Obituary for Juanita Hurlbutt
Juanita Annabelle Dreier Hurlbutt passed away on Tuesday February 24 at the Santa Teresita care center in Duarte, California. She was 94.
Juanita was born August 6, 1920 in Oakland, California, the third child of Genevieve Young Dreier and Edward W. Dreier. Two weeks later she was baptized into the Catholic faith that was the rock and center of her life. She attended St. Augustine grammar school in Oakland, and then Holy Names High School and Holy Names College where she studied music and vocal performance, graduating with honors in 1942. The following year she obtained her teaching credential from San Francisco State University and then taught briefly in the Oakland School District before leaving to join the Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II. Ferrying military planes around the United States and sometimes trailing targets for servicemen to practice shooting at, WASPS were originally classified as civilian personnel until the U.S. Congress recognized their military service in 1977, thus acknowledging them as veterans. In 2009 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded both posthumously and to all living WASPs.
While a student at Holy Names College she met Santa Clara University student Edmund C. Hurlbutt with whom she would share a 60 year marriage that began March 2, 1946, three months after he returned from wartime service in the South Pacific and Japan. Upon Ed’s graduation from law school, they moved to Visalia in May 1949, where they both engaged in more then a half century of remarkable community involvement. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church she directed the parish choir for 20 years; was a member of the George McCann School Board for 10 years; and was a life time member of Catholic Daughters of America. She also volunteered for decades at Catholic Social Services, helping to start Sister Ursula’s Kitchen which eventually became the Good News Center, one of the most remarkable interfaith outreaches to the poor and needy in Central California history, where food, shelter, medical care and above all love were provided.
Civically, she served on the City of Visalia Planning Commission from 1972 to 1984 and as chairwoman from 1977 to her retirement. She was a member of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for many years, where she was still acknowledged as a member-emeritus at the time of her death. She also served on the committees for the reconstruction of L.J. Williams Theater and the Visalia Convention Center; on the Redwood High School PTA Board; and was a member of Lawyers’ Wives of Tulare County and the Visalia Republican Women.
The consuming passion of the second half of her life, however, was the Right to Life movement to restore legal protection to the lives of unborn children from legalized abortion. She knew it to be the greatest human rights struggle of our times. She helped found Tulare-Kings Right to Life where she served for many years on the Board of Directors and volunteered in many of its activities and events. She was equally instrumental both financially and personally in the formation of Fresno-Madera Right to Life- the two groups now joined as Right to Life of Central California, one of the largest and most successful regional pro-life groups in the nation. She was also a member and donor to the National Right to Life Committee, Human Life International, the Human Life Foundation, Priests for Life, and California Pro-Life Council, and traveled frequently to right to life conventions both in the United States and abroad.
Amid all her public service, she also raised four children – Jacqueline, Edmund Jr, Thomas, and James -- and kept her home spotless and her garden lovely. She celebrated Christmas with particular enthusiasm, joy, music, decorations, food and hundreds of Christmas cards to family and friends of many decades. She also made a particular point of joyful birthday celebrations for her family. She was also an avid golfer (well, intense, actually), played on the Visalia Country Club’s women’s golf team for many years, and won numerous individual tournaments.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Jacqueline and Norman Waite; Edmund Jr; Thomas and Moira; and James and Karen; and six grandchildren, Terry, Tom, Kasey, Mary Kate, Kevin, and Lauren.
Vigil and recitation of the Rosary will be at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel, Friday March 6 at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Saturday March 7 at 9:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Visalia District Cemetery next to her beloved Ed.
Remembrances may be made to Tulare-Kings Right to Life, P.O. Box 3531, Visalia 93278; or Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, 216 S. Johnson Street, Visalia 93291.
Juanita Annabelle Dreier Hurlbutt passed away on Tuesday February 24 at the Santa Teresita care center in Duarte, California. She was 94.
Juanita was born August 6, 1920 in Oakland, California, the third child of Genevieve Young Dreier and Edward W. Dreier. Two weeks later she was baptized into the Catholic faith that was the rock and center of her life. She attended St. Augustine grammar school in Oakland, and then Holy Names High School and Holy Names College where she studied music and vocal performance, graduating with honors in 1942. The following year she obtained her teaching credential from San Francisco State University and then taught briefly in the Oakland School District before leaving to join the Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II. Ferrying military planes around the United States and sometimes trailing targets for servicemen to practice shooting at, WASPS were originally classified as civilian personnel until the U.S. Congress recognized their military service in 1977, thus acknowledging them as veterans. In 2009 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded both posthumously and to all living WASPs.
