Frederick Lane Hewston
1948-2021
 | Frederick Lane Hewston was born January 2, 1948 in Avalon, Catalina Island, California. His parents were Herbert Edwin Hewston and Dorothy Edith (Lane) Hewston. His mother died when he was still in high school. Later his father wed Hannah (Igar) Palmer.
Fred died September 1, 2021 in Long Beach, California. He grew up in Ridgecrest, California, attending Burroughs High School. Growing up, he spent many hours boating and water skiing. He joined the Air Force and served from 1968-1972. He went through Keesler AFB Electronics School in Biloxi, Mississippi. While he was there, Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi coast August 19, 1969. For 2 weeks he and the other Air Force members were on detail helping with clean-up and assisting the residents.
When he finished his tour of duty, he attended Long Beach City College and then Cal State Long Beach where he earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts. For many years he worked as a graphic artist for several companies. Then he decided to change careers, so he went back to school and earned a paralegal certificate. He became an electronic court reporter for LA Superior Court. While working at the downtown courts, he returned to school at night and also achieved his juris doctorate at Pacific Coast University School of Law in Long Beach, California.
On November 28, 1993, Fred wed Leila Menzies at his parents’church, Unity Church of Ventura, California and they celebrated their wedding at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club where his father and step-mother were founding members.
He retired from the LA Courts after 25 years in 2016. Fred and his wife Leila loved to travel and every year would spend several weeks in Napa, California at the Vino Bello Resort, enjoying wine tasting, visiting historical sites and parks, visiting with family and friends near there, and trying new restaurants!
He is survived by his wife Leila Menzies, sisters Natalie Brittan (Hewston) Phillips Meyers and Alexandra “Sandra” Schulz Mertz, step-brother Mark Palmer, step-sisters Allison (Palmer) Rittger and actress Leland Palmer, nieces Lorri Phillips Campbell, Debbie Phillips Young, Rhonda Phillips, Laura Leonard, Deidre Leonard, Cecily Leonard and nephews Michael Leonard and Shen Shulz. |
