Obituary of John Willott

Services are Aug 17 for John Walker Willott who died July 28, 2011 in Santa Cruz at the age of 91. John was born on Easter Sunday, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois son of Harold and Kathryn Willott. At the age 7 his family moved to Arcadia, Ca. where he attended Page Military Academy and Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte High School. He attended Pasadena City College where he majored in Mechanical Technology. Before he was able to graduate Clark Aero Dynamics a defense contractor that made hydrologic controls for B24 airplanes hired him. He met Valeria Dell (Brownie) Dimit in 1942 and married her in 1943. While on their honeymoon he was called into active duty in the Navy. He served as a Master Machinist at Pearl Harbor and Palmyra Island. Upon returning from the war in Dec. 1945, he developed a subdivision in Arcadia. He and Brownie moved to Sierra Madre into the house that he built, where they had two sons, Jim Les and John Anderson. In 1951 he started his own business, Aremac Associates that designed and built custom data recording cameras. The business evolved into a precision machine shop that made specialty parts for the aerospace industry. In 1979, John sold the business and retired to Boulder Creek where he again built his own home and workshop. He was able to pursue his interest in mechanical devices by restoring a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing." He joined the Gull Wing Group car club and was instrumental in making specialty parts for this rare car. For sixteen years they held a Club BBQ at their beautiful home. He and Brownie loved to drive all over the western US in their Gullwing. John is survived by his wife of 67 years Valeria D. Willott; brother James A. and sister-in-law Jackie of Oceanside, Ca.; son John A. and daughter-in-law Ann of Jackson, Wyoming and daughter-in-law Kathleen Barney Willott of Boulder Creek. John and Brownie have four grand children,Michael, Christina, Alicia, and Sara; and three great grand children, Caitlyn, Sean, and Christopher. John was amazing with his hands. He could build anything from wood or metal. He also did petit point and made chocolates. He had a deep love of his family and friends. He will be greatly missed. Services will be at Noon Aug. 17 at Felton Presbyterian Church, 6090 Highway 9, Felton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boulder Creek Fire Dept. 13220 Central Ave., Boulder Creek, Ca. 95006 and Valley Churches United Mission, Box 367, Ben Lomond, Ca. 95005.