While a student at Holy Names College she met Santa Clara University student Edmund C. Hurlbutt with whom she would share a 60 year marriage that began March 2, 1946, three months after he returned from wartime service in the South Pacific and Japan. Upon Ed’s graduation from law school, they moved to Visalia in May 1949, where they both engaged in more then a half century of remarkable community involvement. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church she directed the parish choir for 20 years; was a member of the George McCann School Board for 10 years; and was a life time member of Catholic Daughters of America. She also volunteered for decades at Catholic Social Services, helping to start Sister Ursula’s Kitchen which eventually became the Good News Center, one of the most remarkable interfaith outreaches to the poor and needy in Central California history, where food, shelter, medical care and above all love were provided.
Civically, she served on the City of Visalia Planning Commission from 1972 to 1984 and as chairwoman from 1977 to her retirement. She was a member of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for many years, where she was still acknowledged as a member-emeritus at the time of her death. She also served on the committees for the reconstruction of L.J. Williams Theater and the Visalia Convention Center; on the Redwood High School PTA Board; and was a member of Lawyers’ Wives of Tulare County and the Visalia Republican Women.
The consuming passion of the second half of her life, however, was the Right to Life movement to restore legal protection to the lives of unborn children from legalized abortion. She knew it to be the greatest human rights struggle of our times. She helped found Tulare-Kings Right to Life where she served for many years on the Board of Directors and volunteered in many of its activities and events. She was equally instrumental both financially and personally in the formation of Fresno-Madera Right to Life- the two groups now joined as Right to Life of Central California, one of the largest and most successful regional pro-life groups in the nation. She was also a member and donor to the National Right to Life Committee, Human Life International, the Human Life Foundation, Priests for Life, and California Pro-Life Council, and traveled frequently to right to life conventions both in the United States and abroad.
Amid all her public service, she also raised four children – Jacqueline, Edmund Jr, Thomas, and James -- and kept her home spotless and her garden lovely. She celebrated Christmas with particular enthusiasm, joy, music, decorations, food and hundreds of Christmas cards to family and friends of many decades. She also made a particular point of joyful birthday celebrations for her family. She was also an avid golfer (well, intense, actually), played on the Visalia Country Club’s women’s golf team for many years, and won numerous individual tournaments.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Jacqueline and Norman Waite; Edmund Jr; Thomas and Moira; and James and Karen; and six grandchildren, Terry, Tom, Kasey, Mary Kate, Kevin, and Lauren.
Vigil and recitation of the Rosary will be at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel, Friday March 6 at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Saturday March 7 at 9:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Visalia District Cemetery next to her beloved Ed.
Remembrances may be made to Tulare-Kings Right to Life, P.O. Box 3531, Visalia 93278; or Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, 216 S. Johnson Street, Visalia 93291.
Obituary for Juanita Hurlbutt
Juanita Annabelle Dreier Hurlbutt passed away on Tuesday February 24 at the Santa Teresita care center in Duarte, California. She was 94.
Juanita was born August 6, 1920 in Oakland, California, the third child of Genevieve Young Dreier and Edward W. Dreier. Two weeks later she was baptized into the Catholic faith that was the rock and center of her life. She attended St. Augustine grammar school in Oakland, and then Holy Names High School and Holy Names College where she studied music and vocal performance, graduating with honors in 1942. The following year she obtained her teaching credential from San Francisco State University and then taught briefly in the Oakland School District before leaving to join the Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II. Ferrying military planes around the United States and sometimes trailing targets for servicemen to practice shooting at, WASPS were originally classified as civilian personnel until the U.S. Congress recognized their military service in 1977, thus acknowledging them as veterans. In 2009 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded both posthumously and to all living WASPs.
While a student at Holy Names College she met Santa Clara University student Edmund C. Hurlbutt with whom she would share a 60 year marriage that began March 2, 1946, three months after he returned from wartime service in the South Pacific and Japan. Upon Ed’s graduation from law school, they moved to Visalia in May 1949, where they both engaged in more then a half century of remarkable community involvement. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church she directed the parish choir for 20 years; was a member of the George McCann School Board for 10 years; and was a life time member of Catholic Daughters of America. She also volunteered for decades at Catholic Social Services, helping to start Sister Ursula’s Kitchen which eventually became the Good News Center, one of the most remarkable interfaith outreaches to the poor and needy in Central California history, where food, shelter, medical care and above all love were provided.
Civically, she served on the City of Visalia Planning Commission from 1972 to 1984 and as chairwoman from 1977 to her retirement. She was a member of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for many years, where she was still acknowledged as a member-emeritus at the time of her death. She also served on the committees for the reconstruction of L.J. Williams Theater and the Visalia Convention Center; on the Redwood High School PTA Board; and was a member of Lawyers’ Wives of Tulare County and the Visalia Republican Women.
The consuming passion of the second half of her life, however, was the Right to Life movement to restore legal protection to the lives of unborn children from legalized abortion. She knew it to be the greatest human rights struggle of our times. She helped found Tulare-Kings Right to Life where she served for many years on the Board of Directors and volunteered in many of its activities and events. She was equally instrumental both financially and personally in the formation of Fresno-Madera Right to Life- the two groups now joined as Right to Life of Central California, one of the largest and most successful regional pro-life groups in the nation. She was also a member and donor to the National Right to Life Committee, Human Life International, the Human Life Foundation, Priests for Life, and California Pro-Life Council, and traveled frequently to right to life conventions both in the United States and abroad.
