Ethel Louise Redington

Born in Peerless, Texas, on Groundhog Day, Ethel was the daughter of Annie May Henegar (19011987) and Dwight Lyman Herrington (1895-1968). An older brother, Warren Austin (1922-1975), and sister, Lillian Ruth (19242003), welcomed her arrival. Her father, a farmer and carpenter, moved the family frequently in search of work, and Ethel attended five schools when she was in the 5th grade. The family was living in a one-room abandoned gas station when her brother brought his bride home to the family in 1942. She and her mother left Texas in 1947 on a westbound train to join her dad who had come to California to build a house for her sister’s growing family in Belmont. She celebrated her 13th birthday in Denver with her brother’s family along the way. Settling on the Peninsula, she was a resident of San Mateo County for 75 years. After graduating from Sequoia High School, class of 1950, Ethel went to work to help support her aging parents. In her early twenties, she worked in San Francisco in the law office of Molinari and Casalnuovo. Married on June 14, 1959, Ethel and her husband of nearly 57 years, Loren Oliver Redington (1933-2016), were the proud parents of daughters Linda Ruthanne (1960-2019) and Cynthia Roseanne who survives her. She was the equally proud Grammy of Teagan Boram who delighted her for 24 years. A stay-at-home mother when her girls were young, Ethel was a classroom volunteer coordinator for the Redwood City School District and she was instrumental in setting up the Rapid Learning Center at Hoover School in the early 1970s. Returning to paid employment, she worked in the Gifted Resource Center before transitioning to the San Mateo County Office of Education. After working in various departments including Business and Vocational Education, she tested for and was promoted to the position of Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of San Mateo County Schools. She held the position for approximately 20 years. Active in her church for many years, Ethel sang in the Chancel Choir, taught Sunday School, served on numerous committees, and was a leader in the women’s group. She was a Lay Speaker and she especially enjoyed being a Lay Member to Annual Conference. Her favorite pastime was reading and she loved spending time with her family. Ethel was open- minded, progressive, and she had a sweet-tooth. She passed gently in her sleep with her daughter at her bedside.

Those wishing to do so may attend a visitation at Crippen & Flynn Carlmont Chapel on Monday, August 8 between 1-5 p.m. A pastor will be leading a Celebration of Life in the last hour. There will be a brief graveside service at Skylawn Memorial Park on Tuesday, August 9 at 1 p.m. to which Ethel’s family and friends are invited.