Myrtle “Myrt” Jean Park, age 93, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on the evening of August 13, 2024, at her home in Bakersfield, California.

She was born August 30, 1930, at home in Placerville, California, to Charles Melvin Diltz and Erma Kathryn “Sally” Schmersahl Diltz.

Myrtle was adopted in 1935, along with her sister Connie, by Merril Franklin “Frank” & Agnes Spurlock of Coalinga, California, who provided a lasting and loving home. Her father Frank was a Superintendent with Standard Oil assigned to the Rio Bravo Greely lease. Myrt attended Rio Bravo Greely Elementary School and later graduated from Kern County High School, later known as Bakersfield High School, in 1948. She met the love of her life, William “Bill” H. Park, while attending high school. Bill was a student in college and happened to be Myrt’s bus driver. They married on December 18, 1948, in Bakersfield. They started their family and had two daughters, Karen and Mary Lou.

Myrt was the epitome of motherhood. For many years up through high school she was her daughter’s Brownie/Girl Scout leader where she led many day camps at Hart Park in the summer. She was also a second mother to Karen and Mary Lou’s high school friends who spent every weekend at her home. They continue to be an important part of her life until this very day. Myrt was famous for her Saturday morning pancake-eating contests with all the kids. Myrt’s home was always welcome to all. Not only did she open her home up to friends but also to family. She was a favorite aunt to her nieces and nephews on both sides of her family. At different times, four of her nephews made a home with her.

In the early 1960s, Myrt became involved in local politics and spent many hours working for numerous candidates from a national, state, and local level, including her husband Bill’s successful campaign for city council. Her last campaign was Carl Sparks for Sherrif. She was a charter member of the Bakersfield Republican Women Federated. She was also a delegate at the Republican National Convention for Reagan.

In 1967, Myrt and her family relocated to Falls Church, Virginia, where her husband Bill became the Administrative Assistant to Congressman Bob Mathias. Her home again was open to many visitors from Kern County, and she became the self-appointed tour guide for Washington D.C. and its surrounding areas.

Myrt had a love for cooking and entertaining people. She thoroughly enjoyed hosting her annual Christmas party where most of the food was prepared by her. She enjoyed entertaining the Norwegian family on many occasions throughout the years. When her grandchildren attended St. John’s Lutheran School, you would find her in the school’s kitchen helping prepare student lunches and lunch for senior citizens in our community at the church.

In 1981, Myrt’s granddaughter, Katherine, was diagnosed with autism. Myrt spent many hours fundraising to help make the Kern County Autism Center a success. She was a charter member and spent numerous years on the board of directors. In 2006, Senator Roy Ashburn named Myrt “Woman of the Year” for her work benefitting autistic adults in Kern County.

She was also involved in several philanthropic organizations in our community like Eastern Star, Sigma Alpha Sorority Epsilon Beta Chapter, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post 26.

Myrt’s pride and joy were her seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Her grandchildren spent lots of time at her house, hanging out in the barn, riding mopeds in the pasture, and swimming. She always had her grandchildren’s favorite foods on hand such as Raviolis and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.  

Myrtle is survived by her daughter Karen Andresen and her husband Arvid, son-in-law Lonnie Parker, and former son-in-law Tom Johnson, along with seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Lou, eleven weeks ago.

Though we are grieving Myrt’s loss, we pray that her legacy of strong Christian and family values, her love for her country and community, and her loyalty and kindness to others, live through us all. She has touched and changed so many lives, her kind and generous soul will be greatly missed.

A service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 7th at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4500 Buena Vista Road, Bakersfield, CA 93311. A celebration of life will follow directly after the service in the church’s event center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church or the Kern County Autism Center at www.kerncountyautismcenter.or…

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