Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 04:15:46 :
Independent Journal
Saturday, September 20, 1980
WILLIAM M. VANING
William M. Vaning, former tree foreman for the city of San Rafael, died today after a lengthy illness. He was 79.
Vaning was a member of a pioneer San Rafael family.
He was born in the small brown house that stood for decades at Fifth Avenue and D Street, where there now is a City Hall parking lot. His family owned much of the block, including the site of the central San Rafael firehouse, and his late brother Walker Vaning was fire chief.
William Vaning was a member of the volunteer firemen from the time he was 17 until the volunteers disbanded a few years ago. He helped fight most of the major fires in San Rafael’s history.
For many years he and another brother, the late Arthur Vaning, operated the Vaning Brothers fuel business at Fifth and Mission; William Vaning then joined the city staff. He retired from the Department of Public Works in 1966 but remained active as a tree consultant in the city until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy E. Vaning, and two sisters, Elizabeth Parker of San Rafael and Eva Hunter of San Anselmo.
Private family services were held at Keaton’s Mortuary, followed by private inurnment at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael.
The family prefers memorial contributions to any favorite charity.
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