Erlaine D. Gregory

Erlaine Gregory was born May 4, 1925 and passed away February 13 at age 98. She grew up in Dinuba and graduated from Dinuba High School in 1943. During WWII, she served in the WAVES and was stationed at the Alameda Naval Air Station. After the war, she graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara and spent several years in Hanford, before moving to Santa Clara where she would complete 30 years of dedicated, caring, teaching.

After retirement in 1984, she returned to her hometown to continue her life of dedication to her family and community. One needed to call and make an appointment to fit a visit into her busy schedule! She served many years as a volunteer at Alta Hospital and served on the Dinuba Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. AS a member of the Alta District Historical Society, she was a chairwoman for many home tours and auctions as well as refinishing numerous pieces of antique furniture for the fundraisers. She was a member of the Dinuba Police Department Volunteer Patrol for which her family nicknamed her “Officer Auntie”.. In 1988, Erlaine received the Dinuba Senior Citizen award for her outstanding contributions to the community. She enjoyed her years of involvement with her neighbors in Bell Aire Court and as a member of the Dinuba Christian Church which brought great joy.

Family was extremely important to Erlaine. She and her mother, Dorothy Frew enjoyed many years of traveling in their RV with the Lucky Ones group. After Dorothy passed away, Erlaine continued to travel with her sister, Joanne Ledbetter and the Borne Free RV group.

She is survived by her sister Joanne Ledbetter of Orosi; her half-sister, Anthonette (Gregory) Housten of Caliente, NV; her nephew Dr. Greg Ledbetter of Drum Valley and his son William of Washington; two nieces, Jill Brown (David) of Orange Cove, and their boys, Andrew (Mandy) of Orange Cove, Adam (Alysha) and Justin of Orosi, and Dr. Laurie Day (John) currently serving a veterinary mission in Mongolia, and their children Austin (Jordan) of Washington, Kaylee (Ryan) and Annabelle (Sam) of Idaho. She will also be dearly missed by numerous great-great nieces and nephews.

Private services will be held with interment at Smith Mountain Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to the Alta District Historical Society, 289 South K Street, Dinuba, CA