Esdon LaRue McGovern nee Dietrich (1926-2011) of San Diego, CA
ESDON LaRUE McGOVERN
McGOVERN, ESDON LaRUE Esdon LaRue McGovern passed away on the evening of December 13, 2011, at the age of 85. Born in Ekalaka, Montana, on March 13, 1926, to Jesse and Addie Dietrich, she spent most of her childhood in Lead, South Dakota. She had one sister, Avanelle, who was her best friend. Esdon was devastated by her sister's sudden death in 1966. Esdon and her family moved to San Diego when she was a junior in high school, where she immediately met a group of lifelong friends at San Diego High School. She was Captain of the Seargenettes Drill Team and was known for her great sense of fashion and flair for fun. There she met her husband of 48 years, Terry, who passed away in 1998. She also attended San Diego State College where she enjoyed her time with her sorority sisters. Before starting their family, Esdon enjoyed her career at Bernie Photography Studio in downtown San Diego. Later, she devoted her life to raising her four children. She felt this was her greatest accomplishment. She was the heart of our family. Esdon will be remembered for her love of music, especially Big Band, Burt Bacharach and Harry Connick Jr. She and her husband also enjoyed the Del Mar racing season as well as their annual trips to Las Vegas. Especially after Terry's death, Esdon found companionship, good memories and many laughs with the "Lunch Bunch", a group of lady friends from San Diego High that gathered every month for many years until this day. Her neighbors were also dear friends and a support to Esdon, always helping her out however they could. Esdon is survived by her children Kathy, Connie, Nancy and Tom, her sons-in-law Wes, Gary and Bruce, her daughter-in-law Sheila and her grandchildren Jesse, Anna, Blaire, Mason, Tara and Owen. Esdon was always known as a gentle, kind and graceful person loved by family and friends. She will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be on Friday, December 30th, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, 639 E. Felicita Ave., Escondido, CA. A reception will be held in the downstairs banquet room immediately following the ceremony.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on December 22, 2011