Hershel William Hibbard

September 15, 1925 – September 20, 2024

Whether you met him at 19 or 90, Hersh was always young at heart.

Born in Rose Hill, Kansas, he was the 3rd oldest son of Roy Danial and Ida Mae Hibbard. Traveling across the western US as a child, the family eventually settled in Riverside California in 1934, with Hersh eventually having a total of 10 brothers and sisters.

He enlisted in the US Navy in 1943 and served in the South Pacific Theater until the end of the war, on both the USS Iowa, and the USS Belleau Wood. A Service Record he was extraordinarily proud of.

Starting as a Lineman with Bell Telephone in 1948 worked his way up to Senior Engineer over a 36 year career.

Loved by many, he was best known for his youthful exuberance, boyish charm, and zest for wine, golf, food, travel, and his family.

Hersh married his wife Grace in 1953 had 3 sons, Greg, Joe and Jim. Grace passed away in 2013.

Many people have aged to 99, but not many truly lived 99 years like Hersh. He was always active, invigorated, and full of energy — with perhaps a dash of playful showmanship. And, with 99 years of living life to the fullest, he’d certainly collected a few stories along the way. These included recounting his time in the Pacific Theater during WWII, tales of returning to a vibrant and burgeoning Los Angeles in the 1940s, and stories of his joy-filled, adventurous life across all of Southern California.

One of Hersh’s fondest memories was a family trip to Europe in 2015. It was his first visit across the Atlantic, at the ripe age of 90. Strolling cobblestone streets, sipping mulled wine, and tiptoeing though historic locals across London, Germany, Austria and France. Age never stopped Hersh from adventures, and experiencing the true meaning of life.

In 2015, at age 90, he met a wonderful lady, Petie, with which he would share the next 9 years of golf, adventure and life. Hersh and Petie were inseparable and often visited his sons Greg and Jim in San Francisco and Las Vegas. They traveled to the Cities of New Orleans, New York, Washington DC, just to name a few.

Hersh was part of the greatest, and now almost forgotten, generation that ever lived.

He had a long and certainly well-lived life. He will be missed by loving friends and family.

Hersh is survived by his partner Petie, his sons Greg and Jim, his sisters Ruby, Esther and Lois, his brother Elmer and his grandson Justin.

A Memorial Service will be scheduled for Spring 2025.