Louise Bacon Perry

Louise Bacon's courtship with Hubert Perry was a one-day, whirlwind event that blossomed into 64 years of marital bliss. When Louise began slipping away with Alzheimer's disease six years ago, Hubert kept her near to him under constant care in the family home on Mar Vista Street until she died Wednesday at age 89. Seated in their den near their living room where Louise's basket collection hangs from the ceiling, Hubert recalled the day in 1945, as a 31-year-old U.S. Navy lieutenant commander in San Diego, when he went to Los Angeles specifically to find a 'nice girl to marry.' Hubert said, after briefly meeting Louise in an elevator at Los Angeles' University Club, they went dancing at the Biltmore Hotel. He proposed to her as he drove her home to Glendale and she said, 'yes.' They were married Oct. 4, 1945 and lived on Coronado Island in San Diego until they moved to Whittier in the summer of 1946. 'You would think that a marriage like that would never last,' said Hubert, 'But it lasted for 64 years.' Hubert reminisced about how good their marriage had been, successfully raising three sons and a daughter in Whittier, staying closely involved with the community, especially with Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, where there is a wing in Perry's name. Upon learning of Louise Perry's death, friends and local leaders began expressing their sorrow and remembering their good friend with her friendly smile. After returning to Whittier from South America in 1960 and meeting her new neighbors, the Perrys, Ruth B. Shannon said, 'We had children about the same age and we became good friends. Especially, I remember they introduced us to Los Alamitos Bay, where we went sailing together. I loved Louise's warm, sweet smile.' Former Whittier Mayor Delta Murphy echoed Shannon's sentiment that Louise, 'had a smile on her face under any circumstances,' and added, 'I had tremendous respect for her.' Louise was born May 25, 1921 in Casper, Wyo. to Eldon and Clara Bacon. The family moved to Glendale in 1928. Louise graduated from Occidental College in Eagle Rock in 1943 and went on to receive her teaching credential from Stanford University. Louise became quite active in Whittier community life. She was a member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), the East Whittier Women's Club and Whittier Assistance League. She loved gardening, entertaining and everything involving her family. Louise is survived by her husband, Hubert; children: Lee (Carol Jean), Brian, Ellen and Mark (Carol Lynn) and grandchildren: Chris, Joshua, Lauren, David, Kyle, Mark and Sabrina. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Whittier First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia St., Whittier. Memorial donations in Louise's name may be made to the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Foundation, 12401 Washington Blvd., Whittier.