Long time Palisades resident Edith Barker Waterhouse passed from this world on April 5. She was living at the time at a home in Arroyo Grande, California, where she had resided since January, and died peacefully of natural causes. She was 90. Edith was born September 12, 1914, in Spokane, Washington. She graduated from Occidental College Phi Beta Kappa and taught reading at McKinley Elementary School in Santa Monica for 30 years. She had lived at the same house on Wildomar St. in Pacific Palisades since 1947 and was married to local writer and activist Harold Waterhouse for more than 52 years. Harold passed away on December 27, 2004. Edith was an exceptional mother and a joy and inspiration to all who knew her. She authored a book on California’s missions, ‘Serra California Conquistador,’ published in 1968. Undoubtedly her greatest achievement in life, however, was her gift of literacy to the many children who, without her efforts, would never have mastered the skill of reading. In recognition of her contributions to education she was elected a lifetime member of the Parent Teacher Association. She is survived by her son Ted of San Luis Obispo. A memorial for Edith and Harold Waterhouse is tentatively scheduled for May 21 in Temescal Gateway Park.
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