The long and rich life of Louis S. Hayward, 97, came to a peaceful end on December 31, 2014 at his home in Twin Falls with his 3 children by his side
He was born on February 12, 1917 in Burbank, CA to Julian and Ruth Hayward. He was raised in Glendale CA where he lived for 78 of his 97 years including residing in the same house with his parents and one brother until he had completed his junior year of college. Louis graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale with the winter class of 1935. After spending several weeks in business school, Louis enