Lon A Varnadore

and passed away on March 22, 2023 at home in Huntington Beach, California.

Lon’s family settled in Fircrest, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960 with a letter in football. Lon attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington from 1960-1964. He was a tackle on the school’s “Fighting Missionaries” football team and a Phi Delta Theta brother. Lon enjoyed sharing tales of collegiate pranks; for example when he and his fraternity brothers devised a way to raise over a dozen tires onto the school’s flagpole in the middle of the night. He graduated from Whitman College with a Bachelor of Arts in history… and in the last year minored in bridge.

From 1966-1968, Lon was enlisted in the United States Army. He had particularly fond memories of his six month tour of duty in Seoul, South Korea. It was there that he discovered his life long enjoyment of photography. After discharge, Lon was employed in the insurance business and was President at Western Re-Insurance when he retired in 2012.

Lon traveled frequently for business as well as for enjoyment with his family; crossing the globe multiple times. It was on a trip overseas that he learned about fine timepieces and started collecting manual watches. He was voracious reader who appreciated various genres. Lon began working with a personal trainer in his seventies and could be seen riding his bike and running through the hills of Palos Verdes and then Huntington Beach.

Lon was preceded in death by his mother Anita Cannon, father Lon A, and wife Lonnie Francis “Fran.” He is survived by sister Tomi Cranton, daughters Jacqui Weeks and Leigh Moser, step-daughter Cheryl Gurule, son Lon Edward and wife Elaine.