Page 1 - The Friday Flyer ● JUNE 15, 2018

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JUNE 15, 2018

City approves fi re services Canyon Lakers honor Making memories
their Dads for Father's with dad at Taco

contract with county Pg. A3 Day Pg. A5 Tuesdays Pg. A15

Honoring dad

BY PAT VAN DYKE he was taught the value of hard work continued until one day in 1938 when
COLUMNIST, THE FRIDAY FLYER and educated himself by reading every- Vernon came home and gave Eleanor
Margaret Truman, daughter of Presi- thing he could. the news that he had purchased a 1928
dent Harry Truman, once said regarding In 1929 and the beginning of The Dodge school bus for $100. The young
her father: “It’s only when you grow up Great Depression, Vernon, then 19 years couple fashioned this vehicle into a “mo-
and step back from him — or leave him old, supported himself by taking on a bile home” and for the next several years
for your own home — it’s only then variety of jobs: house painter, survey- it was their home. A home that allowed
that you can measure his great- or, service station attendant and deliv- the family of now four to travel from job
ness and fully appreciate it.” eryman. After his marriage to Eleanor site to job site. Eleanor fondly called
Canyon Laker Joanna Finneran in 1931 and the birth of his it “The Ark.” Later in the 60s, Vernon
Spiller can voice the first daughter, Joanna, in 1935, Vernon loved to point out that his family was the
same words concern- was able to land a job at Pacific Gas and “original hippies.”
ing her father, Vernon Electric (PG&E). But even with all of the job respon-
W. Hall. Hall worked The position with PG&E proved to sibilities, the Hall family had numerous
hard, made numerous be very providential and Vernon soon opportunities to spend time camping,
sacrifices for his family found himself “climbing the PG&E lad- fishing and hunting. Most importantly,
and always saw the fun der” very quickly. He began digging Vernon taught his daughters, Joanna
things in life. holes for towers in the San Francisco and Christine, to mow lawns, dance and
This Father’s Day, Bay, which led to an apprentice lineman laugh. Mowing lawns could help finan-
Joanna shares with her position. As a lineman, he found himself cially, but dancing and laughing provid-
community the love building tall steel towers, stringing wires ed special memories.
and admiration that she and handling hot sticks complete with The most important things that Ver-
and her sister have for live currents. non passed onto his daughters was a
this man whom they In the 1960s, Vernon was chosen to love of education, the desire to work
called “Dad.” head up the Blach Powerhouse project hard and succeed, the need to respect
Life was not easy in the King Canyon area of the Sierra others - especially their mother, and to
for Vernon. When he Nevada Mountains. Despite not having become self-reliant women.
was only five years old, earned a college degree, Vernon was When asked what she would say to
his father died and he promoted to superintendent of all tower her father if he was with her today, Joan-
was placed in various and line construction for PG&E. Never na replied, “Thank you for insisting that
relatives’ homes until he before and never again has this position we receive an education, always looking
was 14 years old. Vernon been given to a person without a college after Christine and me, for being honest
was the youngest of eight degree.
Vernon did not neglect his duties to and to have a good sense of humor. But
siblings and after his fa- most of all, thank you for teaching us the
ther’s death, he lived with his family at this time. The Great De-
his twice-widowed mother, pression had made finding a home for value of integrity.”
“Live so that when your children
grandparents, and finally his young family very difficult. At each
with an aunt and uncle in job site for the first several years of their think of fairness, caring and integrity,
Oregon. During that time, marriage, Vernon and Eleanor had to lo- they think of you.” H. Jackson Brown,
cate a basement or attic apartment. This Jr.

PHOTO PROVIDED JOANNA SPILLER PHOTO PROVIDED JOANNA SPILLER PHOTO PROVIDED JOANNA SPILLER

Vernon Spiller in 1930. Vernon in 1970. Vernon fi shing with daughters Christine and Joanna