Harry Leroy Sandifer

Harry LeRoy Sandifer, "Sandy" 85, died peacefully in his home of 56 years in Rossmoor, Calif., on April 25, 2017.

Born Sept. 28, 1931 to Thomas Sandifer and Laura Belle Townes, in Los Angeles, CA., Harry lived all of his life in California. He spent his early years in Hollywood. When he was in elementary school, the family moved to Belmont Shore. He attended Rogers Junior High School and then Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, where he graduated in 1949.

Harry loved being in the high school choir and performing in operettas. Until the day he died, he was still in touch with many of his junior high- and high school classmates. Each month, they gathered to talk about the old days at a "'49ers luncheon" they held at the Claim Jumper in Long Beach the second Tuesday of every month. Harry absolutely loved that day each month.

Harry joined the Air Force during the Korean War, and spent four years proudly serving his country as an air traffic controller in Japan. Afterwards, he returned to California and attended California State University, Long Beach, and worked at Thompson's Furniture in Bellflower, Calif., to pay for his college education. He quickly advanced from delivering furniture, to sales, and eventually became manager . He worked for the Thompson family for many years.

Harry married Lenore Richardson Sandifer on Sept. 24, 1960. Harry's career in home furnishings led him to the opportunity to purchase an established store in Whittier from a friend that was retiring. They proudly owned and operated VanCleave's Fine Furniture for many years. Harry served as president of the Western Home Furnishings Association in 1980. Throughout the years, he and Lenore loved going on buying trips to furniture marts in San Fransisco and North Carolina. They retired from the business in 1993.

Harry's extensive volunteer service led to Lenore referring to him as "Mr. Community." He was very involved in Rotary International and was the 1992-93 president of the Rotary Club of Whittier. In 1996-97, Rotary Club of Los Alamitos named him Rotarian of the Year. He also served on the Los Alamitos Youth Center board of directors and was president in 1999-2000.

Harry regularly attended Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, where he served as an elder and sang with the church choir for nearly 40 years. His faith, and his relationship with all of his church friends have been his rock all throughout the years.

He was passionate about playing the piano, which he learned to played by ear, and he was an enthusiastic fan of the Los Alamitos High School football team. He and Lenore were avid golfers and loved their annual golf trips to Singing Hills with their golf friends. Harry also enjoyed marshaling golf tournaments.

Harry is survived by his wife, Lenore; sister and brother-in-law, Betsy and Dave Walbert; daughter, Jeanne Chase, and son-in-law, Thomas Chase; grandson, Ronald Johns, and his wife, Grace Johns; granddaughter, Madalyn Chase, and grandson, Ryan Chase; and great granddaughters, Kelly Gallagher, Laura Johns, and Megan Johns.

Harry's parents, Thomas Sandifer and Laura Townes Sandifer; sisters, Martha Jane Kenney and Harriett Anne Yost; and daughter, Judith E. Jackson, preceded him in death.

A service will be held Saturday, May 6, 2017, 9 am at Forest Lawn, Cypress, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:30 am at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos.