Lida Ruth Klosterman
Nov. 5, 1925-Feb. 25, 2017
Menlo Park, California

Lida Ruth Klosterman, 91, of Menlo Park, California, passed away peacefully of natural causes, at home surrounded by her loving family, on February 25, 2017.

She was born Lida Ruth Watson in Compton, California, to Arthur Watson and Ruth Keller Watson, on November 5, 1925. After graduating from Compton Junior College in 1942, Lida went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1946. While at UCSB, she joined the Chi Delta Chi sorority, which later became Delta Gamma, and she served as chapter president in 1946.

She held a number of professional roles throughout her life, including running her own home-based mailing business, selling and managing real estate, serving as secretary for the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan), working at Walt Disney Imagineering, returning to the UCSB Delta Gamma sorority chapter in 1989 to serve as house mother, and working at the Stanford University Law Library.

She loved traveling and taking road trips, meeting new people, and talking to everyone she encountered. She stayed connected with her many friends and family members through regular phone calls and visits.

She volunteered for many years at the Menlo Park Library. She enjoyed crocheting and sewing, and was a longtime member of the Menlo Park Busy Fingers group. Although she claimed simple taste buds, she made a mean lemon chiffon cheesecake and was a big fan of In-N-Out Burger.

Lida is preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Ruth Watson, her sister Jean Woodruff, and her daughter Kathy Klosterman.

Lida is survived by her son, Eric Klosterman and wife Amy Wells, of South Pasadena, her daughter, Tina Anderson and husband Craig, of Menlo Park, her grandchildren Elisa Graceffo and husband Greg, Kenna Klosterman, Maura Klosterman, Luke Klosterman, Molly Anderson, and Devon Anderson, and her great-grandchildren Juliana, Lucy, and Charlie Graceffo. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Tracy Woodruff and husband Bill Clark, Vicki Hughes and husband Larry, Jeff Woodruff and wife Adrienne, Stephen Woodruff and wife Luz Mack, Leslie Woodruff and husband Paul Gegenhuber, and great-nephews David Hughes, Loren Clark, and Harry Gegenhuber.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Hospice East Bay, who helped care for Lida as she made her final transition out of this life, and to Tracy Woodruff, Bill and Loren Clark, who lovingly welcomed and cared for Lida in their home for the last year. Lida will be missed by many friends and family. Her final journal entry included one last message for everyone: “Love you.”