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Dorothy Grace Lockard BRISTOL

Dorothy Grace Lockard BRISTOL obituary

Dorothy BRISTOL Obituary

Known to her family and friends as "Sunny," passed away on December 25 in Santa Rosa. She was born on October 21, 1922, in Los Angeles, CA. She lived with her parents, younger sister, Nancy, and much younger brother, "Skip," in Lynwood, CA, until 1935 when her father, who was a civil engineer on a "doodlebug," or oil exploration, "party," decided to take the family with him as the party moved up and down California searching for new sources of petroleum. Due to the doodlebug party's frequent moves, Sunny and Nancy, during this two-year period, attended five different schools in the San Joaquin Valley. Their book, DOODLEBUG DAYS, published in 2000, takes a look back at the family's experiences during this time. In 1937 the Lockard family moved to Taft, CA, where Sunny's father worked as an engineer with Texaco until his retirement. Sunny graduated from Taft Union High School in 1939 and Taft Junior College in 1941. Right after Pearl Harbor she married Wallace McClure and they moved to San Francisco because Wallace had found employment at Mare Island. Sunny enrolled in Cogswell Polytechnic in San Francisco, where she studied mechanical drawing and, after completing the required courses, she was hired as a draftsman by General Engineering and Drydock Co. As the war heated up, Wallace decided to join the Air Force and was sent to Yale University, New Haven, Conn. for cadet training. Sunny followed and went to work as a draftsman for Winchester Repeating Arms Co. in New Haven. When Wallace was sent overseas, Sunny returned to the west coast and worked as an engineering draftsman for Standard Oil Co. in both Taft and Bakersfield, CA. In 1955 she moved to Berkeley, CA to finish her college education, which had been interrupted by World War II. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a major in English and minors in Spanish and social studies. A few years later she earned a Masters Degree from Holy Names College in Oakland, CA. Sunny taught high school, junior college and adult school for 25 years, retiring from Santa Rosa City Schools in 1985. She often spoke about how much she enjoyed teaching at Raskob Institute at Holy Names College and at Lewis Day Adult School in Santa Rosa. Sunny married Cesar Olaechea in 1965; they spent three months in Lima, Peru, so that Sunny could become acquainted with the Olaechea family. Although Cesar and Sunny later divorced, she kept in close touch with his family. In 1977 Sunny married Willard Bristol. Together they enjoyed road trips within the U.S. as well as trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Europe. Her favorite trips, however, were sailing with her brother, "Skip" (Dr. Robert B. Lockard) into the fjords of western Canada. Skip passed away in 1979. Sunny was an ardent feminist dedicated to the Women's Movement and a charter member of the National Organization for Women. She volunteered with the National Women's History Project for over 20 years. She leaves her husband, Willard Bristol, her sister, Nancy Gallop, her son, Bruce McClure, a stepson Jim and stepdaughter Jerilyn, nine nephews and six nieces. Instead of flowers those who wish to remember Sunny can donate to the National Women's History Project, P.O. Box 469, Santa Rosa, CA 95402. A memorial service will be held on January 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. Please email [email protected] for details.

Published by Press Democrat from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

Willard, please accept our sincere Sympathy for the loss of your beloved wife, Dorothy. Both Dorothy and you will be in our prayers. +

Paul & Susan Tamboury

December 28, 2013

I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet Sunny when she was at Parkview Gardens. She loved animals and I would bring our dog and visit. She was so nice and interesting to talk too. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sandy Hamilton

December 28, 2013

Sunny, I will always remember you so fondly from NWHP and our reunions. Your story will always remain with me. It has been a pleasure to have been acquainted with such an eloquent woman.

Donna Kuhn

December 27, 2013

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