Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, September 18, 2006 at 07:18:56 :
San Francisco Chronicle
Thursday, March 7, 2002
A23
RANDALL, Walter "Elmo" -- Born on 3rd Street July 10, 1918, Elmo was a lifetime resident of Richmond. As a child, Richmond was his "playground," often reminiscing about how few houses there were at the time even on 36th Street where he grew up, squirrel hunting on the hills, swimming at Keller Beach when it was Cozy Cove, and the antics of some wonderful friends know as the '36th Street Gang," back when a "gang" was a good thing. Elmo passed away February 28th with his children present after having suffered a stroke a week earlier. A graduate of Richmond Union High School in 1936, Elmo commuted via ferry his first two years at San Francisco State College while the Bay Bridge was under construction. In 1941 he earned a Bachelors in Education and Social Studies with a minor in Art, and began teaching in the Richmond School District. Elmo took a break from teaching during WW II working in Richmond Shipyard #2 as a welder and supervisor building Liberty ships. In 1965 he added a Masters in Counseling from SF State, with related courses at UC Berkeley. After having taught at Longfellow and Harry Ells, Elmo retired as a Counselor from John F. Kennedy High School in 1978. In his earlier years, Elmo had been very active in DeMolay as a Master Counselor and Chapter Dad. He had also provided over 28 years of service to Metro 1 Credit Union (formerly Contra Costa Schools Credit Union). In recent years he was active in Masons (Bay Cities/Alpha Lodge), Retired Teachers, SIRS, Merry Mates, and the Pinole Senior Center. Elmo had also been active in several other organizations with his wife Norma, until her passing a year and a half ago. Despite being a world traveler, a lover of art and music, and a photographer, one of the things Elmo loved most was the view and sunsets from home of almost 40 years, believing he was in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Elmo is survived by: daughter Lori Nardone and her husband Keith and their daughters Ariel and Alexis of Benicia; son Richard Randall of Richmond; son Allan Graves of Suisun and his daughters Kaydee and her son Quinten, Alida and her daughter Teya, and Rowyn; a daughter from his first marriage, Vicki Goldie and her husband Richard and children Amanda and George of Poole, England; his sister Irene Warriner of San Rafael and her daughters Pam Huss and Joyce Warriner. His wife's nephews: Bob Dickinson, and his wife Sylvia and daughter Lauren of Menlo Park; Tom Dickinson of Chico, and his daughters Sasha Keller and Georgia Simmons; Roger Dickinson and wife Marj of Sacramento; and Tom Vance, and his wife Mary and children Amy and Robby of Denver, Colorado. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 2369 Barrett Avenue (at 24th Street) in Richmond. Elmo would be honored by donations or memorials to the West Contra Costa Retired Teachers' Scholarship Fund, 2465 Greenwood Drive, San Pablo, CA 94806 (Tax ID #68-0464243), or Save the Plunge Trust, P.O.Box 70443, Pt. Richmond, CA 94807-0443 (Tax ID #94-2600126)
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