Loedda Pearl Westmoreland

Loedda Pearl Westmoreland was born on Sept 4, 1935 to Milton and Nellie Oakes in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Loedda was the second of 4 children with an older brother Fred, and younger siblings Lynn and Ron. The family moved from Oklahoma to California during the dust bowl, working their way from state to state.

Once in California they lived in several places, always going where the work was available. They settled in Hanford for a while and worked their way up to buying and subdividing property in Hanford which we now call Short Acres. Note there is a street named Oakes Street named after her family. Mom always said that they wanted to name a street “Loedda Street”, but she didn’t like the idea as her name was always so hard to pronounce.

Loedda graduated from Hanford High School in 1953 and went to work at the local Buick garage. It wasn’t long before she met a young handsome Korean War veteran named Homer Westmoreland who worked down the street at the Chevy garage. Depending on who told the story either Homer wore her down by asking her out over and over until she gave in on the condition that he would start attending church; or the other version in which mom walked past the Chevy garage every day, swinging her bra over her head while winking at him until he finally took pity on her and agreed to go out with her…you can decide whose story belongs to whom.

On May 4, 1956, Loedda Pearl Oakes married Homer Lloyd Westmoreland right here in Hanford and they went on to have three boys, Bradley in 1958, Gary in 1960 and finally Bryon in 1966. Over the years Loedda worked as a bookkeeper & tax preparer while Homer served the city of Hanford as a firefighter. Their lives were filled with service to Glad Tidings Church and support of numerous missionaries. Loedda and Homer even traveled to Africa in the 1970’s to serve missionaries and on the field.

In 1982 Gary married Robin Montgomery, and in 1984 Brad married Renee Cook-Swanger, both of these weddings were hosted by Loedda in her own home. Bryon married Lucinda Pluckrose in Brisbane, Australia in 2022.

Loedda’s grandchildren are: Ryan, Robert, Shelby, Ben, Wyatt and Cali Westmoreland. Her Great-grandchildren are Duke & Cadence Knevelbaard and Millie Rose & Charlie Kostoff.

Homer passed away in May of 2010 and while Loedda missed him dearly she filled her time with God, family, and friends. She cruised to Alaska with Gary, Robin and Renee; went to high school reunions and many other outings with lifelong friends, and even saw Engelbert Humperdink in concert, a dream come true for her. Robin and I tried to get her to throw her panties on the stage, in fact we even snuck a pair into her purse before the concert which resulted in us being severely scolded with the familiar, “Girls! You stop that right now!” Loedda would routinely make macaroni salad and deviled eggs and then call Brad, Gary, and Shelby to come by and pick some up. She always thought of others more than herself.

Mom lived a life of service to God first and then everyone else. She embodied the greatest commandment to Love the Lord God with all your heart and love your neighbor as herself.

She will be sorely missed but we know she is finally with her first love, Jesus, and fully healthy and praising God.