Mr Elmer B Yetter

Elmer B. “Red” Yetter (bn. 8/21/1922) at the age of 92, highballed into heaven on 2/6/2015 after a brief illness. Born in Au Sable, MI; Red was preceded by his first wife of 40 years, Earldene (Langdon); father Elmer A. and mother Grace (Errington); brothers Robert and Thomas (“Bud”); sister Nora (Baker). Left at the station awaiting later trains are: wife Dona (Ormsby) of San Bernardino; daughters Annette (husband John Beck) of Temecula and Sally of Kirbyville, TX; Sons Michael (wife Marti) of Orange,CA and Gary of Moreno Valley; stepdaughters Judith (Dan) of Yucaipa and Patty (Tony Seddon ) of Australia; sister in laws Kathleen “Kitty” Schwiegert of Warren, MI and Ruth Langdon of San Bernardino. Red was very proud of his seven grandchildren Jennifer, Joanna, Diedra, Kevin, Michelle, Ryan, Jeffery, Katrina, Melissa and Candace; and seven+ (one on the way) great-grandchildren Talon, Cameron, Dayton, Alexis, Brendan, Gavin and Samantha. “Red’s” parents died when he was very young. During the Depression, he lived with his sister Nora. In 1939, Red graduated from Henry Ford Trade High School on the River Rouge Ford Plant. When WW2 broke out, Red enlisted and served with the 86th “Black Hawk” Division as an artillery survey team. Frequently he and his squad would find themselves coming into a town as the Nazi were leaving and getting caught in the crossfire as they sped across Germany and ended at Berchtesgaden, Austria. When the Nazi’s surrendered, Red was deployed to the Pacific in preparation for the Invasion. When the war ended, Red garrisoned near Manila, Philippines. Upon his return to the states, he co-founded with his brother “Bud”, Yetter Bros. Gas Co. in Flint, MI. Red married Earldene in 1946, having met her in Oscoda, MI where she came to teach elementary school. Red was considered a person of questionable character since he was a “Ford” man and Earl Langdon (Earldene's father), was a “Buick” man from Flint. In 1947, Red came to California, found a house and brought Earldene out to San Bernardino and lived here for the rest of his life. Red was a long time employee and supervisor (“White Hat”) for Santa Fe Rail Road where he worked in the MTC line, passenger cars and cabooses. Red spent several years on the road as a Passenger Car Inspector, ensuring proper operations of the Chief, El Capitan, Grand Canyon and other historic passenger trains. Because of his expertise in refrigerator cars (MTC’s) he spend the remainder of career working in the Bakersfield, Winslow AZ, Coachella Valley and San Bernardino ensuring the cars were functioning for packing and shipping crops across the US and the World. In retirement, Red worked for Pacific Fruit Growers, selecting and servicing refrigerator cars. Red was an avid UCLA Bruin fan because of his son’s Mike and Gary graduating there. Red was a semi-pro hockey player (San Bernardino Shamrocks), a bowler in many leagues for many years, and a Little League Coach in Post 777 league. Red attended Calvary Baptist (now North Point Christian Fellowship) Church since 1947. Red was a co-founder of Community TV, the original cable TV company in San Bernardino. For many years, Red had a custodial service in addition to his regular job at Santa Fe. Red loved to dance. After the passing of Earldene, Dona waltzed into his life and they foxtrotted together for 28 years. Elmer is one of the “Greatest Generation”; his “Band of Brothers”, friends and family will be at the station to welcome him to his eternal home. View will be from 5 to 8 PM Wednesday 2/11/2015. Service will be at Bobbitt’s at 1PM on Thursday 2/12/2015. Burial will be immediately following the service at Montecito Memorial Park..

Mr Elmer B Yetter

August 21, 1922 - February 6, 2015