Jean Nellis Cadwallader, BHS 1937

Jean Nellis Cadwallader, BHS 1937



San Diego Union-Tribune, The (CA) - September 20, 2007


Jean Nellis Cadwallader, with her family at her side, passed away in San Diego, CA, on September 16, 2007, following a brief illness.


She was born in Russell, Illinois, on February 15, 1919, the daughter of Robert Landon Nellis and Hattie Zander Nellis. Her father had a grocery store in Elburn, IL. In 1925, her family came by train to California and settled in Burbank. Jean attended Burbank schools. She was the valedictorian of her Burbank High School class, the youngest student in her class. Jean attended Glendale College and Glendale Business College. She started work with Smart & Final Co. in Los Angeles and then transferred to the Bakersfield office.


Jean met her future husband, William Y. 'Red' Cadwallader in Bakersfield. They were married in 1944, at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas, between Bill's World War II Army assignments on Kodiak Island, Alaska, and the European Theatre after D-Day. During the war, Jean worked at Lockheed Overseas Corp., located in the Disney Studios in Burbank, and Navy Lockheed Service Center in Van Nuys. The Disney Studios were especially fun during the war because, in the evenings, the workers were allowed to come back to view movies.


After World War II ended, Jean and Bill came back to Bakersfield. Bill worked in oil field sales and Jean worked at Shell Oil Co. After the birth of their first child, Jean stayed home to raise their family. Jean returned to work after her children were all in school. She worked at the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium as executive secretary to the manager for 20 years before retiring.


An important part of her life was her membership for over 50 years in the Sigma Chapter of Phi Epsilon Phi sorority and her friendships with this special group of women. Jean enjoyed bridge, reading, travel, and collecting paperweights. She was an outstanding rose gardener with many awards from the Kern County Fair, including Outstanding Exhibitor. She also was a breeder of AKC registered Beagle puppies and an accomplished pianist.


Jean is survived by Bill, her husband of 63 years, children Janis Cadwallader (Larry Edwards) of San Diego; Lynn Cadwallader (Richard Barran) of Cambridge, MA; Bill Cadwallader (Lois) of Las Vegas, NV; Neil Cadwallader (Ellen) of Vista; and Suzanne Cadwallader (Arthur Raybold) of La Mesa; and grandchildren Sarah Cadwallader of Lake Eildon, Australia; Sam Cadwallader of Del Mar; and Chloe Barran of Cambridge, MA.


She also leaves a brother, William Nellis of Woodstock, CT; and nieces and nephews Brady Nellis, Kirby Nellis, Nancy Nellis, Terry Baurley, William Montgomery, Matt Cinquini, and Valerie Bennett. Jean and Bill had recently relocated to San Diego to be closer to their children. We will remember her as witty, clever, and humorous, and we will miss her very much.


Private services will be Friday, September 21st, at Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, CA. Condolences may be sent to W.Y. Cadwallader, 11588 Via Rancho San Diego G2076, El Cajon, CA 92019.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com