Walter Mathew “Red” Cary, 95 Walter Mathew...

Walter Mathew “Red” Cary, 95

Walter Mathew “Red” Cary, a resident of Laguna Beach since 1958,

died Saturday in Laguna Niguel. He was 95.

Cary was born in 1909, in Neligh, Neb. At 10 years old he realized

his life’s passion when he looked up and saw an airplane overhead and

decided he wanted to learn to fly.

He was left an orphan at age 13 and quit school at age 16. He

hitchhiked to Detroit to work in a factory and learn to fly. He

earned enough money to pay his way through a flying course. His first

solo flight was in 1926 in a Curtiss JN4C “Canuck.”

He built his own “Jenny” airplane out of the remains and parts of

other airplanes. At the age of 20, Cary began earning a living at

what he loved doing most in life. He flew a Ford tri-motor for the

next 13 years, barnstorming and hauling passengers for short rides.

In 1930, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., he met the woman who would become

his wife of 64 years and air-show partner, Anne “Lu” Cary.

The couple married in 1933 in the Cicero Bible Church in Chicago,

Ill. They took the air show on the road, calling it “The Dixie Flying

Circus.” They barnstormed in over 500 different cites, with Lu

walking on the wing of the airplane.

His biggest barnstorming day was in Rochester, Minn., July 9,

1939. He carried 2,654 passengers from 9 a.m. until 1:45 the next

morning, a total of 92 “hops.” His pilot logs reflect that he played

533 cities and towns in his 13 years of barnstorming. Of his piloting

career, he joked, “It had its ups and downs.”

Cary began his piloting career with American Airlines in 1939,

based in N.Y., attaining the rank of captain in 1942. After the

Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, his daughter convinced him to

take an assignment in L.A.

In 1958, he and his family moved to Laguna Beach. His last 10

years with American Airlines were spent flying Boeing 707s out of

LAX.

He is survived by his daughter, Judith Kerr of Fort Bragg, Calif.;

granddaughters, Carrie Dattalo of Aliso Viejo and Grace Kerr of

Arcata; grandsons, Merritt Kerr of Ukiah and Walter Kerr of Santa

Rosa; and his brother, Ernest Cary of Los Angeles.

Funeral services will take place today at Pacific View Memorial

Park in Newport Beach.

Virginia Newman White, 81

Longtime Laguna Beach resident Virginia Newman White died

Wednesday at her home, surrounded by her family. She was 81.

Mrs. White as born April 12, 1924, in Sioux Falls, S.D. She was

known from childhood as “Dinnie,” nicknamed by a younger brother who

couldn’t say Ginnie. She grew up in Lincoln, Neb., where she met

Gerald White in high school and married him Oct. 1, 1945.

They moved to South Bend, Ind., where Mr. White attended Notre

Dame University, and he bequeathed to his family a life-long rooting

interest in Fighting Irish football.

The Whites had six children before they moved to Laguna Beach in

1962 and added a seventh child to the family. Six of the children

graduated from Laguna Beach High School.

Mr. White worked in Newport Beach as an aeronautical engineer. He

died in 1992. Mrs. White became active at St. Catherine Catholic

Church.

Hers was familiar face to patients of Dr. Vincent Carroll and Dr.

Bob Roper, for whom she started working in 1971. She subsequently

worked for Dr. Robert Finch until 2004. Dr. Roper visited her

Wednesday shortly before her death.

White is survived by all of her children and their spouses,

Nanette White of Laguna Beach; Lauren and former Laguna Beach Police

Lt. Jimmy White of Lake Forest; Debbie and Gerald “Dusty” White Jr.

of Laguna Niguel; Amy Jo and former Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Lance

Ishmael of Orange; Tom White of Laguna Beach; Carolyn and Robert

White of Norco; Cathy and Bill White of Huntington Beach; and Carole

and John Hansen.

“She was our guiding star,” son Jimmy White said. “It is sad for

us, but we are grateful that she didn’t suffer.”

White was described once in a local newspaper as “the community

mother.”

“My mother was my best friend,” Carole White said. “If I can be

the mother she was, I have achieved everything.”

White also is survived by a sister, Jayne Johnson; a brother, Mark

Newman, and his wife, Kay; 20 grandchildren and 15

great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass and rosary will be held at St. Catherine, 990

Temple Terrace, time and date pending. The family requests that calls

for information be made to the church, (949) 494-9701, or to O’Connor

Mortuary, (949) 581-4300.

Donations in Mrs. White’s name can be made to the American Cancer

Association or to the Laguna Beach Relay for Life, which raises funds

for the association.