NORMAN LOUIS ‘LOUIE’ MALEY
1927-2017
Norman Louis “Louie” Maley passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at the age of 89. He was born on May 10, 1927 in Lodi to Everett and Mabel Maley. Louie attended Emerson school and Lodi High School. He played on the basketball and track teams, was in FFA, and active in a variety of school activities.
Prior to his senior year, with the United States involved in World War II, Louie joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in July, 1946. He then attended the College of Agriculture at UC Davis.
Shortly after college, Louie married the woman of his dreams, Barbara Ridenour, in June 1951 at Lodi’s First United Methodist Church. When they returned from their honeymoon, they moved into the home they had built in Lodi. They remained in that home their entire lives. The trademark of Louie’s life was his faithful, loving dedication to his wife. They were married for 58 years until her passing in 2010.
Louie farmed with his father Everett and brother Joe and loved all aspects of raising tomatoes and grapes. With his brother, he established Maley Brother’s Vineyards. The vineyards, consisting of several varieties, including Zinfandel, Merlot, and Chardonnay continue to produce some of the finest wines in the world and helped lay the foundation of the Lodi Wine Industry. In later years, his nephew Todd became part of the family farming tradition. The Maley family has over a 150 year legacy of farming in the Lodi area.
Louie served his community in a variety of ways. He served on the Turner School Board, Woodbridge Winery Board, and the Woodbridge Fire Department Board. He belonged to the American Legion, and the Lodi Masonic Lodge. Sports were also a major part of Louie’s life. He very much enjoyed watching basketball, baseball, golf and other sports. He was an avid fisherman and golfer and could be seen on a weekly basis playing at Woodbridge Country Club. He usually followed his time on the course with a lively game of cards in the men’s lounge with his close friends, Charlie Clark and others. Louie had season tickets to the Sacramento Kings and would go when he could, but never missed a televised game of the Kings, Oakland Athletics or San Francisco Giants. Louie also was renowned for his superb homemade pickles, olives, and peppers.
Louie will be remembered by all for his kind and caring heart. He was a friend you could count on and an incredible husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be remembered for his positive attitude, always seeing the “silver linings” in situations and being a voice to uplift those around him. With a simple handshake and his signature wink of the eye, you couldn’t help but feel everything was going to be okay.
While Louie had many interests, none compared to his love of family. He loved to fill his home with pictures of his daughter Cindy, and her family. He was blessed with three grandchildren and three more great-grandchildren and had a special bond with each one individually. He loved to spend time hearing about their endeavors, sporting achievements, interests and the like.
Louie was preceded in death by his sister Betty Crete and her husband Dick. He is survived by daughter Cindy Thawley, her husband Rich Thawley, grandchildren Alisha Thompson, her husband Trevor Thompson, Richard Thawley II, Brett Louis Thawley, great granddaughters Shelby, Cora, and Madison Thompson, brother and sister in-law, Joe and Sue Maley, sister-in-law Bev Stroh and her husband Malen, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lodi Memorial Foundation, Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, San Joaquin Historical Society, or the donor’s choice of a worthy charity.
A gathering to honor his life for family and friends will be held at Woodbridge Country Club on Saturday, February 4th at 12 noon.
Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/guestbook.