West Coast Celebration of Life Held for Frank Q. Dobbs

On Sunday, March 26th, my wife Beth and I drove from the Palm Springs area, where we live, to the Simi Valley, located just over the hill from the San Fernando Valley, and a few more miles from Los Angeles proper. We went to pay our respect to our dear friend, my one-time script-writing partner, Frank Q. Dobbs.

The west coast memorial - there had been another in Texas on March 11th - was held at the Simi Valley Stages, home to Larry Levinson Productions, a motion picture and television company where Frank often worked.

Fittingly, the studio is located directly across the street from the old entrance to Corriganville. The wagon wheel gate is all that remains of that famed Western movie ranch, once owned by Republic Pictures' Western Star, Ray "Crash" Corrigan. Hundreds of films, mostly B-Westerns, were filmed there over the years, and I'll wager Frank Dobbs had seen most of them.

The studio flew Frank's daughter Holly and her husband to California for the life-celebration; they were joined by several hundred others, Frank’s close friends and co-workers. It was a happy occasion, as Frank would have wanted it. Food and drinks were offered, then many of those paying respect spoke fondly of Frank from the podium, while a special slide show depicting Frank's life and career played on several large television screens in the background.

Prayers were spoken, both aloud and silent. Many of Frank's friends met in person for the first time. New friendships were formed, some tears were shed. It was a beautiful day for remembering such a beautiful man. Frank was there, by the way. He wouldn't have missed it for anything. We could all feel his presence.

Now, he rests in peace.