George
is a native Californian, having been born and raised in Oxnard. After
graduating from high school in 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps
and was called up in December of 1944. He spent the next three years in
the South Pacific fighting World War II.
After the war, George spent two years at U. C. Berkeley, then went to work for Sylvania Corp. in the lighting division where he started a serious career. He married his first wife just two years later. He moved to Los Angeles and then on to San Diego and then back to Los Angeles as Asst. Sales Manager. Detroit, Michigan was next, where he became the National Sales Manager for the Lighting Division. He and his family lived in Birmingham, Michigan where they became members of the Oakland Hills Country Club.
Four years later, George was promoted to Sylvania’s national headquarters in Danvers, Mass. At this time, they were living in a little town 20 miles north of Boston called Manchester-by the-Sea.
After the war, George spent two years at U. C. Berkeley, then went to work for Sylvania Corp. in the lighting division where he started a serious career. He married his first wife just two years later. He moved to Los Angeles and then on to San Diego and then back to Los Angeles as Asst. Sales Manager. Detroit, Michigan was next, where he became the National Sales Manager for the Lighting Division. He and his family lived in Birmingham, Michigan where they became members of the Oakland Hills Country Club.
Four years later, George was promoted to Sylvania’s national headquarters in Danvers, Mass. At this time, they were living in a little town 20 miles north of Boston called Manchester-by the-Sea.
George and his first wife, who passed away in 1987, had three children. George III is now the Lead Camera Operator for award winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg. When he was in college at Loyola-Marymount his class project, filming hang gliders near La Conchita, had earned him the apprenticeship at Warner Bros.
George’s daughter Amy was born in San Diego, and Tom, the youngest, is an administrator with the Santa Maria School District.
Gwenn was born in Kansas City, Kansas. When she was four years old she went to Kindergarten as was the custom in Kansas City at the time. The family moved to Detroit and she again had to attend Kindergarten because she was only five years old. The family then moved to Dearborn where she graduated from high school at the age of 16. She thinks two years of kindergarten gave her a step up. (I think it was because she is so very bright!) She was only 18, after two years at Wayne State University, when she went to work for the U. S. Government as they needed clerical help during World War II. Off she went to Seward, Alaska as a Civil Service Employee. They had to take survival training which included weekend skiing trips, camping trips and learning how to fish for food.
While she was away, her parents moved to California, so that is where Gwen went after coming home from Alaska. She attended Stenotype School and became a Verbatim Reporter for the Stewards at the Santa Anita Race Track.
By a previous marriage, Gwenn has two daughters. Teresa lives in Lake Isabella and is an interior decorator. Vickie lives in Chico, CA. and is the mother of two sons and the step-mother of two more boys. According to the proud grandmother, one is in art school and is thought of as a genius.
Gwen’s late husband Ed was the one who introduced her to golf. He came home one day with her new clubs & shoes and had signed her up for lessons. He didn’t want her to be a weekend “golf widow”. During their vacations we understand they traveled all over the world. Ed passed on in 1987. Gwenn lived in Ojai at the time, where she became a Real Estate Broker, but naturally continued to play golf.
George and Gwenn met in 1989. A friend had given him Gwenn’s phone number but every time he called she was always on a trip, or had a previous commitment. But after 3 or 4 months they finally got together for a date and that was that. They were married in Ventura in Sept. of 1990.
A year or so after George retired he became the Foreman of the Ventura County Grand Jury. But in 1998 they moved to the Estates here at Black Lake. Gwenn joined the Black Lake Women’s Golf Club shortly after moving here, and has been active ever since; holding many positions including that of President.
