Walt Gupton 1939-2025 Walt Gupton grew up in the country in Warren County, North Carolina, just four miles from the Virginia state line. He was the youngest of seven with five older sisters and an older brother. Walt’s father was in the U.S. Navy in World War II. It became his dream to follow in his father’s footsteps. He joined the Navy when he was 17 and left North Carolina for the first time headed for Great Lakes, Illinois, for his basic training. When handed his assignments, the superior officer announced, “Walt Gupton, the luckiest guy in the world: Long Beach, California.” As Walt traveled to California, he came over the hill in the red car and at his first glimpse of Long Beach said to himself, “this is going to be my home.” He met his first wife, Barbara, as he gave her and her friends a tour of the LSD he was stationed on. A few years later, they were married. Walt joined the Long Beach Fire Department in 1968. During his time in the fire department, Walt developed the Emergency Preparedness Program for Long Beach and was given the assignment to research and develop a paramedic run in Long Beach. He later served as the paramedic coordinator for several years. Walt and Barbara’s passion was camping and fishing. Barbara became ill with cancer and passed on at the young age of 49. As time went on, Walt and Kathy met and were married at All Saints Episcopal Church on Dec. 9, 1989. Walt enjoyed his new role as Dad to stepsons Sean and Jim. He was delighted to add roles as Papa when grandchildren Brittany, Caitlin and Cullen came along. They became members of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in 1993 where Walt has served as senior warden, LEM, lector, LEV, and led the youth acolytes for 15 years. Walt’s last assignment in the fire department was fire marshal of the Long Beach Harbor. After retiring, he enjoyed being a househusband. Many friends told Kathy she was spoiled and she was the first to agree. In their free time, Walt and Kathy loved traveling all 50 states, taking cruises, visiting European countries and taking in the sights. In the mid 1990s, Walt served for a time as a security guard, followed by fire marshal in Leisure World. Walt loved spending his time golfing with friends, following the Dodgers, and reading. He managed to read biographies of all the presidents from George Washington, on. Walt was blessed with a friendly and outgoing personality. He was sincere in making people feel valued, heard and important. He had a kind word for everyone he passed, leaving a smile on their face. Walt loved life to its fullest. Two of his favorite sayings were “Life is a piece of cake,” and “Life is a walk in the park.” Walt passed on from complications from Parkinson’s on Nov. 13, 2025. He experienced joy in living the life God gave him to live and his wife, Kathy, is sure he is experiencing a greater joy in heaven now. Walt is survived by his wife, Kathy Gupton of 36 years, sister-in-law Gloria Hadley, brother-in-law Greg Reaume, sister Frances Bolton, sons Sean and Jim, daughter-in-law Ingrid, grandchildren Brittany, Caitlin and Cullen, and many nieces and nephews. —paid obituary

Taylor White 1944-2025 Judith Taylor White was born on July 21, 1944, in Hackensack, New Jersey. After a courageous battle with cancer, Taylor peacefully passed away on Dec. 3, 2025, at the age of 81. Taylor moved to Southern California from the East Coast in 1995 and became a proud Leisure World resident. Some of her happiest years were spent in Leisure World as an active member of the Leisure World Community Church and serving as Leisure World Theatre Club President where she made lifelong friends who became family. Those who were lucky to know Taylor know that she was pure joy, kindness and love, always full of life and happy to help anyone at any time. She brought happiness to so many and will always be remembered for her creativity, passion, generosity, and sense of humor. Taylor is survived by her daughter, Hilary, her son-in-law, James, her granddaughter, Kate, and her brother, William. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, Dec. 15, at Leisure World Community Church at 11 a.m. Reception to follow in the fellowship hall. ••• The obituaries deadline is Thursday at 4 p.m., prior to the desired publication date. Email obituary notices to laurieb@lwsb.com with photos attached as jpg files. The first 250 words, plus one picture, are free to publish in the newspaper; each additional word is 25 cents. For more information, call 562-430-0534, ext. 2801, or email laurieb@lwsb.com.

Celebration of Life for Connie Young with special guest Southside Jazz Band Connie Young’s celebration of life will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3:30 p.m. at LW Community Church. Southside Jazz Band will play at the celebration. Connie hired the band to play at her and her husband Jay’s 70th wedding anniversary in Big Bear, California. Her wish was to have them play at her memorial with all of her friends there. Reservations and formal dress are not required. The program will start with a short service in the sanctuary with the preacher and Dave Baker, who was the president of the NFL Hall of Fame and played basketball for Connie’s husband in high school, will say a few words, along with a few family members. The group will then move to the dining room to hear the band, dance, and have refreshments, where more people can say a few words about Connie during the musical breaks. She wanted music, a party and friends to celebrate her life. She will be there in spirit.

Joyce Elaine Bakker 1943-2025 Joyce Elaine Bakker was born Dec. 6, 1943, in Artesia, California, to Emma and Ernest Bakker. She went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 16, 2025, after a battle with blood cancer. She lived in Southern California for most of life. She also lived in Palm Desert and the last several years in Las Vegas to be by family. Joyce was married to Arnold Bakker on March 23, 1961, celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary this year. Joyce loved doing everything with her husband. They worked their family business, Bakker’s Printing, side by side for 30 years. She loved to bake, play cards and games, travel, crochet, and later in life started her love for making beautiful quilts. Joyce, along with her husband, made over 800 blankets and quilts a year to donate to women’s shelters and charity programs for the needy. She would also make beautiful crocheted baby blankets, embroidered hand towels, and other handmade gifts for friends and family. Joyce is survived by her husband, Arnold, children and their spouses Wayne, Jackie, Kathy, Steve, Norm and Nikki, grandchildren Matt, Victoria, Brandon, Weston and Dean, great-grandchildren Benjamin, Katherine, Killian and baby Bynum and her brother Evan and his wife, June Schmidt. She is proceeded in death by her parents, and siblings Bernice, Arlene, Florence, Henry, Lloyd, Joan, Robert and Donald. Joyce will be missed by all the people she touched with her love.