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Harvey Withington
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Harvey Lawrence Withington was born on Nov. 29, 1927, in Salmon, Idaho. Salmon is near the Sawtooth Mountains which his grandson has recently come to love.
His father was shot and killed while trying to help another when Harvey was a year old. When he was 9, he left home to live and work for the local grocery store owner, Vince. Harvey began his driving career delivering groceries and mastering the snow.
When he was an adolescent, his family moved to California. Harvey soon learned the rules were different in California. When he was told he couldn’t come to school with his smokes tucked in the rolled up sleeve of his white T-shirt, he chose to leave school.
He served in the Navy from April 1945 to August 1946.
Harvey met the love of his life at the Abazaba Drive-In in San Jose, where Marlene was a car hop. He was smitten. They were married Aug. 11, 1950.
He and Marlene were lying in hospital beds, side by side, in their family room when he passed peacefully in the arms of his loved ones on Sept. 13, 2017. There never was a woman more loved and cherished than “mama.”
Although he never finished school, Harvey was an avid reader, especially enjoying American history. A man of few words, he and his grandson sat side by side in the family room quietly reading their books for hours.
Harvey proudly drove truck for 50 years and five million accident-free miles. HIs final job was for Helms Petroleum driving a tanker full of fuel over St. Helena every day. He said he was chasing that “white line” that he could never catch. Although he worked tireless hours to provide a wonderful life for us, he always made it home for Christmas.
Harvey raised his family in Santa Clara and Fremont before moving to Lake County. In 1976 Harvey and Marlene moved to their last home that they loved so dearly on Withington Way in Lakeport.
Harvey turned six acres of walnut orchard into a garden paradise; he did it all alone with his bare hands. He was never one to turn away from hard work or a friend in need. Like his generous heart, he opened his home to all, from his doughboy pool in Fremont to his "cement pond in Lakeport.”
Harvey is survived by his loving wife, Marlene; daughters, Deborah Withington and Cindy (Paul) Parlee; grandson, Matthew; sister, June Rose and “adopted” son/handyman, Ron McElroy. He is predeceased by his mother, Velma Baxter; father, Billy Withington; and brother, Bob Withington.
Sleep with your angels, Poppie. You will be forever missed and deeply loved. One life just isn’t enough.
Donations in his honor can be made to the Lake County Hospice or Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
Funeral service will be held at Lakeport Christian Center, 455 S. Forbes St., Lakeport on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at Hartley Cemetery.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
