Michael Allan Bedwell

Michael Allan Bedwell, 77 ESCONDIDO -- Michael Allan Bedwell, 77, died March 9, 2008. He was born in Lone Pine, Calif., July 1, 1930, the only child of Laura and Allan Bedwell. In 1934 the family moved to rural Escondido, where they grew avocados and citrus. His parents continued to live at "the Ranch" until their deaths in 1959 and 1978. Mike attended Orange Glen Grammar School and Escondido Union High School, graduating in 1948. He graduated from Pomona College in 1952, and attended Claremont Men's College before being commissioned as a Lieutenant (j.g.) in the US Navy in 1954. He served as a communications officer on the island of Guam and at China Lake Naval Weapons Center. In 1957, he earned a public service fellowship with the Coro Foundation in San Francisco; and married another Coro fellow, Carleen Finney, of Santa Ana, Calif. Mike work for the city of Menlo Park, Calif. as assistant city manager from 1959 to 1964, and City Manager from 1964 until retirement in 1991. Following retirement, Mike returned to Escondido to maintain and preserve the Ranch for future Bedwells. He traveled to many other countries with family and friends. In 2005, Mike co-authored a history of his mother's side of the family: "The Miller-Currie Connection". He is survived by his wife, Carleen; sons, Allan and Patrick; daughter-in-law Joanne; granddaughters, Madeline and Isabel. Plans to honor Mike are pending. Donations in Mike's memory may be made to the Friends of Bodie Foundation, Box 515, Bridgeport, Calif. 93517; or the Scripps Health Foundation, P. O. Box 85414, San Diego, Calif. 92186-5414. Mike's friends and family will always cherish his laughter, his wit, and the twinkle in his eye when he told a good story. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com