Obituary for Lydia Jean Kuhn Lydia Jean Kuhn died on June 29, 2018 in Fresno, California. She was born on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of Ruth and Gene Kuhn who preceded her in death.
Lydia graduated from Lincoln High School in Stockton, CA in 1962. After graduating from Whittier College in 1966, she worked for the State Department’s National Interdepartmental Seminar in Washington, D.C. as a research assistant. She moved to Fresno in 1968 and began working for the Fresno County Public Library as a librarian trainee.
After receiving a Masters in Library Science from LSU, she returned to Fresno. At the time of her retirement from the County Library in 2003 after 33 years of service, she was Manager of Adult Services. While at the Library in addition to her regular duties, she implemented five celebrations of literary characters, including Peter Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh, as fund-raisers for the Friends of the Library Committee for 22 years, many times hosting a table on a variety of subjects, including Noel Coward, the British Royal Family, and suspense fiction.
She also worked on communitywide reading programs, often hosting 24-hour read-a-thons. She was active in the community, participating in several organizations. She was past president of the Fresno Branch of AAUW, the Forum, and Friday Club, program vice president of San Joaquin Valley Town Hall, and secretary of the William Saroyan Society.
She presented a number of programs before community groups on such subjects as Lizzie Borden, Dorothy Parker, Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter, the Titanic, as well as numerous book discussions. Lydia volunteered for the San Joaquin River Parkway, serving on the Parkway’s Parties Committee, writing hundreds of thank-you notes to party hosts. In 2012, she organized a Third Class Last Dinner on the Titanic as a fund-raiser for the Parkway.
She was a member of the Titanic Historical Society and attended THS conferences in the US, Canada, and England. One of her fondest memories was meeting the last Titanic survivor, Millvina Dean. Lydia is survived by a circle of friends, who were there for her, with love and support during the good and bad times.
During the good times, she enjoyed traveling, attending local musical and theatrical productions, seeing movies, reading the latest best seller, and being with friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to StageWorks Fresno, 4833 N. Hulbert Ave. , Fresno, CA 93705, or the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, 11605 Old Friant Rd.
, Fresno, CA 93730. Services will be announced. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Lydia Jean Kuhn please visit our Sympathy Store.
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