Samuel Calvin Edinger died in February 2012 in Whittier, California at 95 years of age.
Cal was born in Van Nuys, California in December 1916 to Paul Frederick Edinger and Julia Augusta Halling (both of Iowa) and grew up in Monrovia and Sanger, California. He graduated from Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School, Pasadena City College, received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California Los Angeles and a Master’s Degree from Cal State Los Angeles. He met Ruth Esther Hundley at Quaker Meadow camp during World War II and they were married on October 5, 1944 at First Friends Church of Whittier.
Cal taught special education in Los Angeles City Schools and in the Alhambra City School District (Century High School). He spent many years at La Casa Community Center in San Gabriel helping young people obtain their GEDs. His dedication to youth finished with a long period of volunteer service to Pacific Ackworth Friends School in Temple City.
Cal was born into a Methodist tradition, but was a long-time member of Whitleaf Monthly Meeting of Friends and of Orange Grove Monthly Meeting of Friends. He performed his alternative service as a conscientious objector during World War II, undergoing sleep deprivation experiments and performing drafting and firefighting tasks for the U.S. Forest Service in Glendora, California. He was active as a volunteer with, and supporter of, a number of Friends organizations such as the American Friends Service Committee, Pacific Yearly Meeting of Friends, and Friends Committee on Legislation of California. He visited prisoners at Terminal Island Federal Correctional Institution for many years and was active with the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
Samuel Calvin Edinger is survived by: his brother, James Gilbert Edinger of Big Sur, California; son, Paul Frederick; son, David Howard; daughter, Linda Ann Flournoy; and daughter, Susan Edinger Marshall. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Esther Edinger (d. 2004).