Obituary of Helen Webster Weisbrod

Helen Marie, 94, died peacefully Sept. 23, 2012 at her home in Banning, after a month of hospice care. Marie was born Feb. 1, 1918 in Walton, N.Y. to Harold Eugene and Helen (Field) Webster. Marie and her mother moved to Santa Paula, Calif. in 1928. She graduated from Santa Paula High School and went on to study at the University of Redlands, where her grandfather, Jasper Newton Field was the founder and first president. She graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelor's of Arts. She continued her education with a Master of Arts from Claremont Graduate School in California. In 1940 Marie married Kenneth Conrad Weisbrod in Santa Paula, and moved to Redlands. Ken introduced her to camping and travel. Marie spent many years as a teacher including two years at the University of Redlands in Art History, three years at the University of California Riverside in Art Education and 12 years at Alessandro Junior High in Moreno Valley, in Arts and Crafts. She was awarded a fellowship to attend three months at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She moved to Idyllwild in 1973, where she lived for 29 years. After retiring from teaching in 1978, she continued her work in the arts, conducting summer workshops in weaving, copper enameling and ethnic clothing design. Her own work was exhibited in galleries around Southern California. She became an avid hiker and held Seminar Chair, Associates at Idyllwild School of the Arts, CA as well as Elderhostel Lecturer in Genealogy. Marie traveled extensively in the United States. A self proclaimed history buff she attended Elderhostel classes, researching ancestors and sought out museums and historic routes. She visited China, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, did a solo journey through Southeast Asia, a walking trek in Great Britain and a genealogy tour in Ireland. Marie took creative writing classes and published numerous articles and short stories in many different magazines. She wrote a travel book, Scenic Byways of Northern California, and a biography of her grandfather Magnificent Dreamer: Dr. Jasper Newton Field. Marie is survived by her sons, Kurt and wife Kris, Escondido, Calif. Eric and wife Connie, Banning, Calif, as well as three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. she was predeceased by her granddaughter, Krishna Weisbrod Carpenter, and brother Hance Boyd Skillen. A Celebration of Marie's life will be held in Idyllwild. For more information or to attend, leave a message at (951)849-4680.