After a productive and well lived 93 years Edith Hutchins Randall passed from this life peacefully on November 1st, 2022. She was born to Ulys and Perna White in Red Oak, Oklahoma on August 31st, 1929. When she was two months old she traveled to California on the train with her mother to join her father in Santa Paula, CA. Edith grew up in the courtyard on the Limonera Ranch along with many of her Oklahoma family that also migrated to California, including her grandmother Una Coy who lived on the ranch until her passing in the late 1960s.
Edith walked to Briggs School for her elementary education and graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1947. She met her high school sweetheart and love of her life Dale “Hutch” Hutchins when she was a freshman. Edith was a cheerleader and Hutch was a star football player for the Santa Paula Cardinals. After graduation she continued her education at Ventura College and then worked for the Limonera Ranch as an office clerk. Hutch and Edith were married in Santa Barbara on September 2nd, 1950 and moved to Fillmore in 1952.
Hutch took over the family business, Hutchins Cleaners in Fillmore while they enjoyed a great life together surrounded with family and many friends. Hutch’s two sisters, LaRue and Beverly married Fillmore boys so all the cousins were fortunate to grow up together in a close knit small town. Their first child Eric was born in 1956 followed by Jan in 1957 and Neal in 1964. Edith worked part time as a bookkeeper for Robert “Bud” Spitler, then Safety Striping Service and helped Hutch at the cleaners while raising her children. They never lacked for her attention, she was the room mother for their classrooms and helped with all the sports, scouts and other activities they were involved in. She was also an active member of the Fillmore Business and Professional Women’s Cub and enjoyed bridge club with her friends.
Hutch’s father owned a beach cabin on the Rincon Beach where the family enjoyed many weekends and week long trips. They also took the kids to Big Bear for memorable family vacations. Hutch and Edie were big supporters of the Fillmore Flashes Athletic teams. They often took a van full of kids to the away games and the family van was the official bus for the FHS cheerleading squad in 1974/1975.
Edith was a member the Trinity Episcopal Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and she and Hutch spearheaded the annual prime rib dinner fundraiser. They belonged to the Fillmore Dance Club, had many Fillmore friends while maintaining their friendships with the Santa Paula friends they grew up with. Edie and Hutch provided a wonderful life for their children full of love, family and friends. Some of the friendships have continued to the next generation where the children have become lifelong friends and the cycle is beginning again with the great grandchildren. They built an incredible foundation of friendship.
Tragically Hutch passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in 1979 which left a huge hole in the Hutchins family. Edith was the rock that held everyone together. She could not have been stronger, closing out the family business and carrying on. Three months after Hutch’s death she welcomed their first grandchild Melanie. What a blessing she was and brought such joy to Edith’s life during a very difficult time. In 1984 her second grandchild Jeremy was born followed by Eric, Joe and Jenna, her family was complete. Her grandchildren were the light of her life, and she was the most loving Nana anyone could ask for.
The next few years she enjoyed traveling with girlfriends to Hawaii and Avila Beach. She continued to work for Safety Striping Service and spent most of her free time with her grandchildren. She took up tole painting and discovered a hidden talent. The family has many pieces of her work to treasure and keep the memories of her close. She also enjoyed antiquing and acquired an extensive collection of butter pats and other antiques they will always cherish.
In 1985 Edith found love again when she married Charles “Hoover” Randall at the Ferndale Ranch in Santa Paula. They enjoyed a good life together with lots of friends and fun times at the Ferndale Ranch. They traveled to Hawaii and with friends in their RVs to Yellowstone, Sedona, Colorado and the local campgrounds in Ventura County. They also enjoyed many trips to Laughlin and Las Vegas, Edie had a fondness for the one armed bandits!
Edie and Hoover were very involved in the grandchildren’s lives. They never missed a ball game and were always available when the grandkids needed them. They regularly traveled to visit Eric and his family in Old Station, Lake Isabella and then Twin Falls Idaho. Sadly when Hoover passed away in 2012 Edith’s life took another unexpected turn but again she absorbed the loss with grace.
In 2015 while recovering from a serious illness she moved into an apartment in the Fillmore Country Club assisted living facility. She recovered well and was able to enjoy the last years of her life, especially spending time with her family and great grandchildren, Danny and Skyler. She was very close to Danny. He visited often and enjoyed having lunch with Nana in the dining room. Neal and his family lived a block away so she saw them often and enjoyed weekly weekend lunch dates. Jan and Rod, along with Melanie and Jeremy and their families were also close by for frequent visits and family gatherings. It was a blessing when Skyler was born in 2020. Nana was ecstatic to meet and hold her precious great granddaughter.
Edie made many friends at the Fillmore Country Club and was close to several of the caregivers. They became family too. The family would like to thank the staff at Fillmore Country Club for the assistance she received, especially from the caregivers. It greatly enhanced the quality of her life during her last years.
Edith is survived by her son Eric Hutchins and wife April of Twin Falls Idaho, daughter Janet Schrock and husband Rodney of Fillmore and son Neal Hutchins and wife Heather who recently moved to Elkridge, Utah; Grandchildren Melanie Chisholm, Jeremy Schrock, Eric Hutchins, Joe Hutchins, Jenna Hutchins and great grandchildren Danny Chisholm and Skyler Schrock. Services will be held at a later date when all family members are able to be here. Edie was a wonderful wife, mom, grandmother and friend. Her family will be forever grateful for the life she lived, the never ending support and the good health that kept her here 93 years.