation, reading, sewing, needlework and following politics, say family members.
She is survived by her daughter Marieanne Cullen; and three grandchildren. Her husband, Marcel Denis, died in 1986.
Donations may be made to St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room, 3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; or the Peninsula Stroke Association, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Carol Meyer Doyle
Menlo Park artist
Carol Meyer Doyle, an artist who refused to let illness quell her creativity, even when she was bedridden, died at her Menlo Park home January 18 after a four-year battle with breast cancer. She was 60.
Ms. Doyle was the wife of Menlo Park Transportation Commissioner Eric Doyle.
Ms. Doyle was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where she graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in fine arts. She also attended UC Berkeley and received a master of fine arts degree from Mills College.
Ms. Doyle was known for her oil paintings and prints using a linoleum block printing process. She exhibited her work in galleries throughout Northern California, including the Developing Artists' Gallery at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts.
She maintained a studio at her home and taught painting at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto. She also gave private art lessons.
During the last year-and-a-half of her illness, when she was bedridden, Ms. Doyle developed a unique technique of knitting sculptures out of wool. "Her sculptures came in an unbelievable range of colors and sizes," her husband said.
The unusual sculptures were displayed at a Sacramento art gallery.
Ms. Doyle is survived by her husband, Eric of Menlo Park; mother Pauline Meyer of Santa Barbara; and brother Richard Meyer of Seattle, Washington.
At Ms. Doyle's request, no services will be held. Memorials in her name may be made to the World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International, or Mills College.
Ella Mae Nash
Former Portola Valley resident
Services for Ella Mae Nash of Auburn will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, at the Lassila Funeral Chapel, 551 Grass Valley Highway in Auburn. Ms. Nash died January 19 at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento at the age of 82.
Longtime Portola Valley residents will remember that Ms. Nash and her husband, the late Neal Nash, opened the Village Square Market and Soda Fountain in Portola Valley in 1961 and operated the business for 13 years.
Ms. Nash was born in Paris, Missouri. She marriage Neal Nash in 1942.
In 1945, the couple moved to San Francisco, where she worked for the Emporium. They moved to Portola Valley in 1961 and lived there until moving to Auburn in 2000.
After the Village Square Market closed, Ms. Nash worked for several Menlo Park gift shops, which helped her sustain her love to decorate, say family members. She also enjoyed travel, shopping, and the theater. She was a past member of the Woodside/Portola Valley Lioness Club and a Cub Scout leader.
Ms. Nash is survived by two sons, Steve of Modesto and Mark of Auburn; three daughters-in-law, Rene of Modesto, Joyce of Auburn and Jean of Portola Valley; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Neal Windsor Nash; and her eldest son, Greg of Portola Valley.
Donations may be made to the Diabetes Foundation or the American Heart Association.
Mary Regel
Realtor
Mary Leighton Regel, a 30-year resident of Menlo Park, died January 7. She was 83.
Ms. Regel was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was raised in Southern California. She attended Punahou School in Hawaii and Stanford University, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was a Rose Bowl Princess in 1939.
Ms. Regal began her real estate career in Elmhurst, Illinois. After returning to California in the late 1970s, she joined the firm of Cornish & Carey.
She later founded her own company, Regel Properties, where she worked until retiring in the late 1990s. During her career, she earned the designations of real estate broker, certified residential specialist, and licensed appraiser.
Until her death, she continued to receive notes and cards from many of her former clients thanking her for her help and support, say family members.
Ms. Regel was a member of the Peninsula Volunteers and the Money Bags investment group.
She is survived by her seven children, James Regel and David Mack of Menlo Park, Steven Mack of Villa Park, Illinois, Dr. Jeffrey Mack of Tucson, Arizona, Susan Westen of Atlanta, Georgia, Joyce Regel of Sacramento, and Candace Regel of San Diego; and three grandchildren. Ms. Regel was marriage to Keith A. Regel, who preceded her in death.
Private services have been held under the direction of Spangler Mortuaries. The family prefers memorials be made in her name to Operation Blessing International (www.ob.org), 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463.
