In Memoriam Richard Steven Berryman Richard Steven Berryman, 71, of Seal Beach died of heart failure March 29 at an area hospital. Richard was the youngest of five Berryman children, who all grew up in their family’s funeral home in Cozad, Nebraska, and helped in various ways. Richard joined his mother, Geraldene Berryman, in the business in 1972, after graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. His father, Virgil, had died a year earlier. The Berrymans sold their business, which included three funeral homes, in 1983. In the mid-1980s, Richard moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for funeral homes, then with sales with Service Corporation International. Years later, he worked with older adults when he purchased a Comfort Keeper franchise with his cousin and business partner, Mary Granger. They sold the business in 2017, and Richard retired to Leisure World Seal Beach. Richard was a people-oriented person who prided himself on providing support to grieving families through his work in funeral homes and on providing help to the elderly through Comfort Keepers. He also prided himself on his sales ability, including selling Southern California to his friends in Nebraska. Richard had been known to call snowed-in Nebraska friends to say he was on his patio having brunch. Richard lived in Long Beach for many years before moving to Leisure World with his companion, Ivan Whatley. Ivan died in 2020. Richard’s retirement activities included daily walks with his small dog, Charlie, who, like Richard, was large in personality. Richard also closely followed the national news, freely sharing his opinions on news events and other subjects. Over the years, Richard helped and encouraged many friends, as well as family members. In retirement, he often said he was fortunate to have family, friends and neighbors who looked after him. Richard’s memorial service will be April 30 at 1 p.m. at Leisure World Community Church. Guests should enter through the main gate on Seal Beach Boulevard.

Peggy Lou Airhart 1923-2022 Actor, artist, wife, mother, volunteer police officer, world traveler, Red Hat Lady and woman of faith, Peggy Lou Airhart died March 23 at age 99. She was a 15-year resi- dent of Leisure World. Born Peggy Lou Morrow in Portland, Oregon, she was not fond of rain and moved at the age of 18 to Los Angeles, where she met her future husband, Lonnie, at a dance. During their 45-year marriage in their Long Beach home, they raised two sons and two daughters. In 1972, to earn extra Christmas cash, Peggy took a part-time job at May Company that turned into a 20-year career. With the children grown, though still busy as a wife and worker, she found time to become a world traveler with her brother as her traveling companion and later, with LW friends. After her husband’s death, her children urged her to move to Leisure World, where her latent talents blossomed. Peggy discovered she could draw and joined an art class, then the ceramics group Claycrafters. A neighbor took her to Enter Laughing, the improv group, and she was a star. From there, it was on to the Theater Club and the Producers Club, for which she was a mainstay in their yearly productions. She also joined the Seal Beach Police Department as a volunteer officer and became a Red Hat Lady. Peggy is survived by sons Gregory (Lori) and Darrel (Beverly); daughters Nancy Conrad (Tim) and Mitzi Brady (Chris); 12 grandchildren; 17 greatthe grandchildren; and brother Jim. -paid obituary

Betty Hobbs 1921-2022 Betty M. Hobbs passed away peacefully at the end of February at home with her children by her side. Just a few months shy of turning 101, Betty lived a great life. She was a world traveler since childhood, journalist and volunteer for many diverse organizations such as scouts, PTA, Meals on Wheels, the Episcopal Church, symphonies and museums. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, godmother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Betty is survived by her three children, Jeffrey, Howard and Delrie; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Widowed in 1976, Betty later moved from Palm Beach, Florida, to Seal Beach to be closer to her mother and brother. She lived in Mutual 2 for 42 years. Her ashes will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband, Frank C. Hobbs. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church (located at Redeemer Lutheran Church). Her vibrant wit, wisdom and intelligence are greatly missed.

Jessie E. Sparks 1923-2022 Jessie E. Sparks, 98, passed peacefully in her sleep the morning of Feb. 15. Jessie was born on July 15, 1923, in the town of Bryantsville, Kentucky. She was the daughter of the late Harry Park and Elizabeth Swope Edwards. She was the youngest of four children and had special memories of her parents after her siblings were all grown. Mrs. Sparks attended Western Kentucky University, where she studied accounting. She met love of her life, Marvin L. Sparks, there while both were attending school together. They were married Jan. 4, 1945, and moved to Long Beach after WWII. She was able to practice accounting in both Dayton, Ohio, and Long Beach before she and Dr. Sparks welcomed two children into their lives. Dr. and Mrs. Sparks spent 66 wonderful years together before he passed in 2011. Mrs. Sparks attended the Seal Beach Leisure World Baptist Church, where she had a lot of friends. She was a dedicated Christian. She was also a devoted Rams and Lakers fan, and lived long enough to enjoy watching the Rams win the Super Bowl this year. Mrs. Sparks is survived by her daughter, Janice Konkler (Jon) of Anchorage, Alaska; son, Dr. David L. Sparks (Lusheia) of Long Beach; and four grandchildren, Shannon, Stacey and Stephen Konkler and Finnian Sparks. A graveside service is planned for Friday, July 15, at 9:30 a.m. It would have been Mrs. Sparks’ 99th birthday. The service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial grounds, located at 1500 E. San Antonio Drive, Long Beach. In lieu of flowers, remembrances are suggested to Leisure World Baptist Church for missionary support at P.O. Box 4057, Seal Beach, CA, 90740.