Sept. 29, 1924 – Oct. 23, 2016

Karna Jane (Deininger) Meese passed away on Oct. 23.

Karna was born on Sept. 29, 1924 in Torrance, California to Louis H. Deininger and Maude (Stevens) Deininger of Owatonna, Minnesota. Her parents moved to Torrance in 1922. Karna attended Torrance High School and Long Beach City College. She worked at McDonnell Douglass during WWII. She was proud making airplane parts for the U.S. military.

She married William Vaughn Meese. Her husband accepted a job in Pasadena and soon after they relocated to La Crescenta. After settling in La Crescenta, they had a daughter, Karen Louise (Meese) Lawrence. Karna worked in the insurance field and found a job as an office manager at Garey Brothers Insurance in La Cañada. She retired in May 1991.

She and her husband enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. They attended their grandchildren’s numerous activities. They went on family vacations with their daughter’s family. On Nov. 25, 1997 her husband William of 47 years died suddenly.

After she lost her husband, Karna volunteered at St. George’s Episcopal Church, the Dragon Thrift Shop and she joined clubs like TOPS, The Pioneer Club, PEO, New Beginnings and she loved to play bingo at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA.

She liked going on trips with her clubs to Las Vegas, Laughlin and casinos in Southern California. She continued to go on family trips with her daughter’s family. One of her favorite trips was when the family went on a road trip to volunteer at the Pine Ridge Reservation in Red Shirt, South Dakota with other church members. She saw so many historic sites like Mt. Rushmore, The Black Hills, Crazy Horse Memorial and the Grand Canyon. She went on road trips with her daughter’s family as long as she was able.

She was predeceased by her husband William. She is survived by her daughter Karen L. (Meese) Lawrence, son-in-law Richard Lawrence and three grandchildren: Crystal Thompson, Chelsea Lawrence and Vaughn Lawrence. A memorial service will be held for Karna J. Meese on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 808 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge. Reception to follow.