Amid all her public service, she also raised four children – Jacqueline, Edmund Jr, Thomas, and James -- and kept her home spotless and her garden lovely. She celebrated Christmas with particular enthusiasm, joy, music, decorations, food and hundreds of Christmas cards to family and friends of many decades. She also made a particular point of joyful birthday celebrations for her family. She was also an avid golfer (well, intense, actually), played on the Visalia Country Club’s women’s golf team for many years, and won numerous individual tournaments.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Jacqueline and Norman Waite; Edmund Jr; Thomas and Moira; and James and Karen; and six grandchildren, Terry, Tom, Kasey, Mary Kate, Kevin, and Lauren.
Vigil and recitation of the Rosary will be at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel, Friday March 6 at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Saturday March 7 at 9:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Visalia District Cemetery next to her beloved Ed.
Remembrances may be made to Tulare-Kings Right to Life, P.O. Box 3531, Visalia 93278; or Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, 216 S. Johnson Street, Visalia 93291.
Juanita Annabelle Dreier Hurlbutt passed away on Tuesday February 24 at the Santa Teresita care center in Duarte, California. She was 94.
Juanita was born August 6, 1920 in Oakland, California, the third child of Genevieve Young Dreier and Edward W. Dreier. Two weeks later she was baptized into the Catholic faith that was the rock and center of her life. She attended St. Augustine grammar school in Oakland, and then Holy Names High School and Holy Names College where she studied music and vocal performance, graduating with honors in 1942. The following year she obtained her teaching credential from San Francisco State University and then taught briefly in the Oakland School District before leaving to join the Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II. Ferrying military planes around the United States and sometimes trailing targets for servicemen to practice shooting at, WASPS were originally classified as civilian personnel until the U.S. Congress recognized their military service in 1977, thus acknowledging them as veterans. In 2009 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded both posthumously and to all living WASPs.
While a student at Holy Names College she met Santa Clara University student Edmund C. Hurlbutt with whom she would share a 60 year marriage that began March 2, 1946, three months after he returned from wartime service in the South Pacific and Japan. Upon Ed’s graduation from law school, they moved to Visalia in May 1949, where they both engaged in more then a half century of remarkable community involvement. At St. Mary’s Catholic Church she directed the parish choir for 20 years; was a member of the George McCann School Board for 10 years; and was a life time member of Catholic Daughters of America. She also volunteered for decades at Catholic Social Services, helping to start Sister Ursula’s Kitchen which eventually became the Good News Center, one of the most remarkable interfaith outreaches to the poor and needy in Central California history, where food, shelter, medical care and above all love were provided.
Civically, she served on the City of Visalia Planning Commission from 1972 to 1984 and as chairwoman from 1977 to her retirement. She was a member of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for many years, where she was still acknowledged as a member-emeritus at the time of her death. She also served on the committees for the reconstruction of L.J. Williams Theater and the Visalia Convention Center; on the Redwood High School PTA Board; and was a member of Lawyers’ Wives of Tulare County and the Visalia Republican Women.
The consuming passion of the second half of her life, however, was the Right to Life movement to restore legal protection to the lives of unborn children from legalized abortion. She knew it to be the greatest human rights struggle of our times. She helped found Tulare-Kings Right to Life where she served for many years on the Board of Directors and volunteered in many of its activities and events. She was equally instrumental both financially and personally in the formation of Fresno-Madera Right to Life- the two groups now joined as Right to Life of Central California, one of the largest and most successful regional pro-life groups in the nation. She was also a member and donor to the National Right to Life Committee, Human Life International, the Human Life Foundation, Priests for Life, and California Pro-Life Council, and traveled frequently to right to life conventions both in the United States and abroad.
Amid all her public service, she also raised four children – Jacqueline, Edmund Jr, Thomas, and James -- and kept her home spotless and her garden lovely. She celebrated Christmas with particular enthusiasm, joy, music, decorations, food and hundreds of Christmas cards to family and friends of many decades. She also made a particular point of joyful birthday celebrations for her family. She was also an avid golfer (well, intense, actually), played on the Visalia Country Club’s women’s golf team for many years, and won numerous individual tournaments.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Jacqueline and Norman Waite; Edmund Jr; Thomas and Moira; and James and Karen; and six grandchildren, Terry, Tom, Kasey, Mary Kate, Kevin, and Lauren.
Vigil and recitation of the Rosary will be at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel, Friday March 6 at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Saturday March 7 at 9:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Visalia District Cemetery next to her beloved Ed.
Remembrances may be made to Tulare-Kings Right to Life, P.O. Box 3531, Visalia 93278; or Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, 216 S. Johnson Street, Visalia 93291.
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