Maxine Vandewalker

Maxine Golberg Vandewalker and her beloved late husband, Vandy, were reunited on June 8, 2012. What delayed their reunion was a busy life that Maxine was blessed to live to the fullest with her family and friends. She was so proud of being a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Maxine passed peacefully at home in the city she so loved, San Diego, CA, of natural causes.

Born to Thos and Florence Golberg in 1916 in Lake Preston, SD, she grew up in Blooming Prairie, MN. After graduating from Univ. of Minnesota in 1937, she taught business classes for 5 years.

Maxine married Orrin Frank Vandewalker (Vandy) in 1941 and they moved to Grand Meadow, MN (pop. 600) where Vandy started his first dental practice. In 1949, the family moved to Fargo, ND to expand the dental practice and in 1953 they moved to San Diego.

Maxine was very active at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in La Mesa and was a Sharp Grossmont Hospital “Pink Lady” volunteer for 13 years. She had many interests - playing golf, fishing, reading, and playing the piano and organ. In later life she enjoyed playing cards, needlepoint, knitting and traveling. She loved her family very much and most of all she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert T. Golberg, and her husband of 56 years. She is survived by her children: Bruce (Mary) Vandewalker, Susan (Denny) Murray, Curtis (fiancé Cynthia) Vandewalker, and Mary Jayne (Bruce) Perry; her grandchildren Amy and Tyler Murray, Peter (Stephanie) Vandewalker, Lisa (Jake) Reimers, Charlie (Cassie) Perry, and Clayton Perry; and her great grandchildren Sabrina and Kai Vandewalker.

The family would like to give a special thanks to all the wonderful staff at Cloisters of the Valley Assisted Living in Mission Valley and Lightbridge Hospice for their loving care and support this past year.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, June 14th from 5-8 PM at Greenwood Mortuary. A service celebrating Maxine’s life will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 5150 Wilson St., La Mesa, CA 91942 on Friday, June 15th at 11 AM, with Rev. Robert Horne. Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family to share remembrances, food and drink at St. Luke’s (lower level) after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church; Lightbridge Hospice Community Foundation, 6155 Cornerstone Court East, Ste. 220, San Diego, CA 92121; or the charity of one’s choice. Obituary and guestbook are online at greenwoodsandiego.com.