Former Culver Businessman Chester Ray Webb Passes at 95

Home, Business in Local Movie Productions

On Feb 1, 2018 Chester Ray Webb peacefully passed away at Wasilla Primrose Retirement Home, at the age of 95.

Chester was born in Rimbey, Alberta, Canada where he met and fell in love with Ada Zutter and made her his bride. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force he worked as a landscaper and masonry.

Upon visiting relatives in California he decided he was going to move his young family down to California. "We traveled down from Canada to California by train; three young daughters, one carried in a rattan basket, and the bare necessities."

Their first home was in Santa Monica and then in Culver City, where he found employment as a delivery milkman, a job he loved. He could purchase the large containers of ice cream at a very good price and he loved his ice cream! Chester also lent a helping hand to a distant relative who owned an auto wrecking business in Santa Monica. He later became its owner, with his wife working by his side. Together they built the company up to a thriving, well known and respected business. Their business was also involved in numerous movie productions; sometimes just loaning out vehicles for crashes, sometimes using their place of business for a scene and even once, their Culver City home for some filming of the movie, Gleaming of the Cube.

A couple years after selling Economy Auto Wreckers and being restless in his 'retirement', he and his bride purchased another auto wrecking yard out in Saugas, CA. They worked this business for a few years before their final retirement. They traveled up to Alaska in 1989 and fell in love with the state, saying "Alaska is like Canada was when they were children." In 1991, they finished building their dream home in Wasilla and remained in Alaska until taking the final journey "home".

Chester loved to garden and his vegetables, raspberries, and apples graced many tables in this valley. He also loved to be behind the camera. Primrose nurses, CNA's and staffers say Chester was a true 'gentleman'.

Chester is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Bonnie and Ron Burkhardsmeier of Wasilla and Evelyn Webb of ID; grandchildren, Kyle, Niki, and Jason Muslin of Wasilla, Ada Dee of VA, Darlene Kreuzburg of FL, Laurie Rose of PA, Brett Rose of FL, Jeff Schmidt of WI, Yolaunda and Oden of ID. Great grandchildren include Sierra Skye, Chelsea, Patience, Preston, Gage, Kiernan, Mylie Jo, Levi, Hannah, Kai, Dustyn, Natalie, Kelsie, Kalla, Krista, Sarah, Alyssa, Hailey, Olivia, Emilla, Gibzyon, Ana, Skylar, Hallie and Dillon.

Celebration of Life will be held at Wasilla Primrose on Monday, 2/12 at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Wasilla or Valley Church of Christ.

Story courtesy of Frontiersman.com posted on Feb 9, 2018

 

Reader Comments(0)