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THEODORE HAXTON

09/20/1924 ~ 05/24/2012


Obituary Portrait
Theodore Haxton Sr., Obituary Ted was born on September 20, 1924, in Huntington Beach, CA, and died on May 24, 2012, in Newport Beach, CA. The original Haxton family, ultimately consisting of three boys and two twin girls, eventually moved to Westminster, CA. But after Ted's father John was unfortunately killed in a car accident in 1931, the Haxton family moved to Garden Grove where Ted grew up. There, Virgie Haxton, his mom, somehow scraped together enough money to buy a one–bedroom house on Century Blvd for $3,000, sold it at a nice profit for $10,000, and moved to a larger nearby home. Ted went to school at Garden Grove High where he loved sports and enjoyed them all, especially the pole vault. And after graduating in 1942, Ted, like so many other young Americans at the time, enlisted in the US Army, eventually becoming a member of the 41st Infantry which fought in the Pacific. In addition, he was one of the first Americans able to witness the terrible destruction in Hiroshima after the Atom Bomb was dropped, lamenting the destruction he saw but understanding it was necessary to help bring WWII to an end. Returning home after the war, on April 6, 1946, Ted married his childhood sweetheart, Jacqueline Lois Haxton (Scott), who he had grown up with in the same Garden Grove neighborhood. Together they had three children in quick succession, Ted Jr., Debbie, and Terry. Ted Sr. worked at the Seal Beach Naval Station for a few years, and then took a job in 1950 at Kwikset Locks, Inc. in Anaheim, CA. He worked in the buffing room at Kwikset for the next 37 years, retiring in 1987. Next to his family, the big love of Ted's life was fast cars. In 1950, fellow Orange County resident C.J. Hart helped start the first organized Drag Strip in the US (The Santa Ana Drags) at an abandoned military airport near where today's John Wayne Airport is now located. And Ted, who loved to race anyway, was hooked. He recalled going to either the second or third race ever run. Soon he began racing and winning trophies in a Ford–A–Lac; it just so happened that a big, powerful Cadillac engine and trans fit perfectly into a ‘53 Ford. And, unwilling to go to the races alone, he took along Ted Jr. After Santa Ana closed, it was on to the Long Beach Drags where the best racers in the country ran every Saturday night. And after Long Beach ended, Orange County Raceway started up. Throughout this time, Ted and Ted Jr. went racing, attending events like the big March Meet in Bakersfield, CA, every year when it began back in 1959. Ted was also a restaurant aficionado, and two he hung out at were the old Belisle's Restaurant which was on the corner of Chapman and Harbor Blvd and Kaye's Kitchen in downtown Garden Grove. He was arguably Belisle's #1 customer and had to log more days coming there than anyone outside of Harvey, Charlotte and a few of the long–time employees. One of his favorite characters who were regulars was Old Man Roy, a retired Major League Baseball Umpire who regaled anyone who'd listen with stories, which Ted would happily repeat. And even some members of the Angels would show up, guys like Bobby Grich. Finally, Ted was one friendly guy. He'd strike up a conversation with a complete stranger anytime, anywhere and, before long, anyone witnessing this exchange would think they were life–long buddies. Maybe he got a little cantankerous later in life, but there were few individuals as well–liked and genuinely friendly as Ted. He leaves behind a surviving sister, Ruth Soderman; wife Jackie; sons Ted Jr. and Terry; and daughter Debbie. In addition, there are four grandchildren and seven great–grandchildren. Ted was a true, one–of–a–kind American hero who loved and was loved by his family and friends. He will be missed by all. So where do we go from here? Well, my Dad certainly wouldn't want us to sit around and cry over him; well, maybe a little, but he wouldn't want us to wallow around in it. What I'm going to do is remember his positive qualities and go with that. Like I said, he befriended total strangers over and over again. We could all be a lot friendlier to those we meet. Second, he learned to be a caregiver for my Mom after her stroke, and he did a really great job. True, it was very stressful, but he did it, nonetheless. Never heard him really complain about it. He just did it. And, again, we could all learn to be a lot more caring, especially when it concerns those we love. So, that's what I'll try and concentrate on in the future, be friendlier and more caring. And maybe the world will be a little better for it. It's certainly lost a friendly, caring soul in my Dad. It could use someone to try and take his place. Ted Haxton Jr.

Place of birth: Huntington Beach, CA
Place of death: Newport Beach, CA
Created By: Son

Obituary Portrait