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Billie Corder
1929 - 2019
Billie Corder obit
Billie Corder, a lifetime resident of Manteca, and a fourth generation Californian, was born on Labor Day, 1929. She died at Doctors Hospital of Manteca, with family at her side, on Memorial Day 2019.  Billie was born to the late Benton (Benny) Hooper and Emily Hooper.
   In her formative years, during the Great Depression, Billie and her brother would disappear with the neighborhood kids to play ball, reappearing only for meals or bedtime.  That rough and tumble environment taught her the love of sports.
   Billie was the ultimate “Buffalo Gal” graduating from Manteca High School in 1947, where she was a Buffalo Head Majorette, Buffalo Cheerleader, Buffalo Softball Player and President of the Buffalo Girls’ League. The Buffalo tradition lived on through four generations. After high school, Billie played competitive women’s softball as a second baseman.
   Billie had close family ties to San Francisco, affording her fond memories of visiting the 1936 World Fair at Treasure Island.  She also attended San Francisco State 1949-1950. Later in life Billie went back to college at Stanislaus State, majoring in Physical Education.
   A favorite childhood pastime was riding her bike out to her granddaddy’s ranch on Prescott Rd. where she would swim in his irrigation ditch.  Her granddaddy immigrated alone, as a teenager, in 1897, from the area of Austria which is now Slovenia.  He brought with him a strong, Catholic faith.  Thus Billie was baptized in the original St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on Yosemite Ave. in Manteca.  Being proud of her Catholic heritage, Billie sent all four daughters to St. Anthony’s School.  
Billie enjoyed life and was a quick friend to everyone she met. Billie wanted to thank a group of longtime Manteca ladies called infamously “Club.”  For 60 years, this stalwart collection of women met frequently and saw each other through marriage, births, divorce, trials and tribulations of three generations. No one dared to interfere with monthly “Club” night!
   Shooting pool and tap dancing were Billie’s favorite ways to exercise. When Billie could no longer dance, she gifted a pair of shiny, black tap shoes to a great granddaughter who wore them for many of her own performances.  Over the years, she shared her love of sports with her grandchildren.  Gram, Gramma B, BB, was the authority on all things sports.  She attended countless family sporting events, dance and cheer performances, critiquing with a sharp eye, never failing to encourage.
Billie retired from the Defense Depot, Tracy, CA, where she was a Procurement Specialist. This allowed her to travel and even to help care for twin great granddaughters well into her eighties. She especially liked her trips visiting daughters in Washington or spending time at her cabin.  Her cabin, located in the Dardenelle area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Billie’s paternal grandparents had been traveling to the Sierra Nevada since before 1906, driving their cattle from Merced to the high country for summer grazing.  
   Billie is survived by her brother, Ben Hooper of Campbell, CA. Much loved mother of  Candice (Steve) Kalin, Kelley (John) Garrett, Beckey (Chris) Candini, and Wendy (Curt) Dowhower,
cherished grandmother of  Scott (Stacey) Kalin, Jana (Garret) Hubbart, Holly (Lloyd) MacKinnon, John (Kelly) Garrett, Zachary Dowhower, Brent Dowhower and Camden Dowhower.  Great grandmother of  Ben, Kye, Liv, Wil, Mae, Kole, Drew, Chase, Brodie, Clarabelle, Ella, Hope, Haven, and Cecelia. Remembered by her nieces and nephews.  
   Billie was interred at St. John’s Cemetery, Escalon, with a private family service.  As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation, or to the Manteca Historical Society.  
   Epilepsy Foundation – 2311 N 45th Street, #134, Seattle, WA 98103-6905
Manteca Historical Society – 600 W Yosemite, Manteca, CA 95336

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Saturday, June 8, 2019