Past Department Presidents

These are the members who have served as President of the Department since its formation in 1910. 

Click on the “+” symbol for more info about each one, including their known qualifying relatives.

YearPresidentBornDiedResidenceRelative(s)

1963		generic female silhouette

SLAYTON, Edna Pearl (McClure) Nelson

18921972Santa Ana, CA
  • Granddaughter of William K. Van Horn — 35th Ohio Infantry

1964		MOON, Betty

MOON, Elizabeth M. "Betty" (McNew)

18981972Inglewood, CA
  • Granddaughter of Samuel D. Dihel — 30th Illinois Infantry

1965		generic female silhouette

LORENTZEN, Miriam Mae (Bolin) 

18981970Compton, CA
  • Granddaughter of Thornton Henby Brainerd — 11th Wisconsin Infantry
  • Sister of Anna Marie (Bolin) Haaven, PDP

1966		generic female silhouette

SIMONIAN, Florence Clara (Moore) 

18941984Clovis, CA
  • Granddaughter of Joseph T. Moore — Webster County Missouri Home Guards; 8th Missouri Cavalry; Phelps Missouri Infantry

1967		MCCOY, Magdalen Catherine PegMCCOY, Magdalen Catherine "Peg" (Grier)
National President (1975)		18981975San Diego, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Eugene R. McCoy, PDC

1971		generic female silhouetteFRENCH, Miss Margaret M.18941976Los Angeles, CA
  • unknown

1972		generic female silhouette

ELDER, Edith LeEtta (Conner) 

18931980Santa Monica, CA
  • Granddaughter of Sanford Emery Conner — 14th Iowa Infantry

1973		HAAVEN, Anna

HAAVEN, Anna Marie (Bolin) 

18961991Fresno, CA
  • Granddaughter of Thornton Henby Brainerd — 11th Wisconsin Infantry
  • Sister of Miriam Mae (Bolin) Lorentzen, PDP

1974		generic female silhouette

GATES, Ethel (Hollub) 

19201993Chula Vista, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Harold Hugh Gates, PDC

1975		generic female silhouetteWARD, Bessie??Fresno, CA
  • unknown

1976		CRAWFORD, Thelma

CRAWFORD, Thelma Alice (Guest) 

18961991Fresno, CA
  • Granddaughter of Adolphus Alonzo Guest — 2nd U.S. Volunteer Sharpshooters
  • Mother of Margaret E. "Peggy" (Crawford) Mann, PDP

1970		HOLT, EdnaHOLT, Edna??Canoga Park, CA
  • unknown

1978
1979		generic female silhouette

PYLE, Helen Ann (Batinich) 

19272010San Jose, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Wayne Stanley Pyle, PDC

1969		generic female silhouette

GREELY, Dorothy Fern (Pyle) 

19211988Santa Clara, CA
  • Great-granddaughter of Edward Stanley Houk — 153rd Illinois Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. Kenneth Horace Greely, PDC

1980		generic female silhouette

GREELY, Dorothy Fern (Pyle) 

19211988Santa Clara, CA
  • Great-granddaughter of Edward Stanley Houk — 153rd Illinois Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. Kenneth Horace Greely, PDC

1981		generic female silhouette

GEORGE, Lela Ida (Midkiff) 

18971996Fresno, CA
  • unknown

1968		WILCOX, Miriam Smith

WILCOX, Miriam Matilda (Smith) 

18941986Los Angeles, CA
  • Granddaughter of John Byron Cole — 40th Iowa Infantry
  • Wife of Corbett F. "Coby" Wilcox, PDC

1977		WILCOX, Miriam Smith

WILCOX, Miriam Matilda (Smith) 

18941986Los Angeles, CA
  • Granddaughter of John Byron Cole — 40th Iowa Infantry
  • Wife of Corbett F. "Coby" Wilcox, PDC

1945		WOERNER, Bessie

WOERNER, Bessie Jan (Allen)

18981985Inglewood, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Frank Woerner, PCinC
  • Mother-in-law of Betty Jean (Bennett) Woerner-Downs, PNP

1946		PARROT, Marium

PARROT, Marium (Bunker) 

18751956Fresno, CA
  • Daughter of Jesse Bunker — 1st Iowa Cavalry

1947		generic female silhouette

THOMAS, Margaret M. (Burnham) Giles

18901986Riverside, CA
  • Granddaughter of Ferdinand I. Burnham — 2nd Minnesota Light Artillery

