It is with great sadness and a broken heart that the Dicks family shares the unexpected news of the loss of our beloved mother Mary Ruth Dicks, on June 3rd 2021.
Mary Ruth Dicks, previously a 40-year resident of La Cañada Flintridge, passed away in Simi Valley, where she lived with family for the last 7 years, unexpectedly at the age of 78 years old.
She was a Southern California native, born in Los Angeles, on August 13, 1942, to Erwin and Ruth Lampe.
A fixture in education with the La Cañada Flintridge community, she dedicated 37 years to teaching. After graduating from UCLA in three years with an Economics degree, she began teaching high school for her alma mater Marlborough School in Los Angeles. After raising two sons, she returned to education as a preschool teacher at Parents and Children’s Preschool. She really discovered her true love in education being a math teacher at La Cañada High School for 20 years, where she was Teacher of the Year in 2004.
Kathryn (Kay) Elizabeth Mingin, 86, of Burbank, passed away on May 5, 2021. She was born to the late James and Leah Keefe on May 5, 1935, in Peoria, IL. Kay graduated from Academy of Our Lady High School in 1953.
She married the late Anthony “Tony” Mingin in 1956.
Beloved by her 8 children and entire family, Kay was passionate about the arts, especially literature, ballet and Broadway musicals. In addition, she was a well-respected staff member at St. Joseph Medical Center for overforty years.
Leeray Jean Eldridge, of Montrose, California passed away June 4, 2021 after battling with cancer. Leeray was born November 23, 1954 in Burbank, California. She is survived by her brothers Elliott Maehl of Arizona, Russ Maehl of Australia, sisters Sandra Sleigh and Lisa McKeown of California and many nieces and nephews. Leeray has two children, daughter Jamilee Heady, and son Daniel Keagy. Leeray has 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, all residing in Oregon. Preceded in death are her granddaughter Katie Keagy of Oregon and her mom Muriel Herrick of Glendale, California.
Ron Farina, former CEO of the La Cresenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, passed away on June 2nd in his home after a 4-year battle with cancer.
Ron was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Cathedral High School. He went on to attend Cal State LA and enjoyed a 40-year career with the American Red Cross, spending the last 18 years serving the community of Glendale.
Ron is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughter, Katherine Farina Ternan, his stepdaughters, Tera Leonard, Rachael Grey, Erin Baugher, 5 grandchildren and his sister, Rebecca Peterson.
The Funeral Mass will be held on August 12th, 1:00 p.m. at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena.
Robert Sherman Eldridge of Coronado passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Bob was born May 6, 1927 to Samuel and Marion Eldridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bob spent his childhood in Boston then moved west to San Francisco, where he graduated from George Washington High School. He was proud to be the 10x-great grandson of John and Joan Tilley of the Mayflower.
In 1944, he entered the Navy and served in WW II aboard the troop transport USS Pickaway. After the war he attended college at UCLA, where he played clarinet in the marching band. Playing in the band was one of his fondest memories, referring to it as his “claim to fame.”
After graduating he taught junior high school, worked as an arborist, and eventually found his calling as a probation officer in Glendale, California. It was there that he met the love of his life, Phyllis. Bob asked Phyllis if she
Alexander Davis Bache of La Canada Flintridge died by misadventure June 15, 2021. Born in 1995, in Arcadia, California, he spent his earliest years in Pasadena before moving with his family to La Canada in 1997. At La Canada High School he participated in men’s ensemble, theater and debate and was a standout wrestler at 182 lbs for a league championship team, earning the team MVP award his senior year. He graduated in 2014.
His tight group of friends will remember a thoughtful grandiose peer. He was an avid and prodigious reader and media critic. Their group endured many mental health challenges and worked as best they knew how to support each other.
Robert Grew Syphers, 91, a longtime resident of Burbank, CA passed away peacefully at home on May 15, 2021.
Robert was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on April 16, 1930. He was the oldest of seven children to Theophilus and Eleanor Syphers. He is survived by his sisters: Zoe Anne (Les) Moulton of Wells, Maine; Priscilla Zoffoli of Stratham, NH; and Bruce Syphers of Greenland, NH; as well as many nieces and nephews throughout the New England area.
He is pre-deceased by his brothers, Roger of Hampton, NH; Richard of Litchfield, NH; and Johnny of Portsmouth, NH.
