Individual 284: Lawyer, Mary Elizabeth (Betty)

Individual Record 284

Name} Lawyer, Mary Elizabeth (Betty)

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Female

Birth: Date} Fam 14 Oct 1912

Place} Alhambra, Los Angeles, California

Marr.: Date} Exa 18 Aug 1936 M

Place} Alhambra, Los Angeles, California (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 1 Jul 2010

Place} San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California

Burial: Date} Aft 1 Jul 2010

Place}

Grave Marker}

Source 1}	73 = Interview
Source 2}	257 = Interview
Source 3}	213 = Photograph
Source 4}	162 = Letter
Source 5}	758 = 1920 USA cen
Source 6}	751 = 1930 USA cen
Source 7}	1430=Marriage rec
Source 8}	325 = Business Dir
Source 9}	1446=1940 USA cen
Source 10}	1245=Newspaper
Source 11}	502 = Newspaper
Source 12}	367 = Newspaper
Source 13}	503 = Newspaper
Source 14}	862 = Photograph
Source 15}	729 = Biography
Source 16}	730 = Biography
Source 17}	1106=Biography
Source 18}	680 = S.S. record
Source 19}	687 = Obituary

Parents: } Arthur A. Lawyer & Ida E. Olson
Relationship No.} 118

1st Household No.} 261 = Alhambra, Los Angeles, California

Occupation 1} Artist/painter
Occupation 2} Housewife

Religion/Church} Presbyterian

Spouses: Prime} Kimball, Ward Walrath
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Mary Elizabeth Lawyer was born 14 Oct 1912 in Alhambra, California. She was always known as Betty. Her parents were Arthur Lawyer and Ida Olson. Her older brother Lewis had been born in 1907, and her younger brother Richard (Dick) was born in 1915.

In 1920 and 1930 U.S. census records, the family was living at 30 N. Third Street, Alhambra. This was their long time family residence. Her father was a bookkeeper for the Olson Lumber Co., which was owned by her Uncle Frank Olson. In 1930, her brother Lewis was driving a truck for the lumber company.

Betty attended Alhambra High School and went on to Pasadena College for three years. She worked on stage productions, and in 1935 she was hired by Walt Disney Productions. Here she worked in the ink and paint department, and it was here that she met her future husband Ward Kimball. They were married 18 Aug 1936 in Alhambra, Los Angeles, California, by the Rev. S.J. Kennedy, a Presbyterian Minister. She left the studios in 1939 to be a full-time mother and housewife.

Life was never dull for Betty, for in 1938 she and her husband bought a vintage 1881 steam locomotive from the defunct Nevada Central Railroad, and with the help of friends and relatives, unloaded it onto tracks on their property located at 1616* Ardendale Ave., in the unincorporated area of San Gabriel. Betty's cousin Don Olson helped with the unloading. This was the start of the Grizzly Flats Railroad. In 1939, the couple built their family home at this location. It is where they raised their three children, Kelly, John, and Chloe.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Betty and Ward had their first daughter, just one month old. Ward was an artist in the movie industry, and had earned $5,000. in the prior year. Betty had earned $950. Their house was valued at $13,000. Betty had completed three years of college, and Ward, one year.

On 23 Jan 1988, two planes collided over the San Gabriel Valley, sending one plummeting into their front yard. Betty, Ward, and Kelly were in the house at the time, but were not injured. Two aboard the plane were killed.

In 2004, Betty and Ward attended the 50th Wedding Anniversary party for her cousin Don Olson and his Frances. She is seen in the photograph at right with several of her Olson cousins.

Ward died 8 Jul 2002, after having been married to Betty for 66 years. Betty died 1 Jul 2010 at the age of 97 years. Services were private, and it is not known where they are buried. A wonderful tribute to Betty, with photographs, is found at http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/betty-kimball-rip-25040.html.

*The 1940 USA census and a 1946 newspaper article identified the address as 1616 Ardendale Road. The houses were renumbered at some point in time, and the present address is 8910 Ardendale.