Laura Elizabeth (Pritchard) GROBATY

GROBATY, PRITCHARD, THOMPSON, TOOMBS, BREARLEY, MCCARTY, LARKINS, FIORINI, LEIDER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/18/2007 at 22:24:54

Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA) - May 13, 2007

Laura Elizabeth Grobaty 1903-2007 Laura Grobaty was born on July 8, 1903 to Jennie and W.S. Pritchard in Belmond, Iowa. She was the fourth of eight children. She grew up in Iowa and was later educated at Northwestern University and the Cumnock School of Speech and Drama in Los Angeles. She married Raymond Grobaty in 1925. Dutch and Betty (as they were affectionately known) were married for 65 years until his passing in 1990. They had three children, Raymond Gerald (Jerry), James Calvin (Jim) and Nancy Dumond. Both her sons preceded her in death. They eventually settled in California where they ran various businesses. One was a camp at Big Bear Lake where Laura would bake fresh cinnamon rolls to be delivered to guests each morning. Her recipe is still a family favorite. She and Dutch operated Raymond's Tux Shop in Long Beach from 1953 until 1972. In 1976 they moved to Laguna Hills Leisure World. In her later years after her husband's death, Laura's sister, Marion came to live with her in her Laguna Hills home. They enjoyed Marion's last five years together. In 1999, at the age of 96 Laura moved to San Jose to live with her daughter, Nancy. Throughout her life Laura was a woman of great passion for her church, her family and her country. She gave countless volunteer hours to church organizations and functions and always kept the Lord and his Blessed Mother close to her heart. Anyone who spent any time with her became aware of her commitment to her political beliefs and she remained interested in and informed of current events until the end. Laura was actively involved in Republican Party activities during her years in Long Beach and held offices in political organizations and worked tirelessly for many causes and campaigns. Laura had a very active mind and was an accomplished bridge player, unparalleled wordsmith, and lo ver of literature. She shared her love of the English language and had an amazing memory for anything related to language and poetry. The University of California, Irvine selected her to participate in their 90-plus aging study and they visited periodically over the past years to test her memory, cognitive skills and physical condition. Per her wishes her brain was donated to them for further research. Family was a central part of Laura's life and she was always a great initiator of family gatherings. All those blessed to be at her table knew it was a place of laughter, good food, and quick witted conversation. She was beloved by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by many friends and her loving family, but we rejoice that she has gone to her well earned and long awaited reward.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Thompson of San Jose, grandchildren: Debi Toombs of Long Beach, her husband Steve and her children Meghan Brearley, Katie and Colin McCarty; Tim Grobaty of Long Beach, his wife Jane and their children Raymond and Hannah Grobaty; Jean Larkins of Boulder, CO, her husband Paul and their children Christopher, Laura and Paul Larkins; Pam Fiorini of Bakersfield, her husband Brett and their children Rod and Leah Fiorini; Susan Leider of Los Angeles, her husband Jeff and their children Jessie, Sarah, and Talia Leider; Jim Thompson of Davis, his wife Kathleen and their children Kylie, Kate, and Emma Thompson. A memorial Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 18, at St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 5500 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach. Interment will be private.