Edmund L. "Ed" Vollmer

Ed was born at his grandmother’s ranch on the edge of Visalia to Charles and Mary W. Vollmer of Badger, CA. He was raised in Badger and attended a one room school house until 8th grade. He graduated from Visalia Union High in 1941, entered U.S. Marine Corps Navy V-12 program in March 1942, and received an AA degree at Visalia Junior College in 1943. Ed met Betty Miller, his sweet heart of V.J.C. He went into active duty Marine Corps in July 1943 and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Occidental College in June 1944. He was commissioned as a second Lt. USMC in April 1945. On April 15, 1945 Ed and Betty were married and lived in Oceanside, CA. Ed shipped out to the Pacific to participate in the invasion of Japan, however President Harry S. Truman intervened by dropping the atomic bombs in August 1945 and Ed was spared. He was then sent to Honolulu, Hawaii and marched in the V.J. Day Parade. Ed and Betty moved to Sanger, CA in late 1947 where he joined William W. McCullough Accounting Firm and became a Licensed Public Accountant. Ed became involved in the Sanger Chamber of Commerce and in 1949 was the cochairmen of the committee to restore the Sanger Christmas Tree Festival and the Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree at Grant Grove. In 1951, he was recalled to duty during the Korean Conflict as a Captain and stationed in Arlington, VA with Betty and their two daughters Kim and Kay. In 1953, they moved to Visalia to continue working in the accounting firm and in 1954 their third daughter Jody was born. In 1961 he passed the Certified Public Accountant Exam. In 1963, Ed founded the CPA firm of Vollmer, Canfield and Westenrider now known as Vollmer, Daniel, Gaebe and Grove. It is said that Ed was the oldest practicing CPA in California.

Ed will be remembered as a man of unbelievable generosity who gave his time, talents and treasures to his family, friends, and the Visalia Community and ALL who needed his help and encouragement.

Ed was a CPA at heart. He was blessed with a keen mind and with an outstanding memory. Ed Vollmer will also be remembered as: Mayor and Vice Mayor of Visalia (1965-1973), President of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce (1963), Visalia’s Man of the Year (1971), and as the honored recipient of The Hall of Fame Award from the Mt. Whitney Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (1991). Ed was also an organizer and director of: the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, The College of The Sequoias Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Tulare Co., and Visalia Givers Plan A.I.D. (United Way). In addition he was a director and officer of Visalia Kiwanis Club and a 1992 Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention in Houston. Ed was a member of The Advisory Board of the Automobile Club of Southern California for six years, a longtime Tulare County Farm Bureau Member, a member of Visalia Elks and Moose Lodges and a member of Tulare County Trade Club.

Ed was a longtime member of the Visalia First Presbyterian Church, serving in the past as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Churches Endowment and Memorial Foundation.

While on the city council noted accomplishments included: transferring of the City Hospital to Kaweah Delta, an aggressive annexation program to guide orderly growth and development and to assure a strong sales tax basis, new police and fire facilities, remodeling of the Montgomery Auditorium L. J. Williams Theater, construction of the Visalia Convention Center and North Visalia Community Center, and Plaza Park and Valley Oak Golf Course, the formation of community advisory committees, people participation programs and providing a healthy industrial and business climate and an excellent relationship with the Agricultural community.

Despite Ed’s dedication to his clients and community, he also found time to be devoted to his family and left us with so many treasured memories. We enjoyed many trips, vacations and outings together through the years, including cruising with the high Sierra Jazz Band and many friends.

Ed is survived by his wife of 71 years Betty, who he said was his love and best friend, daughters Kim Bolin, Kay (John) Morrison, Jody Vollmer (Eddie Sanchez), grandchildren Michelle Heddinger, Jennifer (Brian) Belcher, Bryan, Kevin (Kristen) and Mallory (Mark) Morrison, and John and Scott Morrison, great-granddaughters Charlotte and Bella Heddinger, and Olivia Morrison, as well as many well-loved nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding him to heaven were his parents, sister Viola and brothers Charles, Elmer, Marvin, Stanley and Alfred.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in Ed’s memory to your favorite charities or entities.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 26, 2016 from 3-7pm at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave. Visalia. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 11:00 am, at the Visalia First Assembly of God Church, 3737 S. Akers at Caldwell. A reception will follow at the Visalia Country Club, where memories will be shared. Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.