Loren Andrew Eachus
July 26, 1940 - June 3, 2015
Resident of San Jose
Loren passed away peacefully at home in San Jose on June 3, 2015, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Colorado to his parents, Atwell Richard and Lorayne Reibel Eachus. He grew up in Hayward, Dos Palos, and Oakland, where he met the girl of his dreams, Donnamae Crespan, and they married in 1961. Loren graduated from Oakland High School [June 1958] before taking an extension class in electronics from Oregon State University. He also attended police officers training school and worked for a detective. The newlyweds lived in Oakland, bought their first home in Pleasant Hill, and later moved to Concord, transferred to Louisiana and then Texas when he was a manager of Washington National Insurance Company. They soon moved back to California where Loren owned and operated a well-known carpet cleaning franchise and later his own business.
Loren enjoyed vintage cars, especially old Chevrolets. He won many awards for his 1931 Chevrolet which he restored, and was instrumental in forming The Greater South Bay Branch of the Chevrolet Club of America along with two good friends, Sal Campagna and Sal Orlando. A gifted and meticulous technician, Loren also enjoyed working on, restoring and collecting old radios, and belonged to California Historical Radio Society. Loren was a positive, optimistic, and a very special person who saw the best in people always loving unconditionally. He brightened the spirits of everyone he met with his genuine smile, warmth and sparkling eyes. He loved telling a good joke and great stories of the past with his gift of gab, quick wit and sharp mind. Loren enjoyed traveling with Donnamae to some of their favorite destinations including Hawaii, Alaska, Boston, Connecticut, Mexico, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Italy, and Switzerland.
A kind, compassionate, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and true friend, Loren deeply loved his wife, children and grandchildren. Family and friends meant everything to him. He is survived by his loving, caring wife of 53 years, Donnamae, their four wonderful sons, and (daughters-in-law): Loren Vernon (Liana) of Santa Maria, David (Christina) of San Jose, Steven (Denise) of San Jose, and Michael (Penelope) of Seattle, nine awesome grandchildren: Kristen, Loren Jonathan, Megan, Ginger, Kyle, Jenna, Kaitlyn, Emma, and Gavin Eachus, and his siblings: Gary Eachus, Llewella Wildey and Paulette Lord.
A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 20101 McKean Road, San Jose, on June 13, 2015, at 11:00am. Reception to follow. Friends and family are welcome to attend and celebrate Loren's life. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations may be made to Leukemia And Lymphoma Society 1-888-557-7177.
