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Jan 19
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Maxwell P Fonda MD
Passed away peacefully at his home on December 22, 2013 at the age of 100 years.
Maxwell P. Fonda passes away at 100 years old.
He was born on April 28, 1913 in Charleston, Mississippi to James and Maude Fonda. In 1923 the family moved to Southern California where they resided in Highland Park. Maxwell graduated from USC Medical School in 1942 with a degree in medicine. He served as a flight surgeon in the US Army Medical Corps during WWII with the 57th fighter group in Europe. After returning from his military duty he married his sweetheart, Winifred Rose Seidel on February 9, 1946. He then finished five years of residency in orthopedics and set up private practice in Pomona, California.in 1951. He practiced orthopedics for 40 years at both Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and San Antonio Community Hospital until retirement in 1990. He was a member of AMA, Western Orthopaedic Association and Pilgrim Congregational Church. His hobbies were fishing, fly tying and raising orchids. He lived a remarkable life and will be missed by many.
His wife Winnie preceded him in death on May 21, 1988. He is survived by a daughter, Susan Evans and husband Phil of Palm Desert, CA; son Steven Fonda and wife Patty of Carson City, NV; along with 4 grandchildren and their spouses; and 6 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 600 N. Garey Avenue, Pomona, California on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm.
Published in Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on Jan. 9, 2014
Also see: Findagrave, Rootsweb, Fonda Military
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Sep 11
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Pebble Beach war pilot recalls surviving missions
By DENNIS TAYLOR, Herald Staff Writer, Posted: 09/05/2011
After flying his 50th bombing mission over Europe, Bill Fonda of the United States Army Air Force was rotated back to the U.S. to a base in Greenville, S.C. On the day he got those orders, he briefly considered asking for a transfer to a fighter plane squadron.
“I had always wanted to fly fighters, and if I had asked, they might have given me the transfer,” says Fonda, now 91 and living in Pebble Beach. “But I didn’t ask, and they didn’t offer, so I came home.
“I’ve always wondered how my life might have turned out if I had pursued that option,” Fonda muses. “I might not have married the woman I married, might not have had the children and grandchildren I have. My whole life might have been very different — assuming I had survived.”
His survival, he believes, is the reason he was awarded the Silver Star, for “gallantry in action against the enemy,” along with nine other military medals, for his service in the European Theater during World War II.
“It’s not always true — there are exceptions — but my feeling about medals is that you get them for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and managing to survive,” he says.
Read the complete story in The Herald’s print or e-edition of Sept. 4
(If anyone has the text of the full article, or a photo, please forward to webmaster@fonda.org)
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Feb 01
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Jeanne Ryan Fonda, 87; Raised Her Family Here
Pacific Palisades Post, January 22, 2009
Jeanne Ryan Fonda, a former resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully in her home in Pebble Beach on January 1, with her beloved husband of 65 years, Bill, at her side. She was 87.
Born in Ashville, North Carolina, Fonda graduated from Stephen’s College for Women in Columbia, Missouri, and later was proud of being one of the original American Airlines stewardesses from World War II, during which time the airline ferried only dignitaries and military leaders. She continued her relationship with her airline colleagues in the Kiwi Club, within which she formed a dance troupe, staging performances for charity that included the famous Ebsen sisters, Helga and Vilma, sisters of Buddy Ebsen.
Jeanne and Bill were wed shortly after his return from piloting 50 combat missions in the Mediterranean theater during World War II. They had three children: Lynne Fonda of Colorado Springs; Robert Fonda, M.D., of Newport Beach; and Laurie Fonda Gile, who predeceased her mother.
After moving to Pacific Palisades in 1954 and raising their children, Jeanne and Bill relocated to Pebble Beach, where they opened a small business. Fonda found joy as an active member of the Jesters Club, the fundraising arm of the Monterey Museum of Art. Her charm, exquisite taste, and joie de vivre were blessings to everyone she met.
Fonda loved and enjoyed her grandchildren, Zoe Dombrowski, Beka Chinery, Jeremy Caraway, Jason Caraway, Scott Gile, Jacob Gile, Zak Phillips, Clark Fonda and Emilia Fonda; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A service will be held at 1 p.m. on January 24 at the El Carmello Chapel in Pacific Grove. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of the Central Coast, P.O. Box HH, Monterey, CA 93942.