Loyce Lombard, 80, died peacefully in her sleep on July 25, 2012 at her home in Gilroy.
Ms. Lombard, born Loyce Jeanne Johnson on November 7, 1931 in Glendale, CA, was the daughter of Venice and Dehard Johnson and the third of four children.
She enjoyed a happy childhood with older brother Dehard Jr. (“Bud”) and sisters Marna and Nancy in Turlock, California, where her mom taught kindergarten and her father was the town constable.
Her youth was not, however, without notoriety, as her pet alligator ‘Zeke’ would sometimes escape and be reported as “loose” by the local newspaper. She kept Zeke until he got so large they were forced to give him to the aquarium in San Francisco.
At the age of 21, she met Robert “Bob” Lombard, a salesman and former big band leader who lived in her apartment building in San Jose. They fell in love and were married on February 22, 1953. They lived first in San ! Jose and later in Los Altos. In 1973 the family moved to Gilroy.
Ms. Lombard, in addition to being a full-time mom to four children, worked at Bank of America in San Jose and Gilroy, and from 1981-1994 was the secretary for the Gilroy Garlic Festival. She also made time to participate in charity work sponsored by the Elks Club and other community organizations.
When her husband died in 2000, Ms. Lombard moved to Mesa, AZ and traveled extensively with her sister.
She was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, yet continued to have a full and active schedule until the last few months of her life, which she spent surrounded by family and friends in Gilroy.
Ms. Lombard is survived by her son, Gregory Lombard of Gilroy, daughter Lauren and Henry Harris of San Juan Bautista, daughter, Marla and Dan Forsgren of Gilroy, and son, Kevin Lombard of Gilroy. She is also survived by grandchildren Brooke and Darrin Locsin of San Juan Bautista, Joshua and Matthew Calimpong of Scottsdale, AZ, Rocco, Frank and Venice Lombard of Gilroy and great-grandchildren Sydney and Molly Locsin of San Juan Bautista. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy and Charles Goodman of Mesa, Arizona, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dehard and Venice, her husband, Robert, her brother, Bud, and her sister, Marna.
Her memorial service will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012, at 11:30 A.M. in the sanctuary of inChrist, 2300 Airline Highway, Hollister.
