Billie Ann Atwood of San Jose died on November 17, 2015 after a long struggle with cancer. She was born Billie Ann Redenbacher, October 28, 1929 in Lafayette, Indiana, the first of three daughters to Orville and Corinne Redenbacher.
As an active member of 4-H growing up in Indiana, her father had her raise livestock for auction to pay for college. She went to Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Institutional Management. An accomplished musician, Billie played flute, piano and organ. She had the ability to listen to a song then immediately sit down and play it on the piano or organ.
Billie moved to San Jose, California in April 1965 where she worked for the Navy as a civilian clerk typist. She was an active volunteer and leader in the Cupertino Senior Center's television program, "The Better Part", a show created by and for seniors. While she generally produced shows from behind the camera, she occasionally found herself acting as the host of the show. She began as the youngest volunteer and when she quit in 2014, she was the longest serving volunteer ultimately serving as President. She always said that her most famous interview was her father, Orville Redenbacher.
Her other volunteer work included many years walking her neighborhood collecting for the American Cancer Society as well as many years volunteering for the Santa Clara County Elections Division, which included opening her garage for voting.
She was a tournament bridge player having played with some of the same players for 50 years. Billie travelled extensively including China, Africa, Australia, England, and Europe. Her greatest disappointment was not getting to the Galapagos Islands and Japan. She prided herself on not owning a television but instead filled any extra time in her busy schedule avidly reading any book she could get her hands on. She loved children and animals. Her children remarked that they never heard a swear word come out of her mouth, nor did they ever hear her utter a bad word about anyone. She will be missed.
Billie is survived by Kevin Fish and Kyle Fish, both of San Jose, Gary Fish Redenbacher of Scotts Valley, California and Noel Fish of Salem, Oregon. Billie has two daughters-in-law, Hiroko Sugitani-Fish, married to Noel, and Renae Fish, married to Gary. Billie has two grandchildren by Gary and Renae, Mikayla and Bryce.
A reception and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2:00PM at West Valley Presbyterian Church, 6191 Bollinger Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014 – (408) 391-5762. All who knew Billie are invited to come and share their stories and memories.
View the online memorial for Billie Ann Atwood
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Cupertino Courier Obits on May 13, 2016.
As an active member of 4-H growing up in Indiana, her father had her raise livestock for auction to pay for college. She went to Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Institutional Management. An accomplished musician, Billie played flute, piano and organ. She had the ability to listen to a song then immediately sit down and play it on the piano or organ.
Billie moved to San Jose, California in April 1965 where she worked for the Navy as a civilian clerk typist. She was an active volunteer and leader in the Cupertino Senior Center's television program, "The Better Part", a show created by and for seniors. While she generally produced shows from behind the camera, she occasionally found herself acting as the host of the show. She began as the youngest volunteer and when she quit in 2014, she was the longest serving volunteer ultimately serving as President. She always said that her most famous interview was her father, Orville Redenbacher.
Her other volunteer work included many years walking her neighborhood collecting for the American Cancer Society as well as many years volunteering for the Santa Clara County Elections Division, which included opening her garage for voting.
She was a tournament bridge player having played with some of the same players for 50 years. Billie travelled extensively including China, Africa, Australia, England, and Europe. Her greatest disappointment was not getting to the Galapagos Islands and Japan. She prided herself on not owning a television but instead filled any extra time in her busy schedule avidly reading any book she could get her hands on. She loved children and animals. Her children remarked that they never heard a swear word come out of her mouth, nor did they ever hear her utter a bad word about anyone. She will be missed.
Billie is survived by Kevin Fish and Kyle Fish, both of San Jose, Gary Fish Redenbacher of Scotts Valley, California and Noel Fish of Salem, Oregon. Billie has two daughters-in-law, Hiroko Sugitani-Fish, married to Noel, and Renae Fish, married to Gary. Billie has two grandchildren by Gary and Renae, Mikayla and Bryce.
A reception and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2:00PM at West Valley Presbyterian Church, 6191 Bollinger Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014 – (408) 391-5762. All who knew Billie are invited to come and share their stories and memories.
View the online memorial for Billie Ann Atwood
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Cupertino Courier Obits on May 13, 2016.
