Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Miriam Levy
Native of England
Miriam Lieba Diskin Levy, a resident of Menlo Park for 30 years, died December 26 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 76.
Born in London in 1923, she was sent to live in an orphanage at age 9, after both her parents had died. She and her sister later went to live with a family friend, and then their uncle Michael. Her uncle's kindness in caring for the girls was something she never forgot and would later be something she herself would do, say family members.
As a teenager, she won the London Regional Lifeboat Essay contest two years in a row. She also worked for an organization devoted to helping families escape from Western Europe to England before that country entered World World II. During the war she made barrage balloons, which were floated over London to deter air attacks by enemy aircraft. At a dance she met an American serviceman, Irwin Levy, and they were marriage in London in 1942.
As an Air Force wife, Mrs. Levy lived in New York, New Jersey, Mississippi and Texas, before moving with her family to California, where she became an American citizen. In 1968, she and her husband retired and moved to Menlo Park where they lived in the same house for the past 30 years.
She had unconditional love for her family, according to her son Phillip A. Levy. "She taught us all that no matter what disappointments we might bring her, she would love us just as much as when we brought her joy and pride," he said. "Her last year of life was a tribute to her true character and spirit as she struggled bravely against cancer while caring for a 12-year-old granddaughter."
Mrs. Levy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Irwin J. Levy of Menlo Park; sister Sylvia Diskin Hughes of England; sons Douglas J. Levy and Phillip A. Levy of Columbia, Maryland; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held in Palo Alto on January 3 with Burial at Arlington National Cemetery on January 6.
Jack Bowley
Insurance executive
@text A memorial celebration is set for Tuesday, January 4, for Jack F. Bowley of Menlo Park, who died at Stanford Hospital on December 28. He was 82.
Mr. Bowley lived in Atherton from 1966 to 1987, then moved to Menlo Park.
Born in San Francisco, he graduated from Balboa High School, then served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946.
Mr. Bowley worked as a public accountant before joining Argonaut Insurance Co., where he served as treasurer, president and chairman of the board. He retired in 1974.
An avid golf and domino player, he was also a member of Brotherhood Lodge, Scottish Rite, Islam Temple, the Jesters and the Eldorado Country Club. He was a charter member of Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club.
Mr. Bowley is survived by his wife, Margaret Bowley of Menlo Park; his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Richard Landauer of Atherton; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Adele Bowley of Menlo Park; three step-children, Gayle Hart, Keith Davenport and Anne Hampton; four grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Wilma Bowley.
The memorial celebration on January 4 is set for 4 p.m. at the Menlo Circus Club, 190 Park Lane, Atherton. Private Burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma.
The family prefers that memorial donations be sent to That Man May See Inc. (UC-San Francisco vision research foundation), 8 Kirkham St., San Francisco, CA 94143-0352.
Patricia Conroy Mattison
Nurse
Patricia Conroy Mattison, a resident of Menlo Park for 40 years, died at the Forum Community in Cupertino on December 24. She was 70.
Mrs. Mattison was active in establishing the Charles Armstrong School, an independent school for dyslexic learners based in Belmont, and retained a lifelong interest in the school. A scholarship endowment fund is named in honor of her and her husband, Dr. Wilbur E. Mattison Jr.
Born in Cincinnati, she attended Smith College for two years and transferred to Johns Hopkins University's School of Nursing, where she graduated in 1952. While she was a student nurse, she met and marriage her husband, then a medical student. Similarly, her parents met when they were both staff members at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
As a resident of Menlo Park, she was active in the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and community affairs.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patti and David O'Dell of Gooding, Idaho; and her son and daughter-in-law, Wilbur and Kristie Mattison of San Jose. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Conroy Whitney, of Old Saybrook, Connecticut; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on December 28 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.
The family prefers that donations be made to the Charles Armstrong School, 1405 Solana Drive, Belmont, CA 94002; or the charity of the donor's choice.
Funeral arrangements were made by Roller, Hapgood & Tinney of Palo Alto.
Arthur Hooker
Pacific Bell employee
Arthur Henry Hooker died of heart disease December 17 at Sequoia Hospital. He was 76.
Mr. Hooker and his family had lived in Menlo Park in the same house for 45 years. He retired from Pacific Bell Company after 30 years of service as a repairman and, later, as a PBX installer.
Born in Dixon, Nebraska, Mr. Hooker was one of 12 children. He served in the Merchant Marine in World War II.
"Arthur will always be remembered for his glowing smile," said his widow, Margaret Hooker.
In addition to his wife, Margaret, Mr. Hooker is survived by a daughter, two sons, five grandchildren, three sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
At his request, he was cremated and there will be no funeral service. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1710 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame, 94010, or to a favorite charity.
Robert Beveridge Walker
Former Woodside resident
Robert Beveridge Walker, a Woodside resident for 21 years, died at his home in Carmel on November 26. He was 75.
Born in San Francisco, Mr. Walker attended Stanford University, earning his bachelor's degree in 1945 and his master's in business in 1950.
Mr. Walker is survived by his wife, Betsy Ross Walker of Carmel; his daughters, Nancy Walker Low of La Canada and Margaret Walker of Salem, Oregon; and two grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Neptune Society. The family prefers memorial donations be made to the SPCA of Monterey County, P.O. Box 3058, Monterey, CA 93942; or the Glaucoma Research Foundation, 200 Pine St., suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94104.
Reider Glen Johnson
Retired contractor
Services for Reider Glen Johnson, a Menlo Park resident, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, January 23, at 517 Roxbury Way in Belmont. Mr. Johnson died in Menlo Park on November 19, at the age of 54.
Mr. Johnson worked as a contractor in San Mateo for more than 30 years, and was a member of Native Sons of the Golden West.
He is survived by his wife Laurie; his daughters Heather and Whitney; and his grandson Luke.
The family prefers that memorial donations be made to the Reider Johnson Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1032, Pleasanton, CA 94588.
