MARY LOU WALLACE
Mary Lou Wallace passed away peacefully on June 3, 2005 in Santa Cruz at the home of her daughter, Patti Palma. She was 90 years old.
Mary Lou was born in Oakland, CA and grew up in San Francisco where she met and married Walter Wallace, the love of her life. They maintained a vital and passionate relationship through nearly 45 years, enjoying their mutual love of life, family and music. In her early years living in the Palo Alto/Los Altos area, she became involved in PTA, scout leadership and served on the first Newcomers Board in Palo Alto. Mary Lou and Wally build a life with their daughter in Los Altos for over 40 years. Los Altos became the most special place to live as they raised their family and treasured the community.
One of the greatest joys of her life was spending her summers at Meeks Bay in Lake Tahoe where she created 75 years of special memories with her family and friends.
With deepest, loving thoughts and memories, we say goodbye to our wonderful mother, extraordinary grandmother, who is also known as Gigi to her great-grandchildren, Auntie Boop and the “cookie lady” to the neighborhood children.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Pattie and Joe Palma of Santa Cruz, grandchildren Morgan and Mark Palma of Laguna Niguel and Jayson and Amy Duhn of Aliso Viejo and great granddaughters Abigail, Sydney, Lindsay and Casey.
A gathering of friends and family paid tribute to her life with a living memorial on her 90th birthday, January 16, 2005.
DONNA DEAN RENSHAW
Donna Dean Renshaw passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2004. Donna was born on June 18, 1924 in Rexburg, Idaho. She lived in Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah for many years, relocating to Los Altos for 25 years, then finally to Healdsburg for the remaining years of her life. Donna was the loving wife of Roland Ralph Renshaw for 60 years. She is survived by her sons Ron, Jim and daughters, Nancy and Sandy. Donna’s daugher-in-law, Joann, was like a daughter to her and she was also very fond of her son-in-law, Baldemar Ruiz. She is also survived by five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Donna was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Over the years she held almost every position a woman could hold in the church and considered it her education, aside from her role as homemaker and wife of Roland, former Chief of Police of Los Altos. As a member of the ladies organization of her church (Relief Society), she learned to quilt in 1955. That became her interest in life. First learning, then teaching quilt making, she then opened a quilt shop, “The Quilting Bee”, in Los Altos. Hundreds of students came through her doors while she taught classes as well as sold fabric. After she and Roland retired to Healdsburg in 1978 she started making baby quilts for the Children’s Quilt Project in Oakland, an organization that gives quilts to babies with AIDS, abused children and homeless children. More than 1,1140 quilts had been made in the 12 years she had devoted her spare time to that project 1988-2000. Family, home, gardening, and quilting have occupied her retirement. She considers her life successful and happy with a loving husband, children and environment.
Donna requested that her mourners spend a little time doing a kindness for someone less fortunate than themselves. Services were held last December, however her daughter knows that she had many friends in Los Altos.
Services were held at Oak Mound Cemetery, Healdsburg, CA.
DAVID STEVEN WYLE
March 8, 1952 - June 1, 2005
David Steven Wyle - Three months after the diagnosis of a fast acting lung cancer, David died June 1, 2005 at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. He is survived by his parents, Charley & Bronia Wyle, and his sister, Karen Wyle.
David was born in Hartford, Connecticut and spent his first 11 years there. His family then moved to California, where he lived and worked as a technical writer in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Woodside, Los Altos, and finally Mountain View.
He read and researched voraciously in the many aspects of life that fascinated him and created thousands of pages of journals throughout his adult life. He was genuinely interested in people and almost automatically made friends with anyone he encountered.
A wonderfully talented pianist, David inspired his friends with his improvisations and moving interpretations. His friends and family will remember him as a kind, generous, loving person of high intellect and great warmth.
Though David suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) for many years, he continued his broad interests. Memorial contributions may be made to the National CFIDS Foundation, Inc., 103 Aletha Road, Needham, MA 02492.
There will be a memorial gathering for David on Friday, June 17, from 3 to 7 P.M., at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, 482 University Avenue, Los Altos. Anyone counting David a friend will be most welcome. There will be another memorial gathering later in the month in the Los Angeles area.
DOROTHY L. SIEKMAN
Dorothy L. Siekman, age 97, entered into the presence of her Lord on June 7, 2005 in Los Altos, CA
Dorothy was born on New Years Day, 1908 in Fredonia, Kansas, to Cecil P. and Veva Lewis and was preceded in death by her husband, Harold L. Siekman of Hastings, NE and her younger twin sisters, Ruth Lindsley of Wichita, KS and Ruby Morris of Fredonia, KS. She is survived by her daughter, Pat Osborne and son-in-law Bill Osborne of Los Altos, CA; son, Kenneth L. Siekman and daughter-in-law Barbara Siekman of Norman, OK; son, David A. Siekma and daughter-in-law Sherry Siekman of Edmond, OK; granddaughters Susan Noriega and son-in-law Gerardo of Mountain View, CA; Nancy Osborne of Los Altos, CA; Angela Siekman of Los Angeles, CA; great grandchildren, Nicolas and Alexander Noriega of Mountain View, CA and Chandara Paschal of Los Angeles, CA and many nieces and nephews. Dorothy received her B.A. and Masters degrees in music from the University of Montana. Prior to her marriage she received the distinction of being acclaimed in music reviews from coast to coast as one of the most promising young organist in America. In 1928 and 1929 Dorothy toured America as the organist for the famous Passion Play from Freiburg, Baden, Germany, which played to over 150,000 during the first week of the tour in Chicago. Many of her recitals and programs were broadcast over leading radio stations. During the many years raising her three children, Dorothy was renowned as a church organist and served as the society editor of the Hastings Daily Tribune. In 1954, Dorothy began her career with Transamerica-Occidental Life in Hastings and in 1958 moved to Oklahoma City to be near her sons. Dorothy was one of the first two women in the United States to be awarded the professional designation of Chartered Life Underwriter in 1970. She became the first woman agent to receive the Oklahoma City Association of Life Underwriters, “Agent of the Year Award”, an award given by a points system which includes sales, industry involvement, civic involvement and service to the community. This involvement included service as a life member of Big Sisters of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma County March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society and the Cultural Development Committee of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, service to the Civic Music Association, the Oklahoma Symphony Society and the Lyric Theatre. In 1980 Dorothy became the first recipient of the John Arthur Allison Award, citing her outstanding contributions to the insurance industry, her community and her family. Dorothy served as a patron and member of the American Association of University Women and numerous local and national music societies and sororities. During the 35 years Dorothy resided in Oklahoma City, she was a charter member of the Pilot Club and a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder, a member of the choir and many of the Church’s committees. Dorothy finally retired at the age of 85 and moved to Los Altos, CA to be with her daughter, Pat and family, who so lovingly cared for her and provided her with a life filled with activity and service, loving her grandchildren and years of enjoying the San Francisco Symphony and Opera.
She was a member of the Los Altos United Methodist church and active in the Women’s Association and as a Stephen Minister.
A family service was held on June 13 and a memorial service on June 14 at the Los Altos United Methodist Church.
Memorials in Dorothy’s name may be made to the Organ Fund, Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024-5257.