1948		RIGGS, Bea-1

RIGGS, Beatrice E. (Downing) Smith
National President (1960)

19061993Ontario, CA
  • Great-granddaughter of John A. Harter — 146th New York Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. Earl Flowers Riggs, PCinC
  • Mother of Bro. Harold C. Smith, PDC

1949		generic female silhouette

SMITH, Nellie Emeline (Boone) 

18911967San Francisco, CA
  • Daughter of Cyrenus E. Boone — 13th New York Heavy Artillery
  • Wife of Bro. Walter A. Smith, PDC

1950		generic female silhouette

GARWOOD, Bess (Ellis) 

18931983Pasadena, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Ralph William Garwood, PDC
  • Daughter of William Hudson Ellis — 44th Missouri Infantry

1951		CHENEY, AnnaCHENEY, Anna (Doody)19011962Oakland, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Vernon Everdeen Cheney, PDC

1952		generic female silhouette

SNEBERG, Mollie

??Pasadena, CA
  • unknown

1953		generic female silhouette

FREEMAN, Pearl Zaida (Baker) 

18761962San Jose, CA
  • Daughter of Charles A. Baker — 7th Iowa Cavalry

1954		generic female silhouette

SIMMONS, Lena E. (Beckman) 

18821968Pasadena, CA
  • unknown

1955		generic female silhouette

DABEL, Hannah M. (Gerdts) 

18781970San Jose, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Henry C. Dabel

1956		generic female silhouette

ADCOX, Mrs. Winifred E. Hansen 

??Santa Ana, CA
  • unknown

1957		generic female silhouette

STORY, Mary Alice (Goar) 

18941975Compton, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Louis T. Story, PDC

1958		WOHLGEMUTH, Irene

WOHLGEMUTH, Irene Margaret (Brown)

19041986Long Beach, CA
  • Wife of Bro. J. Elmer Wohlgemuth, PDC

1959		generic female silhouette

HIXSON, Margaret Lucille (Mushrush) 

19201990San Gabriel, CA
  • unknown

1960		generic female silhouette

GATELY, Mary Jane (Fishbaugh) 

19021987Pomona, CA
  • Wife of Bro. John O. Gately, PDC

1961		generic female silhouette

KELLY, Mrs. Rosa Pearl Whitmyre

18981989San Diego or Long Beach, CA
  • unknown

1962		CRAWFORD, Thelma

CRAWFORD, Thelma Alice (Guest)

18961991Fresno, CA
  • Granddaughter of Adolphus Alonzo Guest — 2nd U.S. Volunteer Sharpshooters
  • Mother of Margaret E. "Peggy" (Crawford) Mann, PDP

1982		MANN, Peggy 1986

MANN, Margaret Evelyn "Peggy" (Crawford) 

19182009Grover City, CA
  • Great-granddaughter of Adolphus Alonzo Guest — 2nd U.S. Volunteer Sharpshooters
  • Daughter of Thelma A. (Guest) Crawford, PDP

1984		female silhouetteUnknown

1983		female silhouetteUnknown

1989		female silhouetteUnknown

1988		female silhouetteUnknown

2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010		BURSHEIM, RachelleCAMPBELL, Rachelle Marie (Bursheim)
National President (2014-15)		1971LivingGilroy, CA
  • Andrew Davidson — 4th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery
  • Ole Davidson — 27th Iowa Infantry
  • Elling Ellingson — 15th Wisconsin Infantry ("The Scandinavian Regiment")
  • Niels Himle Ellickson — 6th Iowa Cavalry
  • Wife of Bro. Tad D. Campbell, PCinC at the time of office.

