Former Scotts Valley resident Louis Billars died in San Jose last week.
Mr. Billars was born and raised in Kaylor, S.D. He loved math, music and baseball and played semi-pro ball. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Yankton College, S.D., and a master’s degree from Stanford University.
He became at teacher in South Dakota, where he met his future wife, Fern Evelyn Havlena. The couple dated for a year before Mr. Billars was drafted into military service and transferred to Southern California. He asked her to join him, and they were married April 10, 1942, in La Jolla.
They were together 65 years, during which time Mr. Billars spent several years in active military duty in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he devoted his career to teaching and administration in the California school system.
Mr. Billars is survived by two children, Antoinette Kovacs of Saratoga and Stephen Billars of San Francisco; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by wife Fern and daughter Susan.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to a charity of the donor’s choice.
