Cleta A. Query

Born June 11, 1914 – Died January 13, 2012

Graduated Woodbine HS – 1932

I was born on a farm near Woodbine, Iowa. I attended a rural school for 3 months then moved into town (Woodbine – Harrison County, Iowa). I graduated from Woodbine High School in June of 1932.

This summary of my working life, which I prefer to call “career”, since it covered almost 42 years, is just something my younger family might like to know – since we are all training to prepare for “what’s out there” – as I did in an earlier time.

1934 – 1936: Cashier, stenographer for A.J. Coe and Co. (First National Bank) in Woodbine.

1936 – 1937: Worked for May Seed Co. in Omaha (12th & Douglas) doing payroll, typing, etc.

1937 – 1939: Worked for 3 finance companies in Omaha: Personal Finance Co., then State Finance Co., then Great Western Finance Co. I did cashiering and stenographic work, typing, etc.

1939 – 1943: I worked for Judge Southard (Civil Court Judge of Douglas County in Omaha). My job included issuing and recording birth certificates, recording of deeds, wills, and other legal documents.

In July 1943 (at 27 years old), I married Jack Travers (Collin William Travers) and moved to Santa Ana California where I began another career at Santa Ana Army Air Force’s Western Flying Training Command (Federal Government) from 1943 to 1946. Wayne Honaker and Jack Travers were also stationed at the same command. My assignment was for the FBI in the area of the air force. I developed a secret card system to segregate pilots, bombardiers, and navigators for future service in the Air Force.

After the war, my next position was Secretary to the Civil Engineer with Hubbard South Coast Boat Building Company of Newport Beach. This covered government contracts for construction of YMS (yard mine sweep) and PT boats. They also continued building small sail boats that they built before the war which is what they were really known for.

South Coast also repaired large boats for the Hollywood crowd. I can remember meeting Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall (they called her Betty). He was a real gentleman and opened a door for me. He was short and Betty was as tall as he was.

Kenny Watts was the discoverer of nylon for sails. Dupont Nemour Corp. was deeply involved with sails and ships and the development of nylon as we know it today. My introduction to David (Pinky) Dupont was a date to the Los Angeles Harbor Yacht Club.

I was introduced to many of the Hollywood crowd including Bob and Delores Hope. They wouldn’t know me or my name, but I did get to meet them. I was shopping one day and met Lucille Ball in a grocery store. She had pink hair and was friendly, but a typical show girl. She came from New York – had a beautiful figure.

1946 – 1951: I worked for the owner of Mellott Construction Company in Corona del Mar. I typed contracts for people who purchased the homes he built. During this time, he built wartime homes per government contracts as well as Churches and other large buildings.

Jack and I built a new home in Corona del Mar during this period. We divorced shortly after the home was finished.

I lived in an apartment in Corona del Mar (2 bedroom apartment) a block off the beach. I rented it for about a year. Upon leaving that apartment, I met the new tenant (with the last name of Lipton from the Lipton Tea people in London).

Next was a move to Santa Ana to work for the State of California, Dept. of Employment. My job was using a special machine doing County Payroll for the employees of Orange County.

My next position was for the State Regional Water Pollution Control Board in Santa Ana with responsibility for the preparation and typing of monthly board minutes, budget control work, and attendance reporting. Left in 1953.

Then I went to work for State Alcoholic Beverage Control doing cashiering and steno for 3 field representatives. (Married to Ed Reiter at this time.)

Next, I worked for the City of Santa Ana’s Mayor and Clerk of the Court. I handled minutes of meetings and city recordings

After that, I worked for Orange County Dept. of Agriculture in Santa Ana doing typing and steno work.

1959 – 1976: I worked for the Orange County Road Commissioner. (I was still single when I started working here.) My first position was working in Steno, typing reports, etc.

There were 6 or 8 steps before I was able to the the position of Executive Secretary to the Road Commissioner, Allen S. Koch. He was considered one of the foremost engineers in highway design and construction in North and South America. He planned and built “Interstate 5” from Los Angeles County to San Diego County. After his death, he was replaced by Ted McConville (wife Ruth).

PERSONAL

My life, like many others, has been one of plus and minus – happiness and sorrow. I will ever be grateful for the love of Drue and Nellie B. J. and the affection of my brothers and sisters and their progeny (one in particular and she knows who she is).

My first introduction to Bill Query (William Melton Query) was at his home. We were introduced by a girl for whom he had an extreme dislike. He didn’t call me for 3 weeks. Our courtship was conducted in a $35.00 Dodge. Dinner out was at the bowling alley or theatre at the drive-in. Bill did not like touch dancing – he could only do the “jitterbug”.

During the 4 – 6 years we went together, Bill was in Japan for over 2 years. While Bill was overseas, I moved to his home at 601 S. Poplar. It was there, during my lunch hour one day that Bill showed me the ring. We were married in July 1964.

1964 – 1976: Bill and I lived in the home we purchased together at 2802 N. Richmond in Santa Ana.

Around 1974, we purchased 1-1/2 acres of property (the size of which we had never had before). We paid $6,400 for the land, but there were no improvements (no water or utilities) at that time. It was located on a well known lane in Vista called Gopher Canyon Rd. For 2 years, while living in Santa Ana, we drove an hour ??? away every weekend to work on the house. It was a labor of love.

I measure my personal life, not in two failed marriages, but in the one beginning July 6, 1964 to William Melton Query (Bill), a US Marine Corps pilot of 30 years trained in flying fighters, bombers, and helicopters. He was not financially able to court me as did others in my single life, but he was the most intelligent, interesting, caring person that I have ever known and he was loved by everyone. Bill loved growing Bonsai culture and reading books of all kinds. He had a total recall mind and a sense of humor to match! He was the love of my life, which we shared for 28 years before his death. We loved the same kind of music and the home we built together on Gopher Canyon Rd. Even though Bill traveled extensively as a marine, fighting in a war, we enjoyed a different kind of traveling – together. We visited England, Europe, Australia, and Tahiti adding to the memories of that part of my life that will be cherished forever.