Senior Spotlight: Estle Finney

I was born in a small sawmill town called Forester, Arkansas on Aug. 12, 1935, to Mary and Newton Finney. I had one brother, Eston Finney, who was a heavy-duty mechanic. He passed away on June 4, 2006 in Fresno.

When I was 5 years old my parents moved from Arkansas to Visalia to find employment. I attended Deep Creek Elementary School, Visalia Senior High school (now called Mt. Whitney High School), College of Sequoias and I received a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, in business education.

During my four years of United States Air Force service I was utilized in the accounting departments at Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York and Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas.

After being discharged from the U.S. Air Force, I landed a position of accountant with Roma Winery, Fresno. This is where I was introduced to my future wife, Myrtle Storey. We were married on June 24, 1961, and now have two daughters, Diane and Linda, and six grandchildren.

In October 1971 I was transferred by American Safety Equipment to Pacoima as controller. In November 1973 I joined Wald Sound, Inc. as vice president. I later was promoted to president. During 1982, I left Wald Sound, Inc. to form my own company, Goldwood Products, Inc. I operated Goldwood Products until August 2006, when I sold the company. Myrtle and I then retired to Clovis.

As happy senior retirees, Myrtle and I keep busy with the nonprofit insurance company, Independent Order of Foresters, which we have been members for over 50 years and currently we are both officers of the Central Valley and Reno Council. My position for the past three years has been president.

During the last four years, it has been my pleasure to volunteer my services to the Clovis Senior Activity Center providing musical entertainment. I joined the Western band called “Top Dollar Music Dudes” playing lead guitar, fiddle and mandolin. We perform every Wednesday from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at the Clovis Senior Activity Center, 850 4th Street.

This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 1:29 AM with the headline "Senior Spotlight: Estle Finney."