Walter Willis MIDDLETON

MIDDLETON, TE GROEN, ANDERSON, SOULES, PAINE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/6/2015 at 22:33:23

February 21, 1874 --- July 25, 1938

Death claimed Walter Willis Middleton, 64, pioneer resident of Costa Mesa and for many years an active civic leader. The well known Mesan died Monday night July 25, 1938 at the St. Joseph Hospital, climaxing an illness that had lingered for several years. The Middleton home is at 605 Victoria Street. Mr. Middleton was widely known, having come to Costa Mesa 25 years ago when the community consisted largely of barley fields and neighbors were sometimes over a mile apart. He was among the pioneer apple growers of Costa Mesa and was an active member in the old Fairview Farms Water Company, having served as a director. Before coming to Costa Mesa, he had been a business man. The deceased was former postmaster at Costa Mesa, having been succeeded several years ago by Norris O. Mellott. Since that time Mr. Middleton has been on his ranch. He was a native of Woolstock, Iowa and has been in California 27 years. He was a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Newport Beach. Mr. Middleton was a charter member of the former Costa Mesa Lions Club and was elected that organization's first secretary. Members of the present Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club stood in reverent silence as a tribute to the deceased at the meeting Tuesday noon.

The deceased leaves his widow, Mrs. Clara Middleton, two sons, Bill Lee Middleton and Walter, Jr., both of Costa Mesa; two daughters, Mrs. John te Groen of Los Angeles and Miss Roberta E. Middleton of the harbor community; a brother, Archie D, Middleton of Gothenburg, Nebraska and three sisters, Mrs. Ada Anderson, Mrs. Mary Soules, both of Gothenburg and Mrs. Anna Paine of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

Newport-Balboa News Times -- California
July 1938

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Walter W. Middleton passed away at Costa Mesa, California on July 25, 1938. Mr. Middleton homesteaded in this community with his father, coming here about 1890. For years he was a mail clerk between Omaha and Cheyenne, moving to California and being postmaster at Costa Mesa for 18 years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Gothenburg Times - Gothenburg, Nebraska