Yolo County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....WESTERDAHL, Melvin Auctor  October 23 2002
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Peggy B. Perazzo pbperazzo@comcast.net July 23, 2004, 12:49 am

"The Davis Enterprise," Monday, October 28, 2002
Melvin A. Westerdahl

Melvin Auctor Westerdahl, died Oct. 23, 2002, at Woodland Memorial Hospital.
Born June 15, 1916, in Spokane, Wash., to Auctor and Hattie L. Westerdahl, he
was 86.

He attended school in Spokane and earned his undergraduate degree in Old English
and education at the University of Idaho, where he was a member of Tau Kappa
Epsilon fraternity, graduating in 1940.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1940 and was first assigned to pilot
training at Lindbergh Field in San Diego and then attended bombardier training.
Commissioned as a second lieutenant and flight officer, Westerdahl was assigned
to the 9th Bomber Squadron, 7th Bomber Group, at Karachi Army Air Force Base in
India (now Pakistan) from January 1942 to September 1944. As a member of the
Army Air Corps, he flew missions in the China-Burma-India theater of operations.
During his military career he was awarded several commendations and decorations.

Entering civilian life, he lived and worked in East Los Angeles and Orange
County, where he was a senior purchasing agent for Nutrilite Products, now a
part of Amway Corp.

Westerdahl and his wife Iris moved to Esparto 20 years ago to be near family.
The couple offered tireless volunteer service to the community, helping a
generation of children with reading skills at Esparto's elementary school,
fund-raising for the Esparto Public Library and working with the Area 4 Council
on Aging.

He enjoyed raising exotic orchids, ferns and begonias. He was an avid reader and
doted on his horses, dogs and cats.

He is survived by his wife, Iris; daughter, Wendy Middlerider of Esparto; son,
Dane Westerdahl of Davis; and two grandsons, John Lisinski III of Woodland and
Phillip Middlerider of Esparto.

A graveside service will be Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Capay Cemetery in
Esparto, with a gathering to follow at the Boy Scout Cabin at the fire station
in Esparto.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Friends of the
Esparto Library.


Additional Comments:
Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street,
Davis, CA 95616.

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