IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Max Charles
Specht
September 28, 1922 – November 30, 2007
Obituary
Max Charles Specht, a longtime resident of Lompoc died November 30. He was 85.
Max was born in Wichita, Kansas, on September 28, 1922 to Lota and Gus Specht. Although they lived in town, the Spechts spent every summer working the nearby family farm.
After graduating high school, Max began attending college. When it became impossible to cover expenses, he decided to put his education on hold and join his brother Vince working in the booming aircraft industry in California. At 16, he and a group of friends hitchhiked from Kansas to Inglewood. From 1938 on, he was a Californian for good.
When the United States entered World War II, Max enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew a wide range of twin-engine planes in the Pacific theater. His aptitude caused the Air Corps to send him to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and it was there he met Lorraine Baty around Christmas time 1943. After a year of letters, phone calls and short leaves, the young couple married in March 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and spent every Christmas together for the rest of their lives.
When the war ended, Max decided to use the GI bill and get a teaching credential, and wound up as an instructor of photography at Santa Monica College. He spent the next 30 years sharing his passion with thousands of students, many of whom went on to become top professional photographers throughout California and the West.
Max retired in 1988 after more than 30 years in education. He and Lorraine moved to Lompoc to be near Linda and her husband Terry Banner, and especially to be close to their two grandsons, Curtis and Brandon. They were also delighted to spend more time with Terry's older children: Lori, Terry, Tina and Casey.
Max is survived by his brothers Vincent Specht, Howard Specht, Gale Specht and sister Bobbie Issetts, in addition to his children and grandchildren.
A memorial service for Max will take place on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 12:00 noon at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Max's name to the Lompoc Hospital Foundation, P. O. Box 883, Lompoc, CA 93438.
Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.
Max was born in Wichita, Kansas, on September 28, 1922 to Lota and Gus Specht. Although they lived in town, the Spechts spent every summer working the nearby family farm.
After graduating high school, Max began attending college. When it became impossible to cover expenses, he decided to put his education on hold and join his brother Vince working in the booming aircraft industry in California. At 16, he and a group of friends hitchhiked from Kansas to Inglewood. From 1938 on, he was a Californian for good.
When the United States entered World War II, Max enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew a wide range of twin-engine planes in the Pacific theater. His aptitude caused the Air Corps to send him to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and it was there he met Lorraine Baty around Christmas time 1943. After a year of letters, phone calls and short leaves, the young couple married in March 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and spent every Christmas together for the rest of their lives.
When the war ended, Max decided to use the GI bill and get a teaching credential, and wound up as an instructor of photography at Santa Monica College. He spent the next 30 years sharing his passion with thousands of students, many of whom went on to become top professional photographers throughout California and the West.
Max retired in 1988 after more than 30 years in education. He and Lorraine moved to Lompoc to be near Linda and her husband Terry Banner, and especially to be close to their two grandsons, Curtis and Brandon. They were also delighted to spend more time with Terry's older children: Lori, Terry, Tina and Casey.
Max is survived by his brothers Vincent Specht, Howard Specht, Gale Specht and sister Bobbie Issetts, in addition to his children and grandchildren.
A memorial service for Max will take place on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 12:00 noon at St. Mary's Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Max's name to the Lompoc Hospital Foundation, P. O. Box 883, Lompoc, CA 93438.
Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.
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