While instructing cadets in St. George, Utah, John met and fell in love with Maxine Bowler. They were married on April 10, 1943. The young couple moved about the West as John continued to train pilots. When the war ended, John and Maxine returned to Santa Paula, where John would work with his father Marcus on his ranch for the next 20 years. John did not intend to be a farmer, but he became a great one.During their years in Santa Paula, John enjoyed the company of many wonderful friends made through work, church, dance club, and Briggs School. John was a good dancer, and had a beautiful singing voice. He also enjoyed many days spent surfing at Mondos Cove beginning in the 1950s. In 1965 John began working for Associates Insectary, where he became the manager and worked until his retirement in 1981.After retiring, John and Maxine moved to Gunlock, Utah, Maxine’s hometown. John spent the next 20 years developing an orchard and annually growing a huge summer garden. He also spent many days with his grandchildren as they “worked” on the farm, helped in his workshop, and hiked the hills when they visited.During the years in Gunlock, John enjoyed the association with Maxine’s large family and made many good friends through sharing the bounty of his garden and treasures made in his workshop. He also enjoyed his “adopted” daughters who brought their music, laughter, children, and picking skills into his home.John joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1964, and served in many positions in both Santa Paula and Gunlock wards. The strength of his prayers and blessings strengthened his family and will continue to do so.John is survived by his wife, Maxine Bowler Lindsay of St. George, Utah; son John B. Lindsay Jr. and wife Linda of Bakersfield, CA; daughter Gail and husband Richard Pidduck of Santa Paula, CA; grandchildren Josh Lindsay, Jered Lindsay and wife Ramya, Will Pidduck and wife Suzannah, Nate Pidduck, and Megan Pidduck; and great-grandson Laird Pidduck.The family would like to express appreciation to the many caregivers that have helped John over the past few years as he patiently lived with the effects of multiple system atrophy, and to dear neighbors and friends who have visited often and helped much.The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 21 in the Gunlock Ward Chapel, Gunlock, Utah. As per John’s family tradition, there will be no viewing. Interment will be at the Gunlock Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John’s name to the Santa Paula Airport Museum.
Obituaries
March 19, 2008
Obituaries
Dolores Ruth Backman
Dolores Ruth Backman went to be with our Lord on March 7, 2008 due to heart failure.Dolores was born in Valparaiso, Nebraska on May 30, 1918 to Floyd and Ruth Mengel. She and Lowell Backman met while working at Sunkist Association in Whittier in 1938, and they celebrated 63 years of marriage before his passing in 2001.She, her husband and their three children moved to Santa Paula in 1955. She sold real estate in Santa Paula for many years, before retiring in 1986. After retirement, she and Lowell enjoyed many years of traveling the South Pacific Islands and Canada.Besides traveling and being with her family, Dolores loved music. She could sit down and play any song that she could hear, and accompanied many singers as they would sing, yet she could not read music. This gift was used for over 20 years of serving the Lord as the piano player for the Santa Paula First Baptist Church. In later years she attended Ventura Missionary Church with Lowell until his passing, then attended the local Valley Community Foursquare Church until her move to Ramona in 2003 to live with her daughter.Mrs. Backman is survived by her son Gary (Gypsy) Backman of Santa Paula; daughters Gayle Drake of Ramona, CA and Denise (Chuck) Gilliland of Ramona; six grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, with another due next month; and two great-great grandchildren.Family services were held at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, where she was laid to rest beside her husband.John Bennett LindsayJohn Bennett Lindsay passed away at his home in St. George, Utah on March 12, 2008 at the age of 88. John was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 22, 1919, the second of three children born to Emma Keturah and Marcus Atchison Lindsay.At the age of 2, John and his family moved to Santa Paula, California. John attended Briggs Elementary School, Santa Paula High School, Santa Barbara City College and Cal Poly Pomona.Before he could finish his education World War II began. John was unable to enlist in the armed services, and instead became a civilian flight instructor with Bassett and Phelps flight school.