1985
1986
1987		WOERNER-DOWNS, Betty

WOERNER-DOWNS, Betty Jean (Bennett)
National President (1988)

1926?Torrance, CA
  • Wife of Bro. John Franklin Woerner
  • Daughter-in-law of Bro. Frank Woerner, PCinC and Bessie J. (Allen) Woerner, PDP
  • Great-grandniece of William Kirkwood — 18th Illinois Infantry

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003		WOERNER-DOWNS, Betty

WOERNER-DOWNS, Betty Jean (Bennett)
National President (1988)

1926?Torrance, CA
  • Wife of Bro. John Franklin Woerner
  • Daughter-in-law of Bro. Frank Woerner, PCinC and Bessie J. (Allen) Woerner, PDP
  • Great-grandniece of William Kirkwood — 18th Illinois Infantry

2022
2023		CAINES, MelinieCAINES, Melinie (Prosk)1957LivingEl Segundo, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Phillip L. Caines, PCC

2011
2012
2013		CAINES, MelinieCAINES, Melinie (Prosk)1957LivingEl Segundo, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Phillip L. Caines, PCC

2014
2015
2016		GRAHAM, Bev2GRAHAM, Beverly Lou (Swartz)1940LivingSan Jose, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Thomas T. Graham, PDC

2017
2018
2019		EDDY, Cindy2EDDY, Cynthia L.
Click here for bio		1961LivingMountain View, CA
  • Great-great-granddaughter of Morton Seth Eddy — 18th Michigan Infantry
  • Great-great-granddaughter of Reuben Nathaniel Killingsworth — 6th Missouri Cavalry

2020
2021		THOMAS, RebekahTHOMAS, Rebekah1960LivingSanta Rosa, CA
  • unknown

1910
1911		generic female silhouetteHASKINS, Mrs. Addie M. C.≈1861?Long Beach, CA
  • Wife of James C. Haskins — 1st Rhode Island Infantry & 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery

1944		generic female silhouette

WEAVER, Marcia Evelyn (Stull) Sherfey 

18921971Fowler, CA
  • Daughter of Bro. Charles C. Stull and Sis. Jennie M. (Snodgrass) Stull
  • Granddaughter of Morris Chester Stull — 8th Illinois Cavalry

1941		SALISBURY, GertrudeSALISBURY, Gertrude E. (Smith)19041965San Jose, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Dwight E. Salisbury

1942		generic female silhouetteDEAL, Erma P. (Chamberlain)18851966Riverside, CA
  • Daughter of Carlos F. Chamberlain — 13th Wisconsin Infantry

1943		generic female silhouette

KAHLER, Elizabeth Emmaline (Long) Stanley

18841946Los Angeles, CA
  • unknown

1940		BARRETT, Lena

BARRETT, Lena May (Gulick) Hewitt
National President (1949)

18751965Huntington Park, CA
  • Daughter of James Harvey Gulick — 122nd Illinois Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. Ralph Raymond Barrett, PCinC

1936		HUNT, Iola 1937HUNT, Iola L. (Clark)18771950Riverside, CA
  • Daughter of Samuel Clark — 25th Illinois Infantry

1937		DABEL, HannahDABEL, Hannah M. (Gerdts)18781970San Jose, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Henry C. Dabel

1938		generic female silhouette

WATTS-CRAWFORD, Esther F.

≈1902?Pasadena, CA
  • unknown

1939		generic female silhouette

RASMUSSEN, Eva A. (Flint) Gould

18721964Sacramento, CA
  • Daughter of Addi Heli Flint — 50th & 90th Ohio Infantry

1935		GLASS, LenoreGLASS, Lenore Downer (Stone)
National President (1956)		18911987San Jose, CA
  • Daughter of Thomas Jefferson Stone — 13th Ohio Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. John Nicolas Glass, PDC

1934		TURNER, Charlotte

TURNER, Charlotte Alameda (Buckley) 

18961957Pasadena, CA
  • Granddaughter of Lewis O. Dill — 5th Wisconsin Infantry
  • Daughter of Sis. Mahala (Dill) Buckley, PDP

1922		DEEMS, Mamie 1937DEEMS, Mamie (Mathews)
National President (1926)		18801968Los Angeles, CA
  • Daughter of Albert J. Mathews — 152nd Indiana Infantry
  • Daughter of Mary M. (Slaughter) Mathews (ASUVCW PDP)
  • Wife of Alva Emanuel Deems (SUVCW PDC)

1921		generic female silhouetteSPAULDING, Helen L.18901970Riverside, CA
  • Granddaughter of George W. Spaulding — 3rd Maine Infantry & 3rd United States Light Artillery

1920		HAWTHORNE, BlancheHAWTHORNE, Blanche Campbell (Saylor)18821968Culver City, CAWife of Francis Creighton Hawthorne (SUVCW PDC)

1919		generic female silhouetteBICKELS, Amanda B.18831976Los Angeles, CA
  • Daughter of Henry Nickels — 9th Illinois Cavalry

