Darlina Gillespie

Darlina Delores Calvert Gillespie was born on January 6, 1932, in Southgate, California and passed away at her home on March 2, 2024 at the age of 92. Darlina was a 5th generation Californian with family in Sacramento and Lodi.  

Growing up in Southgate and Venice, Darlina was a true California beach girl. She and friends would dive from the Venice Pier for money which spectators would toss out into the ocean to see them dive. She graduated from Venice High School. Darlina loved to swim and was a strong swimmer. In her younger years, she paced beside the Olympic swimmer & diver Patricia (Pat) McCormic.

Darlina worked for Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, CA in the 1960's as a riveter on various aircraft and in the 1970's for Northrup Ventura in Thousand Oaks, CA in the department of shipping & receiving.

Darlina had a passion for genealogy. She could trace her family heritage back to the Revolutionary War and belonged to the Daughter's of the American Revolution. She cataloged everything she learned from endless research, and she shared how she would lie awake at night wondering about the lives and travels of her ancestors.

Darlina loved yard work, her plants and flowers.  She was kind, soft-hearted and generous. She had a keen sense of humor and an abundance of wisdom. Darlina remained mentally sharp until her passing, but was weakened physically due to her age and her hospital stay following a recent foot surgery.

She will certainly be missed by her daughter Karen Derror, grandsons Grant (Chip) Smith and Cameron Smith, granddaughter Lucinda Smith, great-granddaughter Abigail Smith, brother and sister-in-law Charles and Judy Dildine, daughter-in-law Teresa Taylor, son-in-law Grant Smith Jr. and her special friend Susan.  She is preceded in death by her daughter Kathy Smith, son Kevin Taylor, a granddaughter Melissa Newsom, and her husband Earl (E.A.) Gillespie.

She will be forever loved and missed.