Edward "Ted" Humphries who served two terms as mayor of Ceres as well being a staunch supporter of library services in Ceres, died on Wednesday, March 4. The 83-year-old had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and related complications, according to daughter Verna Nelson.
His death followed that of his wife of 57 years, Betty Humphries. She died in August 2007.
Mr. Humphries served on the Ceres Planning Commission before being appointed to the City Council in 1970. He served as vice mayor under mayors Mike Scates and Gary Condit. In March 1976 Humphries was appointed mayor by fellow councilmembers, a post he held until 1980 when Sal Cannella was elected mayor.
Mr. Humphries was born March 5, 1926 in England and served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Africa and Egypt during World War II. After the war he was a British "bobbie," a police officer and then went to work for a British wine company. In 1953 he relocated his family to the United States. He worked for Gallo Winery as a vinter liaison and assistant to Julio Gallo for over 30 years.
As he was raising his family Mr. Humphries served the Ceres community. He served as a trustee on the Ceres cemetery board and as president of the Friends of the Library.
Verna Nelson said her father was all about helping his community but nothing noteworthy occurred on his watch over city affairs.
"I just think they were trying to keep the city running the best they could," she said.
At the time James "Jim" Marshall was the city manager.
Mr. Humphries wanted to be mayor, said his daughter, because he "just believed in giving back. If you lived someplace then you was part of the community. He always said that. That was Dad. If you had a job you did it the best you could. If you lived someplace you became involved. They just believed in giving back."
She also will remember her father as a quiet gentleman.
"He was a quiet man. He didn't have loads and loads of friends and he didn't belong to loads and loads of clubs, that kind of person. He had his friends and they were important to him, and the things that he was involved in were important to him but he always gave 100 percent to them. He cared."
At a recent stop at a Modesto Starbucks Nelson ran into a former Gallo co-worker of her dad's who gave him credit for his career. "My father was kind of like his supervisor and took him under his wings and showed him how to dress properly for work and ... how to keep his shoes polished because Dad always said that a mark of a man was how well you kept your shoes cleaned and polished."
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Valley View Church of the Nazarene, 3901 E. Whitmore Avenue in east Ceres. A gathering with friends and family will gather afterward at the Las Casitas Mobile Home Park community center, 2841 Fowler Road, Ceres.
Mr. Humphries' body will be flown to Wales to be buried next to his wife's.
He leaves behind his daughter, Verna Nelson of Modesto; his grandson, Scott Raper of Ceres; his brother, Dennis Humphries of England; his sister, Maureen Bell of England; and three great-granddaughters, Jessica Raper, Allison Raper, and Krista Raper, all of Ceres. He was preceded in death by grandson Rian Raper. Beside his wife he was preceded in death by his parents, Beauty and James Humphries.
His death followed that of his wife of 57 years, Betty Humphries. She died in August 2007.
Mr. Humphries served on the Ceres Planning Commission before being appointed to the City Council in 1970. He served as vice mayor under mayors Mike Scates and Gary Condit. In March 1976 Humphries was appointed mayor by fellow councilmembers, a post he held until 1980 when Sal Cannella was elected mayor.
Mr. Humphries was born March 5, 1926 in England and served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Africa and Egypt during World War II. After the war he was a British "bobbie," a police officer and then went to work for a British wine company. In 1953 he relocated his family to the United States. He worked for Gallo Winery as a vinter liaison and assistant to Julio Gallo for over 30 years.
As he was raising his family Mr. Humphries served the Ceres community. He served as a trustee on the Ceres cemetery board and as president of the Friends of the Library.
Verna Nelson said her father was all about helping his community but nothing noteworthy occurred on his watch over city affairs.
"I just think they were trying to keep the city running the best they could," she said.
At the time James "Jim" Marshall was the city manager.
Mr. Humphries wanted to be mayor, said his daughter, because he "just believed in giving back. If you lived someplace then you was part of the community. He always said that. That was Dad. If you had a job you did it the best you could. If you lived someplace you became involved. They just believed in giving back."
She also will remember her father as a quiet gentleman.
"He was a quiet man. He didn't have loads and loads of friends and he didn't belong to loads and loads of clubs, that kind of person. He had his friends and they were important to him, and the things that he was involved in were important to him but he always gave 100 percent to them. He cared."
At a recent stop at a Modesto Starbucks Nelson ran into a former Gallo co-worker of her dad's who gave him credit for his career. "My father was kind of like his supervisor and took him under his wings and showed him how to dress properly for work and ... how to keep his shoes polished because Dad always said that a mark of a man was how well you kept your shoes cleaned and polished."
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Valley View Church of the Nazarene, 3901 E. Whitmore Avenue in east Ceres. A gathering with friends and family will gather afterward at the Las Casitas Mobile Home Park community center, 2841 Fowler Road, Ceres.
Mr. Humphries' body will be flown to Wales to be buried next to his wife's.
He leaves behind his daughter, Verna Nelson of Modesto; his grandson, Scott Raper of Ceres; his brother, Dennis Humphries of England; his sister, Maureen Bell of England; and three great-granddaughters, Jessica Raper, Allison Raper, and Krista Raper, all of Ceres. He was preceded in death by grandson Rian Raper. Beside his wife he was preceded in death by his parents, Beauty and James Humphries.
