Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Obituaries

Daryl Gridley

Los Gatos resident Daryl G. Gridley died of a heart attack March 24 at the age of 54.

Gridley was born March 17, 1942 in Fresno. A graduate of the former Camden High School, he worked as an electrician for many years at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332 and served as president of TELCO Mixed League Bowling in the San Jose area.

According to his wife G. Ann, Gridley's loves in life were his job, his family, rock and roll music and Dr. Pepper. "He went through life with a positive outlook and always went out of his way to help others," she said.

Survivors include wife G. Ann and children Jill and Andy, all of Los Gatos; mother and stepfather Rowena and Everett Berggren of Vacaville; and sisters Nancy McCollum of Vacaville and Rosemary Croll of Portland, Ore.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the Calvary Church Music Department, 16330 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos, 95032.

Barbara Mitchell

Former Los Gatos resident Barbara Jeanne "Bobbie" Mitchell died in Morgan Hill April 7 at the age of 72.

Born Aug. 1, 1923 in the Bronx, N.Y., Mitchell lived in Santa Clara County for more than 50 years, 45 of them in Los Gatos. A devoted homemaker, Mitchell volunteered with the Good Samaritan Auxiliary for 25 years and was a member of the Los Gatos History Club and the St. Louise Foundation Auxiliary.

Survivors include husband of 50 years Dr. Lloyd T. Mitchell of Morgan Hill; son Tom Mitchell of San Luis Obispo; daughters Lynn Roth of Morgan Hill and Jeanne Adcock of Hollister; grandchildren Shannon and Mary Kate Mitchell, Kristen and Mitch Roth and Meghan and Lauren Adcock; and brother James Lynch of Florida.

Services have been held, with inurnment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the VNA Hospice Support League of South County, 7855 Wren Ave., Suite D, Gilroy, 95020.

Mary Martucci

Los Gatan Mary G. Martucci died April 8 at the Community Hospital of Los Gatos.

Born in New York City, Martucci moved west and settled first in Los Angeles, where she worked as a medical assistant for many years. About 20 years ago, she came to Los Gatos, where she was an active member of the Italian Catholic Federation of St. Mary's Church.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Barbara J. and Jack C. Hardin of Los Gatos; grandchildren Michael Perkins, Kim Perkins and Laura Perkins Payne and great-grandsons Matthew and Michael Payne, all of Southern California.

Services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the Italian Catholic Federation of St. Mary's Catholic Church, 219 Bean Ave., Los Gatos, 95030.

Joseph Norton

Joseph Devore "Valley Joe" Norton of Redwood Estates died April 8 of emphysema at his daughter's Alameda home. He was 63.

Born in Manhattan on April 20, 1932, Norton grew up in Connecticut and New York. He moved to Los Gatos in 1965 with his wife Carolyn. They had previously resided in Encino, where Norton was active in the Malibu surfing scene. He carried that interest with him here; in the 1960s he opened his California Surfer shops in San Jose and Santa Cruz locations, the latter now closed.

Norton also served in the
U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955.

According to daughter Anne Norton-Dingwall, her father loved classic American automobiles and the ocean and enjoyed stock market activity. She recalled him as "a local character with a zany personality, known and loved by many.

"Kids who couldn't always speak to their parents knew they could talk to him. He was the most thoughtful man you'll ever run into," she said.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Anne Norton-Dingwall and Dalton Dingwall of Alameda; son and daughter-in-law Thomas and Sarah Norton of Santa Cruz; grandchildren Siobhan Phelan Dingwall and Dylan Green Norton and sister Ellen Day of Simi Valley. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn.

Memorial services have been held. Through arrangements with the Neptune Society, Norton's ashes were scattered at sea. Donations may be made to the American Lung Association or to a charity of choice.