Jean Vivien Parton, 88, born on November 14, 1924, in San Diego, California passed away October 30, 2013. She was born in San Diego, California to parents Kenneth J. Cobb and Vivien E. (Mash) Cobb. Her father Kenneth was a career Navy Pharmacist Mate, while her mother was active in many organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution. During her childhood, Jean and her family traveled extensively throughout the United States because of her father's career in the Navy. The family ultimately settled in Vallejo, CA, and Jean vividly remember working in a small glass booth at a movie house, when Pearl Harbor was bombed on Sunday, December 7, 1941. During WWII, Jean was a pilot and a member of the Sky Ranch Civil Air Patrol in Minden, Nevada. She also worked at the Mare Island Naval Base, and became known as The Mare Island Bond Girl in July of 1943. She was quite proud to have been chosen to pose with a check of over $2M-consisting of Mare Island employee contributions-and surpassing any previous bond drive for WWII. Jean was also unique in having ridden a motorcycle during this period. She met Earl B. Parton while they were working for Standard Oil Company in Reno, NV, and they were married on July 26, 1947at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas, NV. They lived briefly in Reno, NV, before moving to their lifetime home in Encino, CA. Jean was active at Bethel Lutheran Church and School. She also worked tirelessly with Cub Scouts, then Boy Scouts, and Little League, and made sure that all three sons took lessons to play the violin. Since Jean and Earl were original owners of their house on Martha Street, she also became a neighborhood resource, which continued until her passing. After Earl retired, Jean took classes at Pierce College-at first in business, and then in nursing. She graduated as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, and worked with her neighbor Mildred Lewis at Encino Hospital for a number of years. Jean was active with the Golden Agers as well as the prayer chain at the United Methodist Church of Reseda. Jean was preceded in death by her older brother Bruce, as well as her beloved husband Earl (February 12, 2004). She is survived by her three sons: Wayne, Lance (wife Patty), and Thane (wife Karen); and her four grandchildren: Kristen (Sergei Vassilvitskii), Lisa (husband Ryan Scheller); and Brian (wife Rebecca); and Heather. She will truly be missed by all of her family and friends for her caring, kindness, and thoughtfulness-which she willingly distributed to anyone that she met throughout her lifetime. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.