Billie Ann Atwood of San Jose died on November 17, 2015 after a long struggle with cancer. She was born Billie Ann Redenbacher, October 28, 1929 in Lafayette, Indiana, the first of three daughters to Orville and Corinne Redenbacher.
As an active member of 4-H growing up in Indiana, her father had her raise livestock for auction to pay for college. She went to Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Institutional Management. An accomplished musician, Billie played flute, piano and organ. She had the ability to listen to a song then immediately sit down and play it on the piano or organ.
Billie moved to San Jose, California in April 1965 where she worked for the Navy as a civilian clerk typist. She was an active volunteer and leader in the Cupertino Senior Center's television program, "The Better Part", a show created by and for seniors. While she generally produced shows from behind the camera, she occasionally found herself acting as the host of the show. She began as the youngest volunteer and when she quit in 2014, she was the longest serving volunteer ultimately serving as President. She always said that her most famous interview was her father, Orville Redenbacher.
Her other volunteer work included many years walking her neighborhood collecting for the American Cancer Society as well as many years volunteering for the Santa Clara County Elections Division, which included opening her garage for voting.
She was a tournament bridge player having played with some of the same players for 50 years. Billie travelled extensively including China, Africa, Australia, England, and Europe. Her greatest disappointment was not getting to the Galapagos Islands and Japan. She prided herself on not owning a television but instead filled any extra time in her busy schedule avidly reading any book she could get her hands on. She loved children and animals. Her children remarked that they never heard a swear word come out of her mouth, nor did they ever hear her utter a bad word about anyone. She will be missed.
Billie is survived by Kevin Fish and Kyle Fish, both of San Jose, Gary Fish Redenbacher of Scotts Valley, California and Noel Fish of Salem, Oregon. Billie has two daughters-in-law, Hiroko Sugitani-Fish, married to Noel, and Renae Fish, married to Gary. Billie has two grandchildren by Gary and Renae, Mikayla and Bryce.
A reception and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2:00PM at West Valley Presbyterian Church, 6191 Bollinger Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014 – (408) 391-5762. All who knew Billie are invited to come and share their stories and memories.
View the online memorial for Billie Ann Atwood
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Cupertino Courier Obits on May 13, 2016.
As an active member of 4-H growing up in Indiana, her father had her raise livestock for auction to pay for college. She went to Purdue University and graduated with a degree in Institutional Management. An accomplished musician, Billie played flute, piano and organ. She had the ability to listen to a song then immediately sit down and play it on the piano or organ.
Billie moved to San Jose, California in April 1965 where she worked for the Navy as a civilian clerk typist. She was an active volunteer and leader in the Cupertino Senior Center's television program, "The Better Part", a show created by and for seniors. While she generally produced shows from behind the camera, she occasionally found herself acting as the host of the show. She began as the youngest volunteer and when she quit in 2014, she was the longest serving volunteer ultimately serving as President. She always said that her most famous interview was her father, Orville Redenbacher.
Her other volunteer work included many years walking her neighborhood collecting for the American Cancer Society as well as many years volunteering for the Santa Clara County Elections Division, which included opening her garage for voting.
She was a tournament bridge player having played with some of the same players for 50 years. Billie travelled extensively including China, Africa, Australia, England, and Europe. Her greatest disappointment was not getting to the Galapagos Islands and Japan. She prided herself on not owning a television but instead filled any extra time in her busy schedule avidly reading any book she could get her hands on. She loved children and animals. Her children remarked that they never heard a swear word come out of her mouth, nor did they ever hear her utter a bad word about anyone. She will be missed.
Billie is survived by Kevin Fish and Kyle Fish, both of San Jose, Gary Fish Redenbacher of Scotts Valley, California and Noel Fish of Salem, Oregon. Billie has two daughters-in-law, Hiroko Sugitani-Fish, married to Noel, and Renae Fish, married to Gary. Billie has two grandchildren by Gary and Renae, Mikayla and Bryce.
A reception and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2:00PM at West Valley Presbyterian Church, 6191 Bollinger Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014 – (408) 391-5762. All who knew Billie are invited to come and share their stories and memories.
View the online memorial for Billie Ann Atwood
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Cupertino Courier Obits on May 13, 2016.
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