Elmond D. Hobrook, Orchard Class Of '37, Passes At Age 96

Elmond D. Holbrook, age 96, passed away on Friday, July 22, 2016 in Livermore, California. He was born on April 11, 1920, to Harvey and Burnetta Holbrook in Page, Nebraska. He was an Orchard graduate as a member of the 1937 class. After acquiring a BS degree from York College and a Masters (Math) from the University of South Dakota, Edmond worked as a high school teacher.

He enlisted in the Army in 1942. A 1st Lieutenant in the Infantry and an Automatic Weapons Unit Commander, Elmond served in the Philippines, on Mindanao. On August 1, 1943, Elmond married his childhood sweetheart, Wilma Mae Mahood, in Stamford, Texas. Together they had three children. He was released from the service in 1946 and reunited with his family in Orchard, Nebraska.

In 1955, Elmond was hired by Sandia Laboratories to be a computer programmer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1957, Elmond and family were transferred to Sandia’s Livermore, California, facility. Elmond enjoyed being active with Asbury United Methodist Church, singing tenor in the choir for many years and taking part in various committees and group activities: he chaired the Building Committee and was part of the Over the Hill Gang which did construction work on the “new” sanctuary in 1991/92.

He was also active with Lazy Daisy Sans, California Pacers, and SIRs (Sons In Retirement). Elmond enjoyed leather tooling and creating hooked rugs and doll house furniture. He also served on the Republican Central Committee for many years and was one of the eight vice presidents of the California Republican Assembly. Elmond retired from Sandia in 1985 and was then able to devote more time to his hobbies, his family, and his community.

Those who passed away before: brother, Hasrvey Holbrook, Jr., of Nebraska and his daughter, Cheryl Ann Mendez of Oregon.

Left to honor Elmond and remember his devotion are Elmond’s wife of 73 years, Wilma Mae Holbrook; his son James E. Holbrook and daughter-in-law Amy; his daughter, Linda K. Olsen: Elmond’s brother, Robert Holbrook of Nebraska; sister, Helen Weaver of Trigard, Oregon; five grandchildren: Jonathan Olsen of Mountain View, California, Matthew Olsen of Reno, Nevada, Julian Holbrook of Tempe, Arizona, Robert Holbrook of Illinois, and Yolanda Reed of Vacaville, California; six great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn Olsen, Steven Olsen, Alex Olsen, Yisel Mendez, Gregory Reed, and Gustavo Reed: and one great-great-granddaughter, Guinevere Olsen. The Holbrook family would like to extend their gratitude to all the staff at Quail Gardens Assisted Living, where Elmond and Wilma had recently moved, and to the attentive music and pastoral staff of Asbury UMC.

Elmond will be remembered as a bright, shining light in the various communities of which he took part. He was interred at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. A memorial service was held on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 2 o’clock at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Avenue, Livermore, California.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Elmond’s name to the music program at Asbury UMC, at the address above, or to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, to aid in the treatment and cure of Parkinson’s disease, at www.parkinson.org.