DINA CARRIKER
Dina Carriker cared for generations of local residents during her 41-year career as a registered nurse at San Francisco General Hospital. The lifelong San Francisco resident, known for her sharp wit and big heart, died Aug. 6 of cancer. She was 89.
Born March 14, 1916, Ms. Carriker was the eldest daughter of Romualdo and Angelina Santoni. She started her nursing career at Laguna Honda Hospital in 1938 after graduating from Mary’s Help Hospital in San Francisco. The following year, she joined the Pediatrics Department at SF General. A short time later, she became Operating Room nurse, a position she held at the hospital for the remainder of her career. When she retired in 1981, San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein issued a proclamation recognizing Ms. Carriker’s dedication to her patients.
Ms. Carriker donated much time and money to organizations benefiting the city she loved. She was particularly proud of her membership in the Italian Catholic Federation.
Ms. Carriker forged numerous friendships during her lifetime of adventures. Nearly 200 friends and family members overflowed the pews at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church to pay tribute to Ms. Carriker Aug. 12.
Ms. Carriker is survived by her sister Josie Vanucci; nieces, Deanna Taaffe of Los Altos Hills, Joanne Meacham and Ramona Button; nephew Bob Vanucci; and numerous grand nieces and nephews and godchildren. She was predeceased by her sister Natalina.
WILLIAM MCCLURE EATON
William McClure Eaton, Lieutenant Colonel, acclaimed war hero, was born March 17, 1919 in Detroit, MI. He attended North Denver High School in Denver, Colorado and graduated from the University of Denver in 1940 receiving a BS degree in Commerce. In February 1941, he was inducted into the U. S. Army, 35th Infantry Division in Camp Robinson, AR. In October 1942 he transferred to U.S. Army Air Corps, Aviation Cadet Program. On June 19, 1943, he graduated from Mather Air Base in California as Celestial Navigator with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
His next assignment was to the 615th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Group and he participated in 31 missions as lead navigator. Five of these were over Berlin. On a mission to Leipzig, February 20, 1944, he received credit for shooting down a ME-109 aircraft. This mission also resulted in the award of the Distinguished Unit Citation to the 401st BG. On May 8, 1944 his aircraft had two engines shot out over Berlin, but the trusty B-17 managed to return to England. Bill spent almost a month in the 231st Station Hospital at Deopham Green, England, but returned to active duty in time to participate in D-Day.
He finished his tour of 31 missions in June 1944 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, first Oak Leaf Cluster; Purple Heart; Air Medal, third Oak Leaf Cluster; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, three bronze service stars; American Defense Service Medal; Presidential Unit Citation; Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon; Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and the American Campaign Medal. During his 30 day leave in September 1944 he married Hilda Gustafson. He was separated from the Air Force in October 1945, but remained active in Air Force Reserve components until he retired in 1979 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
The years that followed military service were spent at TWA, Lockheed Aircraft Overseas Corporation in Iceland, Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division, and Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale CA (1958). At Lockheed he spent 28 years in program management involving a number of classified programs, all related to the ongoing Cold War. During this time he received his MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He retired from Lockheed in January 1986.
After his retirement from Lockheed he found time to write several documents. He published three manuscripts on his family genealogy. After ten years of study, field trips and examination of Pueblo (Anasazi) Indian art work in the form of petroglyphs, pictographs, and kiva art murals, he copyrighted his book “Odyssey of the Pueblo Indians”. His recollections from eight of his World War II missions were published in the book 401st Bomb Group “The Best Damn Outfit in the USAAF”.
He was a collector of stamps, enjoyed golf and traveling, and pursued rockhounding for many years. He was a longtime member of the Los Altos United Methodist Church and a former member of SIRS, Seniors in Retirement.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Hilda; children William R. Eaton (Dorothy), AnnaLee Williams (Jim), AnnaBelle Wrench (Dwight); six grandchildren: Rick, Donn, Tiffney, Shannon, Kevin, and Gregory; and his sister Nancy Cross from Colorado. His son, Fred predeceased him. He has lived in Los Altos, California for 47 years in the house he designed and built.
He passed away peacefully on August 13, 2005 with his family at his side. Services will be private.
