In Memory

Lindley W Best - Class Of 1951

Lindley Best  '51  passed away on July 21, 2006 as a heart attack ended a month-long battle with cancer.  Lin was born February 18, 1933 in Huntington Park, California.  Lin's parents moved to San Marino, where Lin at age 9 got a paper route and rode his bike 10 miles a day delivering papers for the Pasadena Star News.  He worked there for years during school to become the youngest manager ever and bought a car at age 14.

He attended South Pasadena schools.  Married Naomi Hoyt and had three beautiful children, Steve Best, Pasadena, Michele Best, Murrieta, CA., Wendy Best-Alden, La Quinta, CA.  During this time he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea.  When he got out of the service in 1954 he attended Pasadena City College.  He started replacing light bulbs for businesses, and within a short time he was making more money than he ever would if he graduated, so he quit school and worked full-time replacing light bulbs.

He opened a lighting store, Best Florescent Maintenance, in El Monte, CA.  Lin's business grew by leaps and bounds.  He took flying lessons and soloed on his 35th birthday, and bought a '65 Beechcraft Debonair straight tailed Bonanza airplane.  He joined South Hills Country Club moving to Covina and then built a home in West Covina overlooking the golf course.  He bought a home in Lake Arrowhead and one in Palm Desert.  He sold his company to Amtec and retired in 1985.  Lin created the biggest independent lighting business in the United States.

After his second divorce, he bought a home in Thunderbird Terrace in 1988 and began dating Jan Petric of Covina.  One year later they were married.  Lin and Jan enjoyed golfing at various Country Clubs, and traveling.  Lin joined the Cathedral City Moose Lodge in 2005.  Lin continued as a consultant for lighting companies throughout the United States.

Lin is survived by his children and grandchildren, Jan's children, and his sister, Carol's children.

A celebration of life was held at Date Palm Country Clubhouse.



 
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06/23/11 08:22 PM #1    

Richard G 'Dick' Van Frank (1951)

Lin was one of my best friends.  In fact I performed the ceremony for Lin and his wife Jan.  It is such a same.  With the exception of two, Tom Taylor and Bettie Schleicher Hedlunc, all my closest friends from school are gone.  Dick VF

 

Before I became a lawyer and Judge I was in the Paving and Grading business.  Best Paving and Construction Co., Inc.  From time to time Lin and I would need money.  First, we would call each other.  Dick, do you have 15K I can borrow for a year?  Lin, I need 25K, can you take a 2nd on my equipment yard?  This was in the 60s and 70s.  We never signed a paper.  The money was always returned when due.  You just can't find friends like that.


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