Cecil Arthur Northrup Jr.

Cecil Arthur (Art) Northrup, resident of Grass Valley, CA, returned to the arms of Jesus on November 7, 2024. Art was born in Long Beach, Ca. The first of 6 children to Cecil Arthur Northrup, Sr. and Izabel Marie Valencia Northrup on February 13, 1936. A native Californian, with family origins from the Chumash American Indian Tribe..

He graduated from Grant Union High School in Sacramento. Art served his country in the National Guard through 1955 and then U.S. Army Division and completed his service and was honorably discharged on Nov 3, 1958. He remained in the U.S Army Reserves until 1962. He worked in guided missile installation and electrical equipment repair. He completed the Jet Technical Institute in So. San Francisco for Jet Engine Repair as well.

Art was a skilled mechanic, working for Georgia Pacific from 4/1961-12/1967 as a printing press operator. The majority of his working life he spent with Ford Motor Company from Dec 1967- May 1983. and later for Peterbilt in Sept 1983 - Aug 1985. He also worked for Eastridge Mall in the maintenance department.

Art is survived by his daughter, Debbie Norris and her husband, Rob of Tampa, Fl, Katherine Hall and her husband, David of San Jose, Ca, and son, Jerry McDonald of Santa Clara. Art was blessed with 8 grandchildren, Ryan Norris, Dylan and Tyler Turcotte, Molly Swaffield, Shane Hall, Mark McDonald, Nicole Coggins, Stephanie Pell. He was also blessed with 8 great grandchildren, Hudson Turcotte, Justin Hall, Emma and Tessa Swaffield, Izabelle, Madison, David Hall II and Alana Coggins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years Katherine “Kay” Northrup, his daughter, Maurine Alicia Turcotte, his sons, Arthur David Northrup, and Gary McDonald.

Art was a gifted man with the ability to troubleshoot and fix almost anything! He was often found working on cars in his garage, and later bikes. Art also had an architectural skillset, designing the home he and his wife, Kay, later retired to in 1994. Art had a contagious laugh and smile. He often cared for others through a bike ministry and various missions activities, especially with a focus on helping the homeless community. He was an active member of several community churches and bible groups. He loved his friends and family and worked hard to show that through cards, calls, and visits. He enjoyed hobbies like restoring model trains and antiquing or thrift shopping with friends and family. He was an avid reader, knowing that what we don’t know about history we are destined to repeat. He had a love of Jesus Christ and often shared verbal “blessings” to those he met. He had a disarming and kind way about him. After the loss of his wife, Art lived alone but did not live lonely, he embraced life and lived it to the fullest. He enjoyed his home in Grass Valley. A place that will be remembered for family gatherings, social gatherings, and fond memories overall.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, Dec 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Los Gatos Memorial Park, 2255 Los Gatos Almaden Rd., San Jose, CA where Art will be laid to rest with his wife, Kay.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, Dec 7, 2024 at 11:00 am, Village, 4400 58th St. Sacramento, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Art’s memory to The Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that Art gave to regularly. https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/

OR to BCAN (Bladder Cancer Advisory Network) as Art bravely battled Bladder Cancer successfully after several reoccurrences.

https://bcan.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/tribute-gifts/

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