Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Lacy Campbell Threlkeld was born to Annetta Pearl and Lacy Commodore Threlkeld in Fresno, California, in 1909. Cam was raised with two siblings: Ann and Kenny. The family moved to Porterville, California, where his father worked as a linotype operator for the newspaper, while his mother was a homemaker. Cam was a hard worker from a young age. He worked part-time at the local movie theatre and he also worked at the lumber camp in Oregon during the summer. In high school, he was known for his athletic abilities as he played basketball and tennis. He worked as a lifeguard at the Porterville Swimming Pool and he loved to swim too. He graduated from high school in Porterville and went on to take classes at Junior College.

Spreading his wings, he traveled to Los Angeles earning a job on September 1, 1929, with the Raymond & Whitcomb Cruise business. Then, the stock market crashed, and the tour business went with it. Cam was resilient and gained work with the North German Lloyd Steamship line until Hitler came into power and all non-Germans were laid off. He then went to work for the Matson Steamship and later the Cunard Steamship Line. He met a young lady named Georgia Marie during this time. The couple fell in love and started dating, but Georgia wanted to wait to get married until she could become a teacher. They enjoyed going dancing together as they were both excellent dancers. The couple married in a lovely ceremony in 1938. After the war broke out, all passenger trips ended and Cam worked with United Airlines for 2 1/2 years. In late 1942, Cam was drafted into the United States Army saying, "I got my greetings from President Roosevelt." Cam served our country proudly through October 1945. He was deployed to San Pedro where he was involved in setting up the Port of Los Angeles. He did a lot of work during those years and organized getting people on board ships headed to the Pacific. Cam was chosen for this duty because of his background in the travel industry.

After finishing his Army service, he returned home to civilian life. Instead of starting over with United Airlines, he opened his own business, Glendale Travel Service. A month later, Georgia and Cam welcomed the birth of Mary Jane. He was so proud to become a father. In the ensuing years, evenings were a pleasant time for family life. The three played board games and card games such as Canasta. They also visited friends, neighbors and Georgia's mother spent a lot of time with the family. Cam was a wonderful father as he supported all of Mary's interests in school. As Georgia taught students Math, Cam continued working in the travel business. As a result of his work, he showed his family the world. He took Georgia and Mary Jane to Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii as well as other incredible trips over the years. Cam was so proud of his daughter as she went off to college at UC Santa Barbara. Both Georgia and Cam were especially pleased when Mary became a secondary school teacher, teaching history and English. Later, she became an elementary school teacher.

Professionally, Cam operated Glendale Travel Service from 1945 to 1978. After traveling with the family, Georgia and Cam traveled on many trips as a couple to Europe and on cruises. By his own records, Cam visited Hawaii more than 20 times over the years as it was one of his favorite destinations. While there, he loved listening to Hawaiian music and never lost his love for pineapples and other tropical fruit. He was fortunate to be able to go on many trips around the world to familiarize himself with tours and hotels so that he could better inform his traveling clients.

He was so pleased to have two wonderful granddaughters: Lauren and Allison. He always loved to hear what Mary and the girls were doing. He was a very cautious grandfather, who always wanted to make sure his granddaughters were safe. He liked when they played softball and soccer. He loved to tease the girls and the older they got, the better the witty exchanges became.

Cam was a very patient man, who kept his house in wonderful shape. He loved oranges and his orange tree. He also liked tropical flowers and roses. His favorite foods were ham sandwiches, pineapple, fruit, ice cream, candy, nuts, and Snickers bars. He liked reading the Glendale News Press every day…until he decided it wasn't worth anything and switched to the LA Times. Cam enjoyed watching sports on TV such as basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, and football. He was a Dodgers fan who changed his allegiance to the Angels when he moved to Orange County. He liked watching the Lakers with his daughter and granddaughters. He was humorous and he loved to chuckle. He'd have cute little remarks and he was always known as a gentleman.

Georgia and Cam had quiet celebrations of their anniversaries, as they were best friends and partners in life. They had a wonderful relationship, as they were both enthusiastic about life. After Georgia passed away in 2003 at the age of 93, Cam made a nice donation in her name to Mary's school. He moved into an assisted living facility, Brighton Gardens. Everybody loved and cared for him as they appreciated his humor and kind words. Over the last six years, Mary got to know her father even better as he's been living only two miles away from her home. She enjoyed hearing so many of his stories…some many times. He never complained about anything too serious and always had a positive outlook on life. From his years in the travel business he never lost his comfort with numbers. He lived by the clock, and always showed up on schedule to take pills and eat meals. To the end he was able to write his own checks and get his bill paid on time. He had his own secret stash of candy in a bottom drawer covered with a blanket. It was something that made him happy. He enjoyed taking a ride in Mary's VW Bug to go to his favorite place, Carl's Jr. or to her home for a meal.

Cam Threlkeld was a man who earned respect. He was generous and yet frugal as he learned many lessons from growing up during the Depression. He was gentle, kind and caring. Just a few days ago, he watched the Lakers with his granddaughters. When they told him the Lakers were up by two points, he said, "That's not enough." Sunday night, he kissed his granddaughters and told them they were doing a good job. Mary kissed his forehead and told him, "Goodbye, Papa." Mary was by his side on Tuesday morning as he passed away peacefully. Mary will miss opening the door and seeing her father sitting in his chair, because there was comfort in his presence. His advice would be to be careful and be safe. Today Cam has reached his 100th birthday and will be laid to rest next to his wife, as he will be wearing one of his favorite Hawaiian shirts. He will have a Snickers bar in his hand and a ceramic heart by his side, that says, "Life is better Dad, because you're in it."

Cam was preceded in death by his parents Pearl and Lacy; wife Georgia Marie; sister Ann; and brother Kenny. He is loved and remembered by his daughter Mary; granddaughter Lauren Elizabeth; granddaughter Allison Marie and her husband Jeff; extended family and many friends.

Ode to Grandpa
by Cam's granddaughter, Allison Dingler
(There's a story behind most lines, so ask and you may find.)

A twinkle in his eye,
A smile on his face,
Chocolate in his hand,
On his tongue, a witty command.
His family in his heart,
The world under his feet,
Thrifty's ice cream on his lips,
On his mind, Lakers basketball or the Anaheim Angels.
"There's my girl!" comes from his mouth,
"Would you like water?" His answer, "Por favor."
So let's open the garage door and pull up a chair,
Raise a cold soda into the air,
Here's to you, my Grandpa Da,
One great man, always and forever
Missed, but forgotten - never ever!