Reference: San Francisco Examiner

L'HOMMEDIEU EX-EXECUTIVE,
 DEAD AT 79

Services for William P. L'Hommedieu, 79, past president of San Francisco Electric club and for 41 years Westinghouse Electric representative in the the electric utility industry of the West, will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Albert Brown's, Oakland.

Services will be conducted by Rockridge Lodge of Masons, of which he was past master, and by the Rev. Paul Yinger, pastor of Piedmont Community Church.

Mr. L'Hommedieu, who made dramatic comebacks after a series of paralyzing strokes beginning nearly a decade ago, was working among his loved roses and begonias at his Piedmont home Monday when he was stricken anew. He died at a hospital.

Mr. L'Hommedieu was born in New York, graduated as an electrical engineer in 1905 from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, and joined Westinghouse at East Pittsburgh in 1906 when George Westinghouse still was active head of the giant firm.

His first years coincided with the great age of interurban railway building. That brought him to San Francisco in 1910. His first role was with the creation of now defunct Sacramento Short Line. He retired Dec. 31, 1951, rich in industry honors, and with a final testimonial dinner at the Engineer's Club.

Mr. L'Hommedieu was past chairman, San Francisco section, American Institute of Electrical Engineers and long active in Pacific Coast Electric Association.

He was a loyal Republican, and, in 1960, when warned that speedy surgery was imperative, delayed only long enough to vote in a Piedmont election. His almost total recovery after strokes -- even abandoning a cane used while learning to walk again -- was an inspiration to many.

He is survived by his wife, Ann, 34 Manor Drive; daughter, Lucile E. Griffith; New York; William R. L'Hommedieu, San Gabriel. (error in newspaper calls William R. L'H. William R. Griffith)