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Grace Devnich Dies at 100
Dr. Grace E. Devnich, one of
Livermore’s most beloved elders,
died on September 23. She had
turned 100 this past December
30.
Dr. Devnich was the Tri-
Valley’s first female doctor. Her
husband, Henry, was also a doctor.
They were general practitioners,
working out of an office on
South J Street. They made house
calls.
Drs. Grace and Henry had the
area’s first electrocardiogram
machine. From their South J
Street office they started the area’s
first blood bank and did the
analysis for cross matching.
A native of Boulder, Colorado,
Dr. Devnich earned her
bachelor’s degree from the University
of North Dakota and her
master’s from Colorado College.
She met Henry Devnich in
college. They married in 1929.
They taught school together in
Nebraska and Colorado to raise
money for medical school. Dr.
Grace graduated from the University
of Nebraska medical school
in 1945. She completed her internship
in Santa Clara County,
after which she and her husband
settled in Livermore.
She worked at the Alameda
County Tuberculosis Sanitarium
in Livermore and was on the staff
of the ValleyCare Health System.
Dr. Devnich retired from her
medical career in 1981, but
remained active. She wrote local
histories, including “Oxsana’s
Journey,” a 1998 book about her
mother-in-law. She belonged to
the Antique Club and Seventh
Day Adventist Church, and attended
the meetings regularly.
She continued to drive until she
was 99.
Her mind remained alert. She
had strong feelings about what
was going on in the world.
“ Washington, it’s crazy!” she exclaimed
to a reporter who interviewed
her a couple of weeks
before her 100th birthday. She
expressed concern about global
warming. She didn’t like downtown
Livermore’s new look.
Dr. Devnich couldn’t go to a
movie or some other event in
town without people approaching
her. “She is so well known
and so beloved,” observed a
friend. “... almost every family in
the community, it seems, has had
a positive experience with her.
Someone in the family was
treated and made better by her.”
The Independent in an editorial
stated, “She is one of
Livermore’s great elders — a
kind, wise and much beloved
lady ...”
The family asks that in lieu of
flowers contributions be made to
the Adventist Development and
Relief Agency Internaional at
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver
Spring, MD 20904-9869.
Also, contributions may be made
to the ValleyCare Foundation for
the Neonatal Nursery, 1111 East
Stanley Boulevard, Livermore,
CA 94450.
John Edward Dalton
John Edward “Jack” Dalton,
age 67, passed away September
20, 2008 at ValleyCare Medical
Center in Pleasanton, His daughter
Debbie, sister Barbara and
brother-in-law Peter were at his
side.
Jack was born in Northampton
Massachusetts on October 16,
1940 to Francis and Mabel
Dalton. He grew up in Westfield
Massachusetts, graduating from
Westfield High School in 1958,
and attended American International
College in Springfield.
After high school, he joined the
National Guard. He won several
local golf tournaments and was a
Life Master at bridge. Always the
life of the party, he enjoyed cribbage,
poker, playing with his
grandchildren, and was a lifelong
Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and
Bruins fan.
Jack was a salesman for
Wagner Auto Parts for many
years, which brought him to Buffalo
NY. While there, he had season
tickets to the Buffalo Bills
games and enjoyed bringing his
daughters to Rich Stadium. He
made the annual trek to Miami
for the Buffalo Bills vs. Miami
Dolphins game as a member of
the Rogues II Crew. He returned
to Massachusetts in 1987 and
worked for 20 years as a salesman
for Anderson and Raymond
Supply in West Springfield
spending his free time watching
his granddaughter Erin-Leah
grow up, before retiring in March
2007. A week after retiring, he
drove cross country to settle in
Dublin, California and began
enjoying life to the fullest –
watching his grandson Austen
play baseball, watching his
granddaughter Madeline dance,
playing cards with his friends,
and watching the sunset from his
balcony. Never one to sit still,
Jack became a school crossing
guard in Pleasanton last fall.
He is survived by his daughters
Renee Nichols and her
daughter Erin-Leah of Agawam,
Massachusetts; and Debbie Roe
her husband Adrian and their
children Austen and Madeline of
Dublin, California; and his
former wife Colleen Dalton of
Agawam Massachusetts. Jack
also leaves three brothers Joseph,
Dennis and Robert, two sisters
Barbara Janeski and Patricia
Conroy, and several nieces and
nephews. He will be missed by
countless friends who enjoyed
playing cards with him, rehashing
good times, or just having a
drink or two.
A celebration of life will be
held at a later date. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made
to your favorite charity.
John George
John George was an avid fisherman
and enjoyed making lures.
He loved camping and was
groundskeeper at Silver Creek
campground.
He is survived by his wife
Kathy Rizor-George of Livermore,
sons Eugene Arnold (Dawn
Denise) George of Livermore and
Edward Allen Russell (Brad
McGuire) of Walnut Creek,
daughters Jackie (Victor) Leban
of San Lorenzo and Susan Marie
McGahee of South Dakota, sister
Diane Richey of Pleasanton
and brothers Bucky DeRosa of
Livermore and Ace Morkin of
Nevada, eleven grandchildren,
and numerous nieces, nephews
and cousins.
A Chapel Blessing Service
was held Oct. 1 in Livermore.
Burial followed at St. Michael's
Cemetery in Livermore.
Contributions to the American
Lung Association would be
appreciated by the family.
Arrangements by Callaghan
Mortuary.
Michael A. Lingenfelter
Born April 7, 1968, Michael
was a devoted family man who
lived for his children. He was a
loving man who will be remembered
as kind hearted and good
natured by those who knew him
best. The native of Livermore,
died in a motorcycle accident
September 19, 2008. He was 40.
A graduate of Sequoia Institute
in 1987 as a Transmission
Specialist, he worked at Stewart
and Stevenson until they closed,
then Peterson Tractor in San
Leandro as a Diesel Mechanic for
the last 3 years. A member of the
Operating Engineers #3 of Oakland
for 7 years, Michael was an
avid bicyclist often riding his
bike to work. He recently completed
a 129 mile event called
the Death Ride. He will be
greatly missed by all.
Michael is survived by his
daughter Amy age 9, son Bradley
age 7, stepson Tim True, and
his life partner, best friend and
soul mate Danielle M Coody all
of Livermore; father Wayne A.
and step-mother Mary A.
Lingenfelter of Lockeford;
mother Jo Ann G. Thayer of MN;
sisters Michelle A. Smith of AZ;
Christina M. Brown of FL;
Rachel D. Mullen of Danville;
brother Ed E. Lingenfelter of
Lockeford; nieces: Jessica and
Tiffany Ponder both of Livermore;
as well as numerous aunts,
uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held at
the Union City Apostolic
Church, 33700 Alvarado Niles
Rd., Union City. Burial was at
Lone Tree Cemetery, 24591
Fairview Ave., Hayward. In lieu
of flowers, the family respectfully
requests donations to be made to
the Mike Lingenfelter Memorial
fund c/o Bank of America account
# 04639-72758. Callaghan
Mortuary 925-447-2942.
Arrangements by Callaghan
Mortuary.
