SUTTON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 07:17:24 :

Independent Journal
Saturday, April 4, 1959
page 1

Long-Time Teacher Lulu Sutton Dies
Succumbs At Age of 77 In Hospital

Miss Lulu Sutton, Novato elementary school teacher for four decades, died today in a local hospital. She was 77 years old.

She was hospitalized with a heart condition in February for three weeks and returned to the hospital Thursday afternoon.

Miss Sutton, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sutton, was born in Ignacio. Her parents came to Marin County in 1868 from County Wexford, Ireland. Her father was a rancher.

Educated in S.F.

She attended San Francisco schools and was graduated from San Francisco State College. Her long teaching career started in Novato in 1918, when the school district had four teachers and 120 pupils.

Miss Sutton taught eighth grade at Grant School, and was its principal until 1948.

She was named principal of Olive School when it opened in 1952, remaining in that capacity until her retirement at the end of last school year.

Nearly 200 persons gathered to pay tribute to the long-time educator last May at Rickey’s Rancho Rafael. Another honor bestowed on Miss Sutton was the Novato Unified School District’s decision to name the new elementary school at 2080 Center road after her.

Completion Soon

Completion of the $302,888 structure is expected by the beginning of the next school year.

Miss Sutton was a member of Marin Retired Teachers Assn. and a life member of the state Parent-Teacher Assn.

“Her death has taken us all by surprise,” said William J. J. Smith, superintendent of Novato Unified School District. “She was an institution in Novato and very much loved.”

A friend of hers for 45 years, William E. Cole of Novato, said of Miss Sutton “She was a wonderful woman and devoted her whole life to children.”

Miss Sutton is survived by a sister, Margaret L. Sutton, with whom she made her home at 1609 Novato boulevard.

Funeral services have been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, but the hour has not yet been set. Redwood Chapel Funeral Home of Novato is in charge.