Francis Wyllie OBITUARY
Services will be held in Felton on Thursday, February 10th for Mr. Francis William “Bud” Wyllie who passed away peacefully at his Ben Lomond home on February 3, 2011. Bud would have celebrated his 97th birthday on March 13th. Born in San Francisco, California, the son of Frank and Desiree [Fenton] Wyllie, Bud was a graduate of Fremont High in Oakland. He met his wife, Dorothy [Ryan] Wyllie in 1937. The couple wed one year later and were married 69 years until Dorothy passed away in 2007.
Bud owned and operated Wyllie Lumber Company in San Leandro for 25 years. Upon selling the business, he and Dorothy bought their lovely riverside property in Ben Lomond in 1965. Bud was always an active member of his Catholic Church parish: St Louis Bertrand’s in Oakland, St. Michael’s in Boulder Creek, and St. John’s in Felton. Retired at just 48, Bud volunteered for St. Vincent de Paul’s, opening and operating several stores throughout Santa Cruz County. He also continued in his construction business, F.W. Wyllie & Son, building homes and additions. In 1977 he was sought out by San Lorenzo Valley High to initiate a building program to restore the school’s accreditation. Over five years, he taught the building trades to a large number of youth, completing two houses and a classroom. Bud was especially proud of this achievement, and testimony to his teaching and mentoring excellence was the continued attention he received from his former students throughout the years.
Family and friends will always remember Bud for throwing great parties in the Wyllie’s back yard: 4th of July picnics, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and family reunions. In fact, Bud was in the process of planning his 97th birthday party with an expected 200 guests. Those same people will still come together this week to celebrate the man they so admired.
Bud is survived by one son, Frank Wyllie of Clovis, and three daughters: Virginia Niskanen of Saratoga; Patricia Polete of San Leandro; and Marianne Wyllie-Gilbert of Santa Cruz. One daughter, Ellen Rotert, preceded him in death, in late 2009. He also leaves six beloved grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John’s Catholic Church [Highway 9 and Russell Ave.] in Felton on Thursday February 10, 2011 at 11:00 am. The Holy Rosary will be recited at the church on Thursday at 10:00 am, with viewing hours beginning at 9:00 am.
He will be laid to rest on the following day at 11:00 am at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, beside his loving wife, Dorothy.
Contributions are preferred to be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or online at www.hospicesantacruz.org/donate.
Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to sign an online guestbook for his family.