1917
1918		generic female silhouetteWOOD, Mrs. Lydia T.18601934Los Angeles, CAWife of Samuel Orestus Wood — 14th Maine Infantry

1915
1916		generic female silhouetteHUTTON, Angelina (Atkinson)≈18601919Long Beach, CA
  • unknown

1914		REED, Jessie MasonREED, Jessie Maude (Sisson) Mason18701922Riverside, CA
  • Wife of Dwight Brisco Mason — 10th Iowa Infantry & Mississippi Marine Brigade United States Volunteer Cavalry.
  • Wife of Jeremiah Harrison "Harry" Reed — 7th Indiana Calvary

1913		generic female silhouetteGREEN, Martina L. (Greeley) Atherton-Hamblett18471936Pasadena, CA
  • Wife of John F. Hamblett — 1st New Hampshire Cavalry
  • Wife of Jonathan H. Green — 92nd Illinois Infantry

1912		generic female silhouetteKISER, Elizabeth??unknown
  • unknown

1923		generic female silhouetteCONNER, Emma (Cunningham)18731962Pasadena, CA
  • Daughter of Thaddeus Sobieski Cunningham — 142nd Pennsylvania Infantry
  • Granddaughter of Everhart Liston — 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery
  • Niece of James Lawrence Cunningham — 1st Ohio Cavalry
  • Niece of Francis Marion "Frank" Cunningham — 1st West Virginia Cavalry (MOH recipient)

1924		GILLILAND, Jennie

GILLILAND, Jennie Emma (Willoughby) Strimple

18681950Riverside, CA
  • Daughter of Benjamin F. Willoughby — 123rd Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of James B. Willoughby — 123rd Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of Levi P. Willoughby — 15th Ohio Infantry; 123rd Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of Martin W. Willoughby — 15th Ohio Infantry; 123rd Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of Nathan M. Willoughby — 78th Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of William P. Willoughby — 123rd Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of John P. DeBolt — 15th, 61st & 82nd Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of George R. DeBolt — 49th Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of Silas DeBolt — 49th Ohio Infantry
  • Niece of Rezin S. DeBolt — 49th Ohio Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. R. Emerson Gilliland

1925		generic female silhouette

DUNSTER, Cora Belle (Perfield) 

18721959Los Angeles, CA
  • Granddaughter of George Perfield — 110th New York Infantry
  • Niece of Freeman Farrar — 149th New York Infantry
  • Niece of James Perfield — 149th New York Infantry & Veteran Reserve Corps
  • Wife of Bro. Frederick I. Dunster, PDC

1926		generic female silhouetteCLOUD, Ella Mae (Miller)18791955Oakland, CA
  • Wife of Bro. Scott Goldsby Cloud

1927		generic female silhouette

GRAVES, Elinor Jane (Bailey) 

18791945Upland, CA
  • unknown

1928		generic female silhouette

SHAW, Marie (Burgoyne) 

≈1887?Watsonville and San Diego, CA
  • unknown

1929		generic female silhouette

BILLINGSLEY-BINGER, Audrey Belle (Hall)

18991985Glendale, CA
  • Granddaughter of Israel H. Gregg — 7th Ohio Infantry

1930		generic female silhouette

MATHEWS, Mary Minerva (Slaughter) 

18621932Pasadena, CA
  • Wife of Albert J. Mathews — 152nd Indiana Infantry
  • Mother of Sis. Mamie (Mathews) Deems, PDP

1931		COURSEY, Estelia Marie

COURSEY, Estelia Marie "Marie" (Robinson) 

18821969Fresno, CA
  • Granddaughter of James I. Shafer — 116th Ohio Infantry
  • Wife of Bro. John Wilbur Coursey, PDC

1932		BUCKLEY, Mahala

BUCKLEY, Mahala Rosina (Dill) 

18701946Pasadena, CA
  • Daughter of Lewis O. Dill — 5th Wisconsin Infantry
  • Mother of Sis. Charlotte (Buckley) Turner, PDP

1933		generic female silhouette

ROGERS-COX, Mary A. (Craven)

18801982Fresno, CA
  • Granddaughter of George W. Cox — 14th Missouri Home Guard Infantry

Dept. of California & Pacific, ASUVCW | Past Department Presidents
Created: 8 Jan 2009; Modified: 26 Oct 2023