May Elizabeth HOBART

Notes:

May Hobart Zentmyer, 94, died Nov. 20, 2008, after a brief illness, in Baldwin Park, Calif. She was the mother of longtime La Cañada residents Gary Zentmyer and Jeanie Riddell and San Diego resident John Zentmyer. May was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 22, 1914. She graduated from UCLA, where she was women's editor of the Daily Bruin. It was there she met her future husband, the sports editor, John Zentmyer. After graduation, she became society editor for the Los Angeles Citizen News, covering such events as the first Lux Radio Theater broadcast, and the Screen Actors' Guild Ball at the Coconut Grove. Her husband's career as an air traffic controller found her moving around the country, raising their family in Northern California, Texas, Florida and Virginia, before returning to Southern California. They immediately gravitated to the church they'd attended during college, the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, where they served faithfully for many years. After earning California credentials, May became a teacher and librarian in Watts. After 20 years she returned to UCLA, earning a master's degree in library science. She finished her career in 1980 as a consulting librarian for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Always wanting to be productive, she next became the director of Christian Education at their church, St. Andrew's of Redondo Beach, a position she held until 1987. She and John then traveled extensively, and contributed many volunteer hours to their church. Her hobby of collecting early children's literature resulted in her being honored with a UCLA Distinguished Alumni award.

She is survived by John H. Zentmyer (Jill), Gary Zentmyer (Claudia), Jeanie Riddell, grandchildren Mark Zentmyer (Tiffany), Scott Riddell, Eric Zentmyer, Michael Riddell, Brian Zentmyer, Jeffrey Riddell (Katy), Becky Zentmyer, Will Zentmyer, Ellie McGee, and great-grandson Thomas Zentmyer. Services will be held at Royal Oaks Manor in Bradbury on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 3:30 p.m. Contributions in her memory may be made to The American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. -- La Canada Valley Sun, 27 Nov 2008



She was named 'May Elizabeth' after her two grandmothers.

May married John Miles ZENTMYER 16 Jul 1938, Los Angeles, California. John (son of George Aubrey ZENTMYER and Mary Elizabeth STRAHORN) was born 22 Jan 1912, North Platte, Lincoln, Nebraska; died 9 Feb 1997, Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California; was buried 13 Feb 1997, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, Los Angeles, California, Sunrise Slope #6207. [Group Sheet]