Lavern Trumbo

Lavern Minnie Trumbo, native of St. Joseph, Mo., and 50-year resident of Rocklin, Calif., died Oct. 21, 2016, in Kennewick, Wash., where she had been living with her son while going through later stages of Alzheimer's Disease, then the last year at a memory care facility.

Lavern observed her 93rd birthday eight days before she quietly passed on to her heavenly home. She was a devoted wife and mother who had a strong belief in Jesus as her personal savior.

Lavern was born Oct. 13, 1923, as the second daughter to Myrtia and Raymond Hall. She grew up in St. Joseph until, after her father's untimely death in 1936, her widowed mother moved with four young girls to Sacramento, California. Lavern attended Grant Union High School, and subsequently met and married John Paul Trumbo in 1942 at Reno, Nevada. They made their home in Sacramento until John joined the U.S. Navy for service in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Lavern assisted in the war effort, initially as a welder at the Oakland Shipyards but due to her slight stature and inability to do heavy lifting later became a weight and balance engineer for the U.S. Army Air Corps.

It was after the war that Lavern and John started a family in North Sacramento. They had three children during their 61-year marriage. John died in 2003. Church life was very much a part of the family, and Lavern was noted as a strong Christian woman, leader of Bible groups and someone who offered compassion to everyone in need.

She taught Women's Bible Study Fellowship classes, was an original member of the Sigrid (Sewing) Circle at Rocklin-Sunset Community Covenant Church, led at women's retreats and helped minister to numerous widowed women during her decades of membership in that church.

Lavern had no career outside her home other than serving others and being a dedicated grandmother to eight grandchildren.

Lavern is survived by children: John H. Trumbo (married to Thora) in Kennewick, Wash; Cynthia J. Godfrey (David deceased in 2006) in Rocklin; Joel D. Trumbo (married to Donna) in Roseville, Calif.; grandchildren Micah Godfrey, Sarah Godfrey, Rebekah Godfrey, Joshua Trumbo, Grace Trumbo, Joy Trumbo, J.P. Trumbo and Nicholas Trumbo. There are 16 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at the Community Covenant Church, 5140 Topaz Ave., Rocklin, Calif. Dr. Keith Hamilton, president of Alaska Christian College, will lead the service. Dr. Hamilton began his Christian ministry as a youth pastor at the Rocklin church, and Lavern financially supported the college since its founding in 2003.

Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Rocklin District Cemetery, 4090 Kannasto Street, Rocklin. The public is invited to attend both services, and a reception for family and friends will be held at the Rocklin Community Covenant Church following the burial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Alaska Christian College, 35109 Royal Place, Soldotna, Alaska 99669.