Alice Jean Willeford passed away Saturday, October 15, 2016, at the age of 83, after suffering a stroke in July. Jean was born November 02, 1932, in Arbuckle, Colusa County, California. Jeans mother passed away after going in for minor elective surgery when she was five years old. From that point on she lived in Arbuckle with her maternal grandmother Sophia Wildner during the school session and on weekends and in the summers she spent time on the ranch outside Arbuckle in College City with her father Clarence ” Cad” Elmer Arvedson and his sister Edith Cora Arvedson (who never married). Jean attended Arbuckle Elementary School from first grade through ninth grade. Jean went to and graduated from Pierce High School in 1950. From there Jean went to Armstrong College in Berkeley for nine months earning a secretarial certificate.
Her first job was with the Oakland Naval Supply Station Credit Union. During this time is when she met her future husband Loren Richard Willeford. She resigned from her position at the credit union and followed Loren to Indiana when he was honorably discharged from the Air Force after his father passed away. Jean and Loren were married in Rushville, Indiana on December 24, 1954. Jean and Loren returned to California and after Loren completed trade school for cosmetology and embalming, they moved to Redding, CA so Loren could begin his internship. Jean accepted a position at Millers Market to run the office.
From there the couple moved to Sacramento. Loren started to work for the Sacramento County Coroners Office and Jean with a family floor covering business; H. W. Rivett Company. Jeans duties were customer service via telephone and walk-ins and accounts payable. In 1985, Jean initiated a career with the State of California, Employment Development Department and in 1995, she retired after 10 years of State service.
After retirement Jean traveled and was active in the Tuesday Club of Sacramento, the Daughters of the Nile and the Native Daughters of California before she moved to assisted living. Jean is survived by her daughter Bettina L. Oldham of College City, CA; son Loren A. Willeford (Gwendolyn) of Port St. Lucie, FL; grandchildren Katherine A. Thompson (Jonathan), Andrew Z. Oldham (Alyssa) and Samuel A. Willeford; Great Granddaughters Lorna Annalise America Thompson and Mayah Allison Cora Thompson (due in December); Brother-In-Law John S. Willeford of Sacramento, CA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, P. O. Box 96011, Washington, DC, 20090-6011, www.alz.org. Funeral arraignments are under the direction of George L. Klumpp Funeral Directors, 2691 Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA. Viewing will be Wednesday, 10/19/2016, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and services will be Thursday, 10/20/2016, noon. –