Celebrant Pam Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Earl Sidwell Jr.: 1942 - 2006
Contributed by: Pam Vetter

10/16/06 Valley News Article

For Earl Sidwell Jr., the church where he married the love of his life will be the same church where he will be remembered in his funeral service. The Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, was the site where he was married in 1963. Sidwell died at home after a battle with lung cancer on Friday, Oct. 13, 2006.

Earl Arden Sidwell, Jr., known as Sid, was born on New Year's Day, 1942. In fact, he was the first child born that day and year at Glendale Adventist Hospital. The oldest child to Earl and Ruby Sidwell, he shared his father's name. He was raised in Glendale with his brother Bob Sidwell and sister Karen Sidwell. His childhood was wonderful. As the oldest, he spent a lot of time with his father and they were close. He was also the first grandchild in the extended family.

His father had many jobs as he was self-employed. He also worked as a bookie for a while. When Sidwell was 10-years-old, his family moved to Arkansas. One day, when they were sitting at the dinner table, lightning struck through the widow and caught the table on fire. The next day, the family packed up and moved back home to Glendale.

As a child, Sidwell was a boy scout. As a teenager, his first job was at a Glendale Chicken Pie Restaurant on Brand Boulevard. By the age of 16, Sidwell landed a job at Disney as a set painter. In 1960, he graduated from Hoover High School in Glendale.

A few years later, he attended a friend's wedding, where he met Susan Jensen. He had a date at the wedding, but told Susan, "I'll take my date home and I'll be right back." The couple has been together ever since.

They were married at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, in March 1963. Rose petals decorated the beautiful service, where they exchanged the traditional vows. The couple spent their honeymoon in Las Vegas, where Sidwell hit a $100 silver dollar jackpot.

He also hit a jackpot in his relationship with Susan. Over the years, Sidwell did everything for Susan. He made her a cup of coffee every morning, he brought her special things home from the market, on their 43 wedding anniversary he bought her a 2006 black Hummer, and two months ago, he bought her a 1979 red Corvette. Sidwell was Susan's protector through life and he wanted to give her the world.

Family was everything to him. Sidwell was proud of their sons, Scott and Sean, and their five grandchildren. After 16 years at Disney, he later spent 19 years working in construction with his son, Sean. He loved sports throughout his life such as football and basketball. Sidwell also had a great passion for horse racing.

Over the decades, Sidwell never hesitated to take in rescue animals or save an abandoned bird's life. He loved animals. Sidwell is missed by his white poodle, Missy, and his cocker spaniel mix, Goldie.

For his family, they are sharing many life stories. There are memories of Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings and wonderful family times shared at the house in Lake Arrowhead. Every weekend the family went to Lake Arrowhead to enjoy life together.

Sidwell will be remembered for his big heart, giving nature, friendship to everyone, endless energy, strength, and honesty.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Susan Sidwell, son Scott Sidwell, son Sean Sidwell and his wife Xochitl Sidwell, and grandchildren Tiffany Sidwell, Ashley Sidwell, Chelsey Sidwell, Destiny Sidwell, and Sean William Sidwell. He is also survived by his siblings Bob Sidwell and Karen Tiscareno.

Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, 2006, at Church of the Hills, Hollywood Hills.

Memorial donations are welcome to the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org. or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals www.ASPCA.org.

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