Dolores Loreen Barnbeck

She was born on January 28, 1925 in Los Angeles, California and lived on Freeman Ave. in this South Bay community). She moved to Virginia in July of 2019 to be close to her son and caretaker, Rev. Timothy Dice, and his family: wife Mary Dodson-Dice, their son Jeremy Dice, and daughter Cady Dice. She was graduate of George Washington High School in Los Angeles. During the war she was employed as an Arc Welder at the California Shipyards, working on the fan-tail sections of the many Liberty Ships launched there. She was married after the war, and gave birth to three boys: Ronald, Larry and Timothy. With the support of her father, she purchased a home in Lawndale. With the help of her mother, she raised her three boys as a single parent. She married Carl L. Barnbeck in 1959 and became step-mother to his two children: Christopher and Belinda. They added on to the house in Lawndale, did some traveling together and enjoyed their travel-trailer days one the road. Unexpectedly, Carl died of a massive stroke in 1976. “Dolly” as she was known, carried on with volunteer work and travel as much as she could, trying to stay close to her ever-growing family. She was a good and popular neighbor and friend to many. She loved all kinds of dogs (having cared for over 6 in her lifetime). She loved dancing (including clogging, tap dancing, and ballroom dancing. She is survived by all the family mentioned above and by four other grandchildren: Laurie Koogler, Brian Dice, Jeffrey Dice and John Dice who was her live-in caretaker for many years. She is also survived by many great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. A committal service will be held at Pacific Crest Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 11 at 2 pm. A Celebration of Life service remembering her 99 years will be held at First Christian Church of Torrance at 11 am on Saturday, Oct. 12 (2930 El Dorado St. in Torrance, CA. Those who knew her are welcome at both services.