Gayle was born to Alfred Newell Dobbins and Martha May (Johnson) Dobbins on September 2, 1924, in Ainsworth, Nebraska, the second daughter of three children. She spent her childhood in Talent, Oregon where she lost her father in 1936. She was predeceased by her mother on October 5, 1971, her sister Ruby Helen Kimsey on July 9, 2008, and her brother Alfred Dale Dobbins on January 11, 2014.
Gayle graduated from Talent High School (Oregon), class of 1942. She attended all of their class reunions since 1962 and maintained lifetime friendships with many of her classmates. Gayle moved to Ventura from Seattle in 1949 where she had worked for the Federal Reserve Bank and Boeing Aircraft as a comptometer operator (precursor to the 10-key) – our Auntie Gayle was always a wiz with numbers. She was initially employed as a secretary to the Registrar at Ventura College then, in 1950, at Tidewater Oil (later Getty Oil.) Gayle was also warm and good with people and retired from Getty in 1981 as the District Supervisor of Human Resources. She made many lifelong friends among the Getty employees and their spouses and families.
Our Auntie Gayle was one-of-a-kind; the most amazing woman. She was generous, thoughtful, quick witted, affectionate, lover of life, smart as they come, and willing to help anyone in need. She also had the most incredible memory – particularly for numbers and for dates. Auntie Gayle loved to spend time with her many nieces and nephews and their families and they all treasured her and those times together. There was always so much laughter and love in her family. She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by everyone that knew her.
Gayle passed just 50 days after the death of her beloved husband, Lowell O. Caldwell. They enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 64 years. Their partnership was an inspiration to all that knew them. They also provided love and guidance to Derdre A. Powers who was considered a member of their family since the early 1960’s.
Services will be held Saturday, January 5, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, immediately followed by a graveside service at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, and then a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge in Ventura.
Auntie Gayle always felt flowers were for the living. In lieu of flowers, she would encourage you to visit a friend, help someone in need, or just make someone’s day. That’s who she was and that was her purpose every day.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, in Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.
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