Person:Carl Greear (1)

About Carl Greear

Carl Henry Greear was born 7 January 1921 in Oklahoma, the son of Clara M. Ramey, when she was just 17 years old. Prior to 1930, Carl had moved with his mother to Los Angeles and was living with his step-father John Dearhart (1890-1968), whom his mother had married prior to abt. 1928, his half-brother John Dearhart, half-sister Clara V. Dearhart (both less than 2 years old) and John Dearhart's mother, Nannie, age 69 [Source: 1930 U.S. Census].

Carl was raised in South Gate, California and left home at age 14, supporting himself by working after school as a theatre usher and later as a box boy at South Gate Public Market. He graduated from Huntington Park High School in 1939. His first full-time job in the retail food business was at Alexander's Markets on Vermont and Jefferson in Los Angeles - then a three-store Chain. Carl asked to work in the deli, knowing that the deli employees made about 15 cents an hour more. Working many hours, he sold food in the service deli, and prepared salads, hams and roasts. He was later promoted to department head, and transferred to Alexander's Glendale store.

Carl enlisted in the United States Navy in June of 1941. After boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to Moffat Field in San Jose, California, as a 3rd Class Petty Officer (Cook's Rate). In 1942, he was shipped to Goadacanal where he helped establish the island's first naval supply depot. Carl spent almost two years on thsi "28 x 75 mile piece of jungle fringed with coconut plantations". The base was bombed by the Japanese three times a night; thus Carl spent much of his time in a foxhole. He was promoted to Chief Commissary Steward in 1943 and re-assigned to the U.S.S. Boxer, a Norfolk, Virginia-based aircraft carrier with 3,000 men. The giant ship was on a "shakedown cruise" to Cuba and was on its way to Japan when the Japanese surrendered in 1945, so with a surplus of discharge points, Carl decided to get out with an honorable discharge from the Navy.

Upon returning to civilian life, Carl only had time for a single week's vacation before being asked to return to his old job at Alexander's Glendale store. In 1947, Carl was placed in charge of Alexander's new central deli kitchen, which wrapped and cut cheese, lunchmeats and made pizzas, chicken pies, custards, gelatins and salads. He stayed at Alexander's Markets until 1945, when he joined the then fledgling 5-store chain Hughes Markets, then run by its popular President, Joe Hughes. Carl helped to organize Hughes Markets' Deli Division, which grew into a nine-store chain by 1962. In that year, Carl moved to store level, becoming the manager of Hughes Markets's new location in West Los Angeles, then to its Panorama City location, where some management problems had developed. When Hughes bought the Fox Markets store in Oxnard, Carl was sent to manage the store for its initial nine months, then he moved back to headquarters, handling the Real Estate Department. He was later placed in charge of purchasing store equipment (cases, refrigeration, signs) until 1968, when he was promoted to Deli Director after the former director, Joe Coleman resigned.

While working at Hughes Markets, Carl was an active member of the Southern California Deli Council, which later was re-named to the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), a local Food Industry Trade Association, and attended many of its meetings, seminars and functions. Carl was elected and served on the Deli Counci's Board of Directors in 1970-1972 and was awarded the Deli Council's "Big Cheese" Award in December 1969 for his leadership and support of the Council.

Carl Greear was married to his wife Stella Farrell on 30 July 1950 in Santa Barbara County, California. They had three children together: Steve, Mike and April, all who attended Granada Hills High School in Los Angeles County, California. Carl enjoyed playing ping pong, bowling, golf and long-weekend fishing trips to the Colorado River for bass and trout. He was an avid fan of USC Football and the [then] Los Angeles Rams, attended the Lutheran Church and was a member of the Lamplighters, a social organization whose purpose was to help undergraduate teachers. His contributions to the food industry will not soon be forgotten and he has been remembered fondly by his friends and co-workers.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).

   http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/person.aspx?pid=29335131151&tid=40451863

2.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Name: Carl H Greear
   Birth Year: abt 1921
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: Oklahoma
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Stepson
   Home in 1930: South Gate, Los Angeles, California
   Street address: San Gabriel Avenue
   House Number in Cities or Towns: 8165
   Dwelling Number: 122
   Family Number: 122
   Attended School: Yes
   Father's Birthplace: United States
   Mother's Birthplace: Oklahoma
   Household Members: Name Age
   John B Dearhart 38
   Clara M Dearhart 24
   Carl H Greear 9
   John R Dearhart 1 [1 6/12]
   Clara V Dearhart 1 [1 5/12]
   Nannie M Dearhart 69

3.   California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.

   Name: Carl Henry Greear
   Social Security #: 564167655
   Gender: Male
   Birth Date: 7 Jan 1921
   Birth Place: Oklahoma
   Death Date: 15 Feb 1995
   Death Place: Los Angeles
   Mother's Maiden Name: Ramey

4.   Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   Name: Carl H. Greear
   SSN: 564-16-7655
   Last Residence: 91601 North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
   BORN: 7 Jan 1921
   Died: 15 Feb 1995
   State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951