Obituary of Charles Wallace Trabing

Charles Wallace Trabing died peacefully on January 13th at his home in Santa Cruz among all his family, at the age of 90. Wally was born on June 23, 1921 in Kingsburg, California where he participated in sports, edited the school newspaper and became an Eagle Boy Scout. He left home to attend San Jose State University and soon after joined the Army Air Corps during WWII. Wally returned to San Jose State University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 1946, and went to work for the San Jose Mercury Herald. Wally married Lois Baker in 1947. The next year he and his wife moved to Paris where he studied at the Institut de Pantheon. They moved to London in early 1951 where he edited The Eagle for the US Third Air Force until 1953. He covered the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II for a British newspaper. After five years abroad, they returned to the USA, where Wally was employed by the Santa Cruz Sentinel and continued as a feature writer and columnist until 1994. Wally wrote about his world, community and family in his column "Mostly About People". Wally pursued the arts throughout his life, beginning with a splendid performance as a carrot in his second grade school play Mr. Gregory's Cabbage Patch. He played drums in the celebrated Kingsburg Marching Band, timpani in the Santa Cruz Symphony, and full percussion for the Monterey Bay Classic Jazz Band. He also played four string banjo for Charlie Tokugawas Roaring Banjo Band and honky tonk piano for all who would listen. Wally painted water color landscapes for friends and family, created large fiber art sculptures, and was for years, the tallest of the three wise men in the Nativity Play at the First Congregational Church. Wally participated in the community in many ways. Through his writing he brought interesting, if lesser known people to the fore, championed those who needed encouragement, lit up peoples' lives with laughter and words to ponder upon. He co-founded the Senior Citizens Opportunities, Inc. on Market Street, volunteered for the March of Dimes, and tended the garden at Long Marine Laboratories. At the First Congregational Church where he and Lois were members since 1956, Wally served as a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, and for many years conscientiously took charge of the Friday night dinners served to the homeless. In the broader community, Wally is credited for naming Cabrillo College. Wally first visited Santa Cruz in 1930 with his father to swim in the plunge at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and to visit his grandmother in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Trabing Road. He returned with his young family in 1954. He only lived in two homes, the first on California Street, which he festooned every Christmas with old fashioned home made decorations, and the second near DeLaveaga Park in which he created a beautiful garden. But Santa Cruz could not hold Wally all year round. He and his wife traveled much of the world, making friends in far away places. In 2004, he published "The Best of Wally Trabing, Mostly About Family", a collection of some of his most beloved columns. Wally's genius was to bring all his talents home and embrace his family. He made elaborate gingerbread houses, played favorite tunes on the piano, and cooked exotic meals. He brought his family on long pack trips with burros in the Sierras, weeklong respites at Seacliff Beach State Park while commuting from work, trailer trips throughout the West, and skied often with his daughter in later years. His parents were: Charles Willard Trabing, a judge and artist born in Laramie, Wyoming and Blanche Hoyt Trabing a homemaker, milliner, and artist from Decatur, Illinois. Wally is predeceased by brother, Donald Trabing and grandson, Erik Trabing. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lois Trabing of Santa Cruz, and his children Mark (Carol) Trabing of Riverside, Ca., Kent (Misao) Trabing of Ossining, NY, and Mily (Susan) Trabing of San Francisco, CA as well as two grandchildren, Kenso Trabing of New York and Alex Trabing of Riverside, CA The family would like to express its appreciation to Hospice of Santa Cruz County and to Debra Kindle of Lifespan for her loving help and support. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz or Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Memorial Services will be held at the First Congregational Church, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, on Saturday, January 28th at 2 pm.