Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Hartley , Gene December 25, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 1, 2006, 10:00 pm The Bakersfield Californian Hartley, Gene 1923 - 2005 Gene Hartley Gene Hartley, resident of Paso Robles, passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2005. He was born in Laurens, Iowa on November 28, 1923 to Evelyn and Harold Hartley. The family relocated to the San Diego area in the early 1930s. Gene graduated from San Diego High School in 1941. He attended San Diego State College, and then opted out to enlist in the Air Force in 1942. He and his crew flew to Hethel, England to join the Second Air Division, 389th bomb group, where he piloted a B24 bomber on thirty-five missions, returning home just before VE day. After the war he entered Pomona College, graduated in 1947, and continued to Claremont Graduate School, earning a secondary teaching credential. His first job was with McFarland High school in 1949. He moved back to San Diego in 1951, teaching at Kearny High School. In 1952, Gene participated in Starlight Opera productions, where he met Nancy Hayter who played violin in the orchestra. They were married in October of that year. In 1955, they moved to Bakersfield, where Gene taught at Arvin High School. He helped open the new high school, South High. While in Bakersfield, he and some friends started Starlight theatre of Kern. The first production included a choral group The Singing Ks, from Kiwanis. They continued for a number of years with productions at the Bakersfield College amphitheatre. Gene also pursued a Doctoral degree during this time. In 1964, Gene accepted an administrative position at William S. Hart High School in Newhall. He was principal there for three years, moving to Santa Barbara where he became principal at San Marcos High School for the next eighteen years, retiring in 1985. In retirement, he began a newsletter for his WW2 bomb group, the 389th. This continued until the present, some twelve years. In 2000, the Hartleys moved to Paso Robles, where he played a little golf, joined Estrella War Birds, and enjoyed church activities and San Luis Obispo Symphony concerts. Recently, failing health slowed him down, and finally caught up with him. He leaves his wife, Nancy, of fifty-three years; son, Lance of San Francisco and daughter, Lucy, daughter, Cathy of Fort Bragg, and son, Bill and wife, Karen plus granddaughters, Camille and Evelyn of Arizona; brother, Jay and wife, Pat of Arizona; sister, Margaret Black and husband, Bruce of, Montana. Gene was a strong, supportive and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be sorely missed. Service will be held at Atascadero United Methodist Church, 11605 Camino Real, on Sunday, January 15, 2006, at 3:00 p.m. Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 1/1/2006. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased No other information available from submitter. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/h/hartley1432gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb