Robert "Ted" Sutherland

Ted was born in Nebraska in 1921, but moved with his family to California at an early age. He graduated from Redlands High School in 1939. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Ted joined the United States Navy as a carpenter’s mate and served until 1945. During his service, he earned medals for participation in the Philippine Liberation and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, among others. After the Navy, Ted lived and worked in Bellflower, California, where he married Caralee Emmons in 1955, with whom he had five children.

The Sutherland family moved to the Mojave Desert area, where Ted met and impressed Nat Mendelsohn, the original developer of California City (and many other planned communities). Ted quickly became Mendelsohn’s right-hand man and an important member of the early

California City community, helping make it the city it is today. Ted was instrumental in the construction of city streets, the water system and Central Park, and he also helped build many of the first homes in California City. He met and became lifelong friends with other city

“pioneers.” Ted was one of the city’s first council members and was vice mayor when the City incorporated in 1965. He was one of the first fire chiefs in the city’s all volunteer fire department.

While managing all of this, he enjoyed time with his growing family by riding their horses with friends, camping trips to the Colorado River, and excursions to Southern California beaches. Ted and Caralee moved away to Dana Point, California in 1976 and later Bellflower, California

to care for Caralee’s mother. When Caralee passed away in 1987, Ted continued to work in construction, moving back to California City in 1991. In 1992, Ted married Deanna Tracy McNulty, another longtime California City resident and “pioneer.” Ted was once again an active and engaged member of the California City community, participating in the Economic Development Corporation, the Community Club, the East Kern Museum Society, the Chamber of Commerce, all the local antique car clubs, and the Mable Davis Senior Center. Ted loved a good party (helping organize so many) and family get-togethers.

He loved boating on the Colorado River and the Lake Ray Roberts in Texas. He was an avid reader, but he also loved road trips and cruises with family and friends. Ted taught us all so much about community, friendship, family, love and living a long, full, meaningful life. Ted will be missed by his wife Dee; his children, Jan, Kelly, Tod, Penny and Kurt, and their respective spouses; his stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren’ and his many, many friends. Ted will be interred at the Bakersfield National Cemetery, with military honors. A celebration of Ted’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, September 25, 2016 at the Strata Center, in Central Park, California City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mable Davis Senior Center or the East Kern Historical Museum.

Arrangements under the direction of Joshua Memorial Park & Mortuary, Lancaster, CA.