Obituary of Edith Wald

Edie Wald passed on at her home March 12, 2015, cared for by her loving family under the guidance of Assisted Hospice. She lived life and left this life on her own terms with the motto: Follow the rules but make them up first!Edie was born April 11, 1930 in New York City, the only child of Czech immigrants Louis and Irma Wald. She grew up in the Bronx moving to Charleston, South Carolina during high school where she graduated from Memminger High School. Edie moved back to New York City to study for her BS degree at NYU. She then earned her Master's Degree in Public Health Nutrition at UC Berkeley. After gaining some real world experience in Lansing, Michigan, Edie found her true home in California when she was hired as a Public Health Nutritionist for Ventura County. She was selected to write the initial grant establishing the Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) for Ventura County and managed the program for 26 years. Edie worked hard to insure that services were readily accessible by meeting with participants in WIC vans, churches, and other community buildings in the neighborhoods where participants lived. She helped enhance literacy in participant WIC families by partnering with then local bookstore Adventures for Kids and community based organizations to provide children's books and reading skills. Professional affiliations included The American Dietetic Association, The American Public Health Association, The California Conference of Local Health Department Nutritionists, the California and Ventura County Nutrition Council where she took her turn in leadership roles. Edie was also part of the VC Community Council on Aging, the Heart Association, and Ventura County Community Action Program's Emergency Food and Medical Service Policy Advisory Committee and Headstart Career Development Committee. Edie retired in 1995. Edie was known for her quick wit, wicked sense of humor, and giving sage advice when asked. She believed in giving back to her community and to furthering the status of women, especially through education. Edie established a charitable trust for this purpose and gave generously to charities focusing on meeting basic needs, education, animal welfare and the arts. She also gave to individuals by renting to women at affordable rates, paying for educational expenses, and otherwise sharing with others rather than spending money on creature comforts for herself. Edie loved to read, travel with friends, go to the theater, play bridge and eat good food. She was a docent at the Ventura County Museum for over 20 years and a longstanding member of the San Buenaventura Women's Club. She was a member of a Friends of the Library book club and helped to establish and participate in a second book club.Edie chose to remain single throughout her life, instead surrounding herself with family of her choosing and friends she cherished. Edie is survived by her "Chosen" family, daughter Nancy Lander, husband Mark Robinson, and grandson Nathan Lander; daughter Maggie Penny, husband Terry, grandchildren Terrell, Jeremiah, Stephine, and Mone`t, and great grandchildren Jeremiah Junior, Stephen, Stephanie Isabella, and Matthew; and daughter Lois Manning and husband Floyd. Other surviving Chosen family members include Lila Atkisson, Rudy Martin and Kathy Julian, Lura and Jerry Clark and feline Brin. Edie requested that no services be held. The family asks you to consider continuing Edie's practice of spreading the wealth by making a memorial donation to FOOD Share Inc. 4156 Southbank Rd Oxnard, CA 93036, any educational scholarship fund, animal welfare, arts group or nonprofit Hospice program of your choice. Cards may be sent to 3772 Sheldon Dr. Ventura, CA 93003.