Joanne Bliss
Consultant, volunteer
Joanne Dodge Bliss of Menlo Park died January 5 at home, surrounded by family and friends. She was 59.
She was born in Laramie, Wyoming, and attended the University of Wyoming and San Jose State University, where she earned a degree in recreational therapy. She worked at Mira Monte Health Services, then went into her own private consulting business.
She enjoyed skiing, movies, gardening, animals and shopping, say family members. She was an active member and volunteer at Trinity Episcopal Church and the Child and Family Institute.
Ms. Bliss is survived by her daughter, Whitney Bliss; sisters Jeanne Eggert and Janet Wright; brother John Dodge; and 13 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Bertha Dodge.
A memorial service was held January 21 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park.
The family would appreciate contributions to Child and Family Institute, a hospice, or cancer research. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Hapgood & Tinney Funeral Home in Palo Alto.
Lucerne Beal
Former music teacher, medical missionary
A celebration of the life of Lucerne S. Beal will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 4, at the Church in the Forest in Pebble Beach. Ms. Beal lived in Pacific Grove for the past six years and was a former resident of Menlo Park, where she lived for 30 years.
Born in Alberta, Canada, she received a degree in music from the University of Arizona. She became a music teacher and an accomplished pianist. For the past 25 years, she worked in real estate, most recently at Sotheby's International in Pacific Grove.
From 1952 to 1958, she was a medical missionary in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, where she helped her husband, Dr. Charles Beal, build a hospital.
After moving to Pacific Grove, she became a member of the Church of the Forest in Pebble Beach. She enjoyed tending her garden in preparation for the annual Pacific Grove garden tour, going to concerts, and ushering at the Carmel Bach Festival, say family members.
She is survived by her son, Timothy M. Beal of Stockton; her daughter, Marcia L. Cody of Pacific Grove; brothers Duane Smith of Corte Madera and Lawrence Smith of Texas; four grandchildren; and her "adopted family," the Blades. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Charles B. Beal, in 2000.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Childhood Disease Research Foundation, 419 Fountain Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950; or The Visiting Nurse Association, P.O. Box 2480, Monterey, CA 93942.
Phyllis Bader
Voice teacher
Phyllis Cole Bader, a Menlo Park resident since 1988, died December 25. She was 92.
Ms. Bader was born in San Francisco and raised in Los Gatos. She was a national president of Rainbow Girls and a 1935 graduate of Mills College with a degree in music.
In 1937 she marriage William L. Bader and moved to Portland, where she lived for 50 years, raising her family, teaching and counseling at Cleveland High School, and giving private voice lessons.
In the early 1980s she moved to California to be closer to her children and their families. She was active in the Palo Alto Mills College Alumni Association and recently led her 70th college reunion. She worked at the Junior League Shop in Menlo Park and regularly attended cultural and musical events until her death.
Ms. Bader was a prolific purchaser of greeting cards and maintained regular correspondence with family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, and visited Hawaii this past Thanksgiving. She attended her daughter's annual Christmas Eve party hours before she died, say family members.
She is survived by her children, Reece Bader, recently of Atherton, and Lorinda Reichert of Palo Alto; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A gathering to celebrate her life will be held in the spring. The family prefers memorials be made to Mills College in Oakland or the Palo Alto/Mid Peninsula Junior League endowment fund.
Arrangements were by Roller Hapgood & Tinney.
William Kent
Gallery owner
William Kent of Moab, Utah, died December 17 of a heart attack. The former Menlo Park resident was 69.
Mr. Kent was born in Budapest, Hungary, and came to New York City with his parents as an infant. After earning a bachelor's degree from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York, he moved to California in 1959, earning a master's degree in mathematics from San Jose State University.
He worked as a computer programmer for IBM for 20 years before leaving to work at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories as a database designer. He was active in professional organizations and delivered presentations at many international conferences.
