Luther Andrew Best

Luther Andrew Best (96)

passed away March 15, 2010 at

Hoag Hospital. Luther was born in

Ontario, CA on October 8, 1913.

He graduated from UCLA with

a degree in Physics in 1936 and

worked at Douglas Aircraft Co. in

Santa Monica as a metallurgical

engineer where he developed “Flash

Welding”, a process used in Aircraft manufacture.

He married Valeria O’Neal in 1942 and they spent 66

years together. In 1966, they moved to Costa Mesa and

Luther worked on the Saturn Space Mission at McDonnell

Douglas Missiles & Space Systems in Huntington Beach,

re-locating in 1976 to Yucaipa, where Lu & Val lived for

32 years.

Luther is survived by his son and wife Floyd and Ella

Best, his daughter Bonnie McNerney, his granddaughter

Dr.Erin McNerney & family, and nephew Bill Best.

A memorial service will be held at United Methodist

Church of Yucaipa, 35177 Beech Ave. on Wednesday,

March 31st at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be

made to the American Heart Association.