Letha Couch (1927 to June 4, 2014)
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Memories
Letha sang in Peter Rank’s play My Fair Little Old Lady which Joel Hoersch directed at 2009 San Diego NABC. Pictures.
Trish LaneI knew Letha for over 25 years. She was the ideal personality. Always a kind word, an exemplar of etiquette at the bridge table and everywhere else. She was an avid Padres fan and I even attended a game with her (I have a photo to prove it!). She will be sorely missed.
Kathie AngioneLetha was loved by all and was a faithful supporter of our [Eastlake Club] games. I’ve known Letha for 25 years and I never heard her say a bad word about anyone, she was never one to complain and was always energetic and interested in anything you were doing. Letha was always game to try something new. She took line dancing with me at Balboa Park, bowled with the Kitamura’s, spoke Spanish, and was always working on her Japanese. She was still traveling to tournaments a year or so ago.
Virginia WoffordMy most vivid memory of Letha Couch is from getting acquainted with her during rehearsals and the performance of My Fair (Little Old) Lady in 2009. Joel Hoersch convinced a number of us bridge players to perform in this musical for the National tournament which was held at the Hyatt downtown. Letha played the proverbial little old lady at the bridge table (Mrs. Muzzy), and she nailed the part. I can still see her waking up on stage to find the game was over!
Biography
Letha was born in Wallace, Nebraska to James and Edith Benge (nee Clough). After a short time in Nebraska, the family moved to Oakland, CA., where she and her best friend Beverly followed the Oakland Oaks baseball team. She met Casey Stengel who at the time, was the team’s manager. In Oakland, she met her loving husband Tommy.
After many moves due to Tommy’s Navy career, including Guam and Boston, they finally settled in Chula Vista, CA., where they raised their two daughters and one son. A promise made to Letha’s father when she married was to finish high school. She not only accomplished that, she went on to graduate from SDSU with a BA in Spanish and received her teaching credential as well. She began teaching at Montgomery High, and finally retired from Southwest High, where her beloved students voted her the Grand Marshal of their very first homecoming game/parade. She also conducted the Spanish Choir (Estudiantina) for many years winning competitions, and taking numerous musical trips with the students she loved and respected. After her retirement from teaching, she sang with the Southwestern College Choir, which allowed for trips to Paris, France, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Sydney, Australia for music symposiums. She was also an avid San Diego Padres baseball fan and enjoyed being chosen Fan of the Game on more than one occasion.
Never one to stop learning, she became a Life Master in the game of duplicate bridge, where she met many friends, some of whom were Japanese. These new friends inspired her to learn the Japanese language, and take a solo trip to Japan. In her other travels, she and her daughters went to Scotland to trace the family roots.
Besides the unfailing love for her family, she loved her church and God without question. She was a dedicated member of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Chula Vista. Letha held many positions on church committees, and always supported her family and God in everything she touched. She was a friend to all; she loved them and they loved her.
Letha is survived by her daughters, Terrill Stafford (John), Cheryl Loskota (Mike), her two sisters and brothers in-law, Sybil and Bill Sanders and Theone and Marvin Paxton; her adored three grandchildren, Damon, Julie and Dan and nine great-grandchildren in whom she took great pride. She is also survived by her foster son Enrique Munoz and foster daughter Virginia Soto and their children. Letha was predeceased by her beloved husband Tommy, and dear son Gary. We will miss her so.
Picture from My Fair (Little Old) Lady production
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