Philip Bosworth Gerrard

GERRARD, Philip Bosworth (May 27, 1913- July 22, 2006) Philip Bosworth Gerrard, affectionately known as "P.B." to his friends and family, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, July 22, in Tustin. He was 93. Born May 27, 1913 in Santa Ana, P.B. Gerrard lived in Orange County his entire life. He graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1931 and from Chapman College (now Chapman University in Orange) in 1935 when it was on Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1936 he married Helen Anita Switzler, also from Santa Ana. They celebrated their seventieth anniversary this past January. He served as vice-president of Alpha Beta Markets after working as a checker and buyer. In the 1960's, after retiring, P.B. obtained his Masters of Arts degree in literature from California State University, Fullerton. He sang with the Cantando Club, a men's choral group in Santa Ana, with the Saddleback College Chorus, in his church choir and with the Laguna Opera. He also performed in Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters, led Great Books discussion groups for many years and drove for Someone Cares. His interests and accomplishments were far-reaching and positively influenced many people. After retiring at age 49, P.B. studied literature, read and wrote poetry, played and sang music, extensively explored the Arizona desert in his jeep, and devoted himself to community service through the Camile Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Santa Ana which later merged with Church of the Foothills in North Tustin. Most people who met P.B. recognized his charismatic and sometimes eccentric character. For example, he took up motorcycle riding at age seventy, traveled across the country multiple times and was often seen at local coffee shops making friends. P. B. Gerrard's parents were early Orange County pioneers Hugh A. Gerrard, and Ethel Bosworth Gerrard. Hugh arrived with his family in Southern California from Ontario, Canada in 1892. In the early 1900s, Hugh Gerrard and several of his brothers founded Alpha Beta Markets, named after an attempt to help customers better locate the items they needed by organizing the merchandise alphabetically. As a result, "the ant powder might be next to the applesauce" (The Alpha Beta Story by Esther R. Cramer, 1973). The experiment in organization failed, but the name stuck and the market chain was a great success. Alpha Beta Markets, which merged with American Stores in 1961 and later became a part of Ralph's Markets, is noted for being the first market to use self-service in its grocery chain. Ethel Bosworth, P.B's mother, was descended from two passengers on the Mayflower, Elizabeth Tilly and John Howland. Their daughter, Hannah Howland, married Jonathan Bosworth. P.B. is survived by his wife, Helen, 92, of Tustin, his sister Phyllis Onstott of Laguna Beach, his daughter, Kathy Quisling-Dunlap of North Tustin, three grandchildren, Michael Quisling, Brian Quisling and Kelly Holden-Meyers, and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service celebrating Philip Gerrard's life will be held on Friday, August 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Church of the Foothills, 19211 Dodge Avenue in North Tustin. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Philip Gerrard's name to Chapman University- scholarship fund, Church of the Foothills, or New Haven Hospice Care, Inc. of Anaheim.