Obituaries Obituaries (December 30, 2005)

Wilfred Derome Forney

Wilfred Derome Forney, a Pleasanton resident for 15 years, died Dec. 2 at the age of 74.

He was born Dec. 19, 1930 in Berkeley and grew up in Oakland. He worked for Crocker Bank in high school and joined the Air Force during the Korean War. When he returned from Korea, he was stationed in Alamagordo, N.M. for two years and reached the level of Staff Sergeant. He later moved to Hayward and then to Fremont where he lived for 25 years, founding the W.D. Forney Insurance Agency. The business expanded to become the Mission Valley Financial and Insurance Center where he served as president. He served on the Chamber of Commerce Board and retired from insurance in 1996.

He loved the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland A's. One of his favorite experiences was spending a month at the A's spring training camp. He enjoyed playing golf and traveling in his motor home with his wife. He was a member of the Tracy Country Club.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joan Forney; daughters Deborah Griffin and her husband Don and Linda Coy and her husband David of Fremont; son Michael Forney and his wife Cindy of Dublin; and one grandchild.

Funeral services were held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with burial at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland. Donations may be made to the Lions Center for the Blind, 3834 Opal St., Oakland 94609 or the Alzheimer's Association, 2065 W. El Camino Real, Suite C, Mountain View 94040. Albert E. Welham

Albert E. Welham, a Pleasanton resident for 38 years, died Dec. 6 at the age of 83.

He was born Sept. 6, 1922 in Springfield, Ill. where he was raised. He served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He retired at Port Chicago, Calif. in 1965 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He worked at Pacific Bell of Northern California as a safety supervisor, retiring in 1985 after 20 years of service. He volunteered at Kaiser Permanente in Pleasanton for 12 years.

He is best known as an award-winning rose grower and served as president of the Mount Diablo Rose Society. He was also a teacher at Alden Lane Nursery and earned the American Rose Society award for service. He was instrumental in starting the annual rose shows for Community First National Bank and the Alameda County Fair, working as a judge, teacher and show coordinator. He was honored with a perpetual trophy in his name for the Mount Diablo Rose Society rose show.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marjorie C. Welham; daughter Penni K. Davis of Omaha, Neb.; son Michael E. Welham of Lorain, Ohio; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son David A. Welham.

Funeral services were held at Callaghan Mortuary. Donations may be made to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Fund or Disabled Veterans Fund. Anne E. Secor

Anne E. Secor died Dec. 10 at the age of 73.

She was born July 21, 1932 in Dansville, N.Y. For the last three years of her life she lived in Walnut Creek. She was a homemaker and loved golf and gardening. She was a parishioner at Lynnewood United Methodist Church in Pleasanton.

She is survived by her daughter Gale Stimson of Pleasanton; sister Vera Kennedy of Dansville; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband R. James Secor.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Contra Costa Foundation, 2051 Harrison St., Concord 94520. Mary Eleanor Dobronte

Mary Eleanor Dobronte, a Pleasanton resident for 37 years, died Dec. 14 at the age of 85.

She was born Jan. 30, 1920 in St. Louis, Ill. and lived in Virginia Beach, Va. before moving to Pleasanton. She attended St. Joseph's Nursing School in Kansas City, Mo. and later was a homemaker for 62 years. She was a member of the PEO Women's Club. She enjoyed shopping, knitting, raising African Violets, gardening and growing flowers, talking, reading and being with her family.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Frank Dobronte of Pleasanton; son Frank Dobronte of Carmel Valley; daughters Donna Gamache of Pleasanton, Kay Pittiglio of Taos, N.M., Diane Dobronte of Carmel Valley and Suan Lofano of Aptos, Calif.; brother Leo Fenoughty of Redding; sister Leona Davis of Belfair, Wash.; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A private family service was held at Graham-Hitch Mortuary. Donations may be made to Bruns House, 2849 Miranda Ave., Alamo 94507.

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