Wilbert Dalzell

Dr. Wilbert Gary Dalzell, 83, of Hemet passed away of natural causes November 28, 2010. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. Dr. was born in Honolulu, HI, on December 6, 1926. He spent his early years in Honolulu and loved swimming and surfing in Waikiki. As a teenager, he was a firsthand witness to the bombing on Pearl Harbor. He served his country during WWII in the South Pacific. Later, Dr. Dalzell received his BMS in 1950 and MD in 1954 from StanfordUniversity. During his surgical residency with USAF, 1955 to 1960, he met married his wife, Mary Ellen. As an USAF officer, he served as the Chief of Surgery at Hamilton AFB, CA. from 1961 to 1962 and Kindley AFB, Bermuda from 1962 to 1964. Retiring from the Air Force in 1964 with the rank of Major, he moved his family to snowy Lake Tahoe. Weary of the cold and the winter of 1969, he decided to settle for the warmth of Hemet in 1970. He practiced as a General Surgeon and also served on the Hemet Valley Medical Center Board of Directors. He retired from clinical practice in 1996. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Stanford University Alumni Association, and the Knights of Columbus, Council #10991.During his leisure, he loved surfing, sailing, writing letters for publication in the Press Enterprise editorial section, playing poker tournaments and running. He ran the San Diego and the San Francisco marathons and enjoyed spending time with his wife and children. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen and children: Erin Archer, Mary Claire Hundertmark, Lisa Crowner, David Dalzell, and Aimee Kalchik. He was a proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Miller - Jones Mortuary, 1501 W. Florida Avenue, Hemet, CA. The family will receive friends Thursday, December 2, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. (rosary at 7p.m.) at the mortuary. Funeral mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 26340 Soboba St, Hemet, CA 92545. Graveside service will be at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 3, 2010.

In Lieu of flowers please remember Dr. Dalzell by making memorial contributions in his name to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 5268, Hemet, CA92544 or Ramona VNA Hospice 890 W. Stetson Suite #A, Hemet, CA92543