Kern County Obituaries

Otis L. Fairchild

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

California City lost a good friend when 30-year resident Otis Fairchild passed away 
February 28, 1999. He was 78 years old.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Berniece "Bea," daughter Pamela and her husband 
Victor Gutierrez; son Hal Fairchild; sister, Betty and her husband Kay Murray; sister Carol 
and her husband Rex Thompson; grandson, Gabriel Gutierrez; and many nieces and nephews.
Otis was born to Victor and Grace Fairchild on February 24, 1921, in Hurley, South Dakota. 
He moved with his family to the Antelope Valley's Eastside in 1929 to ranch alfalfa. As a 
teenager, Otis helped clear brush for the construction of the AV Fairgrounds. He graduated 
from AV High School in 1939, attended AV College, and was enrolled in Cal Poly, San Luis 
Obispo, when the Second World War broke out. He joined the U.S. Army and served until the 
end of the war.
Many residents remember Otis as a loyal City employee who worked as a mechanic on City 
vehicles for 17 years until his retirement in 1988. Always interested in his community, Otis 
served as a trustee for the East Kern Cemetery District for seven years, suggested the format 
for the City's water bill, and rarely missed a City Council meeting. Otis was one of the few 
recipients of the City Medallion. He was a member of American Legion Post 476 and a 
charter member of the New Hope Church of the Nazarene.
Many will remember Otis for his generosity in sharing his antique vehicle collection with 
on-lookers during community parades all over East Kern County. He never missed a parade, 
until very recently, despite a health condition that required him to carry oxygen wherever he 
went. Otis took pride in representing California City at the Antelope Valley Fair each year when 
he put his 1934 Ford half-ton truck on display; he was honored with the Western Fair 
Association Blue Ribbon Award.
He was a member of the AV Antique Car Club, the AV Model-T Car Club, Edge and 
Tractor Club, Branch 30, and California Edge and Tractor Club of Vista. According to his wife 
Bea, Otis was honored with a "last ride" in a 1964 Buick Hearse, the only one left of the four 
originally manufactured.
More than one hundred mourners attended the graveside military service for Otis March 4, 
at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster. Members of the AV High School R.O.T.C. performed 
the traditional rifle salute and blew "Taps" for the fallen veteran.
A memorial service will be held at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene in California 
City on Sunday, March 14, starting at 10:45 a.m. The family welcomes all who wish to gather 
with them to honor a man who gave so much to the city he loved.

NOTE: Photo At: http://www.calarchives4u.com/photos/kern/