In Memory

Mary Stringfellow (Valentine) - Class Of 1929

Pasadena Pair Killed in Crash

A retired Pasadena oil and engineering executive and his wife, both members of pioneer San Gabriel Valley families, were killed February 25, 1966 when their twin-engine private plane developed engine trouble and crashed and burned one mile south of Red Bluff.

W.W. Valentine, 59, and his wife, the former Mary Stringfellow, 55, of 720 South San Rafael Street, Pasadena, were apparently flying from their Montague home, 70 miles north of Red Bluff to their airport hanger in Long Beach.

Valentine radioed the Red Bluff airport that he had a partial power failure and was losing one engine.  In his last radio message on an emergency flight to Red Bluff Valentine had said he did not require emergency equipment at the field but it was standing by.  The plane, a six-seat Aero Commander, crashed three miles short of safety in a field only 100 yards from a freeway leading into Red Bluff, Interstate 5.  Mr. Valentine was thrown about 25 feet from the crash which burned fiercely.  Mrs. Valentine and her dog died in the wreckage.

Mr. Valentine was chairman of the board of the National Engineering Science Company of Pasadena until he retired in April 1963 and sold his holdings in the firm.  His wife had served as president of the Pasadena Visiting Nurses Association.

Survivors include four children and a number of grandchildren.

Pasadena Star-News, February 26, 1966