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Obituaries

Joseph Dixon

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at the Pescadero Community Church for Joseph Bernard "Joe" Dixon. The longtime Portola Valley resident died peacefully of age-related illness at his home on May 13. He was 91.

Mr. Dixon was born in San Francisco. He served in the Merchant Marine division of the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific in World War II. His hobby of ham radio led him to the position of radio operations officer.

In 1938, he married Pearl Whiting. After the war, the couple purchased property alongside Mr. Dixon's family in Portola Valley. They spent many weekends building their own home before moving from San Francisco in 1947.

Mr. Dixon commuted to his job at Columbia Electric in San Francisco until he went to work for Dymec, which would eventually become part of Hewlett-Packard. He worked for several divisions of HP in both Palo Alto and Cupertino, retiring after 27 years.

Mr. Dixon's teenage hobby of ham radio and interest in electronics served as a basis for both his military and professional careers. He maintained his ham radio operator's license throughout his life. He enjoyed working with his hands, say family members, building his home and converting two vans into campers. He loved his garden, especially the tropical plants, they say.

He taught himself guitar and joined local musicians to play on weekends at Portola Valley venues, when building the Dixon home. In his 70s he took up the banjo and joined the Happy Times Banjo Band. When arthritis limited his dexterity, he taught himself bass guitar.

Survivors include his three children, Joanne Day-Judah of Capitan, New Mexico, John Dixon of Pescadero, and Don Dixon of Albany, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl, in 2000.

Evelyn Hobart

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at Ladera Community Church in Portola Valley for Evelyn Hobart, who died June 18 in Grass Valley. She was 91.

Before moving to Grass Valley, Ms. Hobart was a resident of Portola Valley for more than 40 years. Born in San Diego, she graduated from San Diego State University. She was married to Hughes M. Hobart in 1947.

Ms. Hobart taught in the Los Altos School District for 38 years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Friends of Filoli, the Federated Women's Club, and Redwood City Women's Club.

She is survived by her son, Terry Hobart, and two grandsons. Her husband, Hughes Hobart, and daughter, Tina Hobart-Benz, preceded her in death.

Memorials in Ms. Hobart's name may be made to Ladera Community Church Pre-School.