Cynthia Ann Wooner

Cynthia Ann Wooner was born October 13, 1931 in Meriden Connecticut to Paul L. and Mabel M. (McLaughlin) Karsmarski. She attended St. Stanislaw’s Parochial School, Jefferson Junior High School and graduated from Meriden High School on June 21, 1949.

While working at the AETNA Life Insurance Co. in Hartford, Connecticut, she met Orval L. Wooner.

They were married July 14th 1951. Orval was from California, sent by the Coast Guard to New London Connecticut.

They both attended college, Cynthia completing 2 yrs. of college and Orval graduating with a B.S. Degree in criminology.

They had one daughter, Aurora Ann Born Dec. 8th 1960.

In 1964 Orval accepted a position with the State Dept., A.I.D. And the family was sent overseas, Orval to Vietnam as a Publish Safety Advisor and Cynthia and the children to Manila,

Philippines. While there Cynthia found she was one 400 wives of A.I.D. Public Safety Advisors. Along with the other wives she was invited to Ambassador Blair's Mansion for private showings of movies, cocktail parties and swimming pool parties. Orval, along with the other A.I.D. Husbands was home in Manila 1week out of every month. They lived this way for 3 ½ years. Orval was then sent to East Pakistan where the family lived for 18 months until the Revolution when they were evacuated to Tehran, Iran. While there Orval and Cynthia celebrated their 20th Wedding Anniversary and toured Europe and the Orient with their children, visiting all the points of interest and staying in Luxury Hotels. Orval was sent back to Vietnam and Cynthia and the children returned to Huntington Beach, California – moving back into their home which had been leased. Ten months later Orval returned home when A.I.D. Ended Public Safety in Vietnam.

Orval accepted the position of Police Chief and then became the first City Manager of Arvin California. Cynthia worked for the County of Kern, Assessors Office until she retired and she and Orval moved to Bakersfield to be near thei rchildren. Left to mourn her loss are her daughter and son-in-law Aurora and Mark Roomsburg.

The Funeral service for Cynthia will be held on Thursday August 2nd 2018 @

2:00 pm at Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary.