[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 99 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF HELEN GULBRANSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2004

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of 
Helen Gulbranson, a longtime close friend and patriot, who died Tuesday 
at 96 years young.
  I met Helen and her late husband, Dick, in 1986 when I first ran for 
Congress. At the time they were supporting my primary opponent, the 
late Tony Hope, who was the son of their neighbors in Toluca Lake, Bob 
and Dolores Hope. After I won the primary, Helen and Dick supported my 
candidacy, as they have ever since.
  While I valued their support, I treasured the personal relationship 
we developed over the past 18 years even more.
  Helen Gulbranson was born in 1908 in Hammond, Wisconsin, and moved to 
California in 1936. It was there that she met Dick. They married in 
1940 and opened up the North Hollywood Glass and Paint Company. The two 
were married for 54 years when Dick died in 1994.
  Helen's daughter-in-law, Colleen, remembers weekly parties at Helen's 
and Dick's Toluca Lake home. If they weren't throwing a political bash 
for such candidates as Ronald Reagan, there was always a wedding or 
other social event to celebrate.
  Later, they moved to Camarillo, in my congressional district, where 
they continued to enjoy life to its fullest.
  Helen was an avid golfer and golfed up until a few months ago. Just 
last Saturday, she took her great-grandson to the golf course so he 
could play. She also loved to play table games: Scrabble, bridge and 
the like.
  If it weren't for the calendar, you would never guess Helen's age. 
She remained independent in her own home and was alert and fit right up 
to the end.
  Helen is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and 
Colleen, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in sending condolences 
to the Gulbranson family and by remembering a life well-lived.

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