In 2000 Mr. Kent retired to Moab, Utah, where he owned the Petra Gallery. He was a photographer and author of the book, "Data and Reality." He was a true lover of nature and dedicated to environmental conservation, say family members.
Mr. Kent is survived by his children, Karen Rutel of Logan, Utah, Tikva Janetjoy Kohn of Monsey, New York, and David Kent of Gaithersburg, Maryland; brother George Kent of Honolulu; a grandson; and his former wife, Barbara Kent of Menlo Park.
Arrangements for a memorial service are pending. Memorials may be made to the Sierra Club, the National Resources Defense Council, or a similar environmental organizations. Arrangements were under the direction of Sinai Memorial Chapel in Redwood City.
Jeanne Crumpler
Newcomers Service director
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, January 13, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for Jeanne Elisabeth Crumpler of Menlo Park. Ms. Crumpler died January 4 at the age of 77.
Ms. Crumpler was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Following a successful modeling career in Chico during the 1950s, she marriage Les Crumpler, a professional musician. Once married, she opened a charm school and founded the Jeanne Ballard cosmetic line.
After she and her husband moved to California in 1982, she operated the Newcomers' Welcoming Service, which welcomed new residents to Menlo Park. Ms. Crumpler was also a founding member of the Atherlons, a group of Atherton and Menlo Park community-minded women who are still active today. She was also a member of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Crumpler is survived by her two sons, Randy of Menlo Park and Robert of San Francisco.
The family prefers memorials be made in her name to the Leukemia Society.
Alma Leitritz
Woodside homemaker
Alma Rose Leitritz, a resident of Woodside for 61 years, died January 6 in San Mateo at the age of 93.
Ms. Leitritz was born in San Francisco and was a homemaker her entire life. She enjoyed knitting and spending time with her family, say family members.
She is survived by a son, Richard Leitritz of Woodside; a granddaughter; and four great-grandchildren. Her husband, Glen Leitritz, preceded her in death.
Private services have been held under the direction of Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel.
Dr. David James Dorsey
Pediatrician, horseman
A memorial service and reception for Dr. David James Dorsey of Woodside will be held Wednesday, January 4, at 11 a.m., at Christ Church, 815 Portola Road, in Portola Valley.
Dr. Dorsey, a pediatrician who was passionate about horses and foxhunting, died December 18 after a five-month battle with cancer. He was 62.
Jim Dorsey was born and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating from Loomis Preparatory School, he attended Harvard University and went on to Stanford Medical School.
Dr. Dorsey was in private practice for 25 years with the South East Bay Pediatric Clinic until he retired. He served for several years on the board of Lifeguard HMO, and helped start several new pediatric programs with the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
Dr. Dorsey loved being MFH (master of foxhounds) for the Los Altos Hounds, and regularly traveled to South Carolina for foxhound field trials. After retiring, he loaded three horses into a trailer and drove across the country to hunt in Virginia, first with the Bull Run Hunt and later with the Keswick Hunt.
Dr. Dorsey is survived by his wife, Susan, of Woodside; and a brother, Richard, of Toronto.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests tax-deductible contributions to the MFH Hunt Staff Benefit Fund, P.O. Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646.
Tennja Amarell
Real estate agent
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 14, at Woodside Village Church in Woodside for Tennja Amarell. Ms. Amarell, a resident of Menlo Park since 1974, died December 14. She was 71.
Ms. Amarell was born in Chicago. She was a Realtor in the Woodside office of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate. She began her career in real estate with Wright & Company in 1971.
Her greatest love was her family and grandchildren, says her husband of 38 years, Dietrich Amarell.
She is survived by her husband, Dietrich, of Menlo Park; children James Brunell of San Luis Obispo, Kirk Thatcher of Northridge, and Alexandra Amarell of Menlo Park; brothers Samuel Pelzman of Mazatlan, Mexico, and Keith Pelzman of Dallas; and five grandchildren. Her daughter, Lynda Brunell Gentry, preceded her in death.
Memorials in her name may be made to Pathways Hospice Foundation, 585 North Mary Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085; telephone 408-730-1200.
