Jeanne Wilson
Obituaries
Jeanne Wilson
Longtime Los Gatan Jeanne Allan Wilson died on March 6, in her home at the age of 85.
Wilson was born Jan. 1, 1915, in the Philippine town of Zamboanga. At the time, her father worked in the Philippines as an engineer for U.S. Naval ships and also as a mason. Wilson was schooled in the United States as well as in the Channel Islands and in her parents' native Scotland.
After completing a business course at the Munson School for Private Secretaries in San Francisco, she worked in the legal, real estate, insurance and architecture fields, then returned to the Philippines, where she worked for Marsman & Company, a gold-mining business. She also worked as a substitute teacher and principal's secretary at a school in her hometown of Zamboanga.
In 1939, she took a position as temporary stenographer with the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company in Manila, then moved to Hong Kong and worked for the English law firm Deacons, Solicitors. After various other jobs, she returned to the United States after the outbreak of WWII and settled in Los Gatos in 1947. She soon took a job with Bank of America in San Francisco, commuting daily by Greyhound bus. After 11 years at that job, she worked for the city and county of San Francisco.
Among Wilson's interests was traveling, town affairs, getting to know both neighbors and shopkeepers, working in her garden and dancing.
Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Jacqueline and William Turner of Los Gatos; and grandchildren Forrest, Violette, Jeanne and Autumn. She is also survived by her 15-year-old cat and cherished pet, Muffin.
Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park. Donations may be made to the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley, 2530 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, 95050.
Alexander Wilson
Los Gatos resident Alexander Wilson died on March 23, at the age of 85.
Born March 23, 1915, in San Francisco, Wilson was a graduate of Tamalpais School for Boys and UC-Berkeley. During World War II, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army's Horse Cavalry. He ran Mickelsen's Furniture as his last profession.
Survivors include wife Betty Wilson of Los Gatos; daughter and son-in-law Sharon Good-Smith and Robert Smith; son and daughter-in-law Alexander and Marie Wilson; grandchildren Brian and Ward Good and Alexander Wilson; also four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to The Family Foundation Charitable Trust, 545 Powell St., San Francisco, 94108.
Lee Aldrich
Lee Aldrich
Former Los Gatos resident Lee Aldrich died on March 29, in his San Jose home after a long illness. He was 89.
Born May 13, 1910, in Hannibal, Mo., Aldrich moved to Rockford, Mich., after his high school graduation to work for an uncle. He later was employed by the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. In 1942, he purchased Rockford Motor Sales and renamed the dealership Aldrich Chevrolet.
He brought his family to Los Gatos in 1957, where he worked for the Klindt Agency until his 1981 retirement. He later decided to come out of retirement and took a job with Service Insurance Associates, Inc. Aldrich was active in fraternal societies, including the Masons, Elks and Moose, and San Jose Club of Islam Temple. He also enjoyed gardening and travel.
Aldrich was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Louise Blumenstein Aldrich. Survivors include wife Virginia Parr Shannon Aldrich of San Jose; son and daughter-in-law David and Sheila Aldrich of Kennebunkport, Maine; daughters and sons-in-law Mary and Wesley Hogan of Los Gatos, and Risé and David Schwartz of Los Gatos; stepson and daughter-in-law Gary and Debra Shannon of Rocklin; grandson Mark Hogan of Portland, Ore.; granddaughters Jill Hogan Lore, Stephanie Schwartz and Sarah Schwartz of Los Gatos and Shana Aldrich of Boston, Mass.; step-grandchildren Rachelle and Michael Shannon of Rocklin; and great-grandson Maxwell Lore of Los Gatos.
Memorial services have been held, with interment at Rockford Cemetery in Michigan. A celebration of Aldrich's life will take place on April 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. For directions, call 408.723.2818.
Donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1150 S. Bascom Ave., Unit 7-A, San Jose, 95128, or to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, 95817.
Edward Geddie
Former Los Gatan Edward William Geddie died on April 1, in Colorado. He was 81.
Born March 21, 1919, in Colfax, Texas, Geddie worked as a custodian at Van Meter elementary school in Los Gatos.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law Howard and Karen Geddie; daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Gary Olstad; grandchildren Deborah Vasquez, Kathryn Mooney and Brian and Michael Geddie; six great-grandchildren; sister Minnie Bonhan and brother Edgar Geddie.
Allen Block
Former Los Gatan Allen E. "Al" Block died in his Santa Cruz home on April 7, at the age of 75.
Block was born Aug. 15, 1924, in S. Dakota, the tenth of 11 children. He came to California as a 12-year-old in 1937 and graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in 1943, the first of three generations of his family to do so.
During WWII, Block served in the Merchant Marines, making several trips across the Atlantic to Europe. He had owned and operated Village Printers in Los Gatos since 1958 and remained active in the business until his 1988 move to the Santa Cruz area. While in Los Gatos, he was also a longtime member and a past president of the Los Gatos Lions Club.
Among his favorite pastimes was baseball games; on his last Merchant Marine tour, which took him along the East Coast, Block visited Yankee Stadium, The Polo Fields and Boston's Fenway Park.
Survivors include wife of 52 years Marion Block of Santa Cruz; daughter and son-in-law Jackie and Duino Giordano of Los Gatos; son and daughter-in-law Mark Block and Gretchen Werner of Aptos; son Chris Block and partner Thomas Pena of San Francisco; and grandchildren Bart and Katie Giordano and Hunter and Molly Block.
Memorial services have been held.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
