Saratoga News

Obituaries

Stuart Harry Howell

Stuart Harry Howell, 79, former owner of the Saratoga Market, died March 13 in Santa Cruz.

He was born in San Francisco on Oct. 15, 1917. He is survived by five children, Lorraine Howell, Stuart Howell, Nikki Chicotel, Linda Howell and Patti Howell; sons-in-law David Wilma and Michael Chicotel; daughter-in-law Marie Howell; and four grandchildren.

Mr. Howell spent over 50 years working in the grocery business, starting as a stock boy and clerk and ultimately owning his own store in Saratoga. For over a decade, the Saratoga Market on Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, behind the fire station and post office, was known as "Mr. Howell's store."

He closed the store in 1972, and it is now a Contempo Real Estate office.

"Saratoga used to have small family-owned businesses," said his daughter Linda Howell. "It used to be the kind of town where you'd shop."

"He was at his best in a grocery check stand," his daughter said. "He used an old-fashioned cash register, and he knew all of the prices. He remembered customers' names and their kids names, and he'd play with the kids' while ringing items up."

It was the kind of store where the butcher knew everyone's cut of meat by heart, Linda said. It was also one of the few stores of its era that had charge accounts for customers.

Mr. Howell, a basketball and football star during his days at Burlingame High School, was an avid sports fan, said his daughter.

Mr. Howell's ashes will be scattered at sea, and the family will celebrate his life at "Tony Roma's or Denny's, whichever doesn't remember his tipping," his daughter said. "We learned never to let Dad leave the tip at dinner--35 cents just wasn't enough after 1953."

Sally Anne McBride

Sally Anne McBride, 23, of Ridgefield, Conn., died in Boulder,Colo., of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Boulder. She was the daughter of Robert J. and Jacqueline McBride of Ridgefield.

She was born Nov. 4, 1973, in Hinsdale, Ill., and was a 1992 graduate of Ridgefield High School. She attended Vassar College and, at the time of her death, was a senior majoring in psychology at Colorado University.

She previously lived in Saratoga with her family. Besides her parents, the survivors include two brothers, Matthew and Benjamin McBride, and two sisters, Amy and Maureen, all of Ridgefield.

Mary Holbrook

Mary Holbrook, 68, an active volunteer with Friends of the Libraries and Our Lady of Fatima, died March 15 in her Saratoga home after a long illness.

She was a native of Milwaukee, Wisc., and the widow of the late Lt. Col. Charles Holbrook. She is survived by her brother Robert. A. Vogt of Wisconsin, niece Carla Vogt of Wisconsin and cousins Katherine Walvoord and Dolores Herman.

As a member the Foothill Club, she coordinated Saratoga's Memorial Day ceremonies each year. She also helped with the club's Christmas basket program. She was an active supporter of the Saratoga Historical Museum, where she recruited, trained and scheduled docents. For Friends of the Libraries, she worked at book sales and volunteered to staff the Saratoga Library's periodical table.

She came to California as a 19-year-old and wanted to stay, her niece said. Her father said she could as long as she got a job. She got hired as a Red Cross nurse's aid and later continued her volunteer work with the USO. Eventually, she was hired as a USO director and traveled all over the world. She met her husband-to-be while setting up a USO canteen in Korea. Later, both retired and settled in Saratoga.

A memorial service was held March 26 at Spangler Mortuaries in Los Altos. Donations to the Friends of the Libraries, the Saratoga Historical Museum and the Foothill Club are preferred.

Edwin Dearborn Kilbourne

Dr. Edwin D. Kilbourne, 85, died March 20 at his home in Placerville. He was a physician for 39 years. He practiced medicine in Saratoga and Los Gatos and was a former chief of staff at O'Connor Hospital, a founding staff member at Los Gatos Community Hospital and a former chief of medical services at the hospital. He also worked part time at West Valley College in the Student Health Department.

He was a graduate of the University of Hawaii and the USC School of Medicine.

Dr. Kilbourne was a member of the Santa Clara County Medical Society and the Saratoga Men's Club, and he did volunteer work at the Saratoga Senior Center.

He and his wife, Willa, who passed away March 9, 1997, moved to the Placerville area in September 1996. He is survived by sons Peter Kilbourne of Utah and Rob Kilbourne of Placerville and four grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at Madronia Cemetery on April 4 at 11 a.m.