Eunice Facchetti was born on June 23, 1941 in the town of Orleans, Brazil, to Carlos and Esther Ukstin. Eunice’s father was a Baptist pastor who established a number of churches in Brazil, including in some indigenous regions of the country. Eunice had three brothers, Jonas, Jose, and Carlos (“Cico”), and a sister, Nancy.
Eunice Facchetti
In 1969 she came to the United States to visit her sister. While she was visiting, she met Nolberto Facchetti and they fell in love. They married in November, 1969 in Las Vegas. Unable to have children of their own, they decided to adopt. In July 1974 they adopted Christopher Facchetti and in June 1979 they adopted Adrianos Facchetti. Christopher and Adrianos were her pride and joy.
Eunice was also proud of her Brazilian heritage. She taught Christopher and Adrianos her native tongue, and gave them the precious gift of dual Brazilian and United States Citizenship.
David Clayton, a longtime resident of Burbank, went home to be with the Lord on May 6, 2021. He was 88 years old. Dave was born on January 25, 1933, in Los Angeles to Charles and Isabel Clayton. He graduated from Hoover High School in 1951. In 1953, after enlisting in the Navy, he married Marilyn Eisele. They had five sons who all graduated from Burbank High School, where he was Booster Club President from ’74-’75. He spent his career as a union plumber, eventually becoming a partner in Cal-State Plumbing.
As time went on, he and Marilyn were blessed with 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. They retired to Arroyo Grande in 1992.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 68 years. His sons Dave (Wendy), Steve (Diane), Paul, John (Christi), and Phil (Barb) along with cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved granddaughter Rachel. David Clayton was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. He was much loved and will be greatly missed.
Esther Mary Bowen passed away on December 28th, 2020, after a month long battle with complications from surgery and heart disease. She was born on June 23, 1932 to Joseph and Margaret Thompson in the outskirts of London, England. She was predeceased by her parents, brother William, and husband of 59 years Kenneth Bowen. Esther is survived by her loving family, Allison and husband Peter Weir with their three grown daughters, Heather, Michelle and Kimberly Weir, and son Ross Bowen, with his wife Charlotte and their two grown children Spencer and Sidney Bowen.
After WWII, upon leaving school, Esther landed a wonderful job at the new headquarters of Time and Life magazines as a secretary and tour guide. As a young working woman, Esther loved to go dancing with friends. It was this love of dancing that brought Ken and Esther together one night at the Hammersmith Palais. hen they met, Ken was a shy, but fun loving carpenter. Ken and Esther’s romance blossomed and they were married in 1955.
In 1957, Ken and Esther emigrated to Toronto, Canada where Allison and Ross were born. In 1966, the family moved across Canada to Vancouver, B.C., and three years later in 1970 the family immigrated to the US and landed in Glendale, making it their home.
Ken and Esther continued their love of dancing with the Coronets dance club. They also enjoyed attending the Glendale Symphony orchestra performances. Esther became involved with the Women’s Committee of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra, served as President, and when the orchestra moved to the Alex, she became instrumental in the initial refurbishment of the Alex Theater.
Esther was an avid volunteer. She was a Girl Scout leader and trainer for many years. She served at St. Mark’s church on the Alter Guild, the Vestry, the choir and as a Lay Reader. She drove for Meals on Wheels. She was a long-time active member of both The Oakmont League of Glendale and Las Candelas and enjoyed the hands-on community actives the most. Esther and Ken were members of the Oakmont Country Club and enjoyed combining golf with their love of travel. They golfed all over the country and they traveled around the world.
Esther was an accomplished seamstress, making her own clothes for many years. Later she developed a love for knitting, crochet, needlepoint and quilting. Her handmade blankets and needlepoint stockings are legendary and a reminder of her love and skill in dozens of homes in the US and England. The collection of blankets still in use by the family today dates back to the 1970’s.
Ken and Esther lived in Glendale until 2014 when they sold the family home and moved Ken to the memory care unit at Solheim retirement home in Eagle Rock. Esther joined him there in her own apartment where she continued her handiwork, joined in family events and continued to enjoy the company of friends and family at the Oakmont Country Club and her organizations.
Esther’s presence and love will be missed by all who knew her. The family laid her ashes to rest and celebrated her life at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glendale on April 16th, 2021.
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