Walnut Creek Death Notices

Maxine Cameron, a resident of Walnut Creek for 65 years, was born in Pasadena and worked as a cartoon artist for Disney Studios and Warner Bros. She also painted while living in Walnut Creek and had her work displayed and sold at numerous art shows. She was an active member of the Mount Diablo mineral and gem association. Cameron died on Sept. 6 at the age of 96. 

Kathleen Ludolph, a resident of Walnut Creek for more than 50 years, was born in Missouri and graduated from Oakland Technical High School. She got her degree from U.C. Berkeley and taught English for three years at Garfield Junior High in Berkeley. When her children got older, she worked for 20 years as the public affairs manager for the Contra Costa County Office of Education. After retirement, she was a volunteer teacher's aide and reading tutor. Ludolph died on Sept. 7 at the age of 85.

Gilbert Oliver, a resident of Walnut Creek, had a periodontics practice in the Richmond-Pinole area until April of this year. He grew up in Oregon, earning a dental medicine degree at the University of Oregon. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Oliver died on Sept. 7 at the age of 84.

Tom Ellis, a resident of Walnut Creek, was born in Oakland and attended Pleasant Hill High School. He loved the outdoors and working on cars. Ellis died recently at the age of 71.

Irene Gage, a resident of Walnut Creek, was known as the garden queen of Castle Hill Road. She also loved international travel. Gage died on Sept. 5 at the age of 80.

Patricia Hartman, a resident of Walnut Creek, was a California native and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and St. Mary's College. She worked for 20 years as a counselor and administrator at Northgate High School. She also volunteered at the Animal Rescue Foundation. Hartman died on Sept. 15 at the age of 71.

Diana Herman, a resident of Concord, grew up in Walnut Creek and graduated from Pleasant Hill High School. She worked at John Muir Medical Center for many years. She loved kayaking, horseback riding and gardening. Herman died on Aug. 27 at the age of 66.

Virginia Higginbotham, a resident of Pollock Pines, was born in Walnut Creek and graduated from Carondelet High School and Cal State Chico. She was a part-time substitute teacher. Higginbotham died on Sept. 14 at the age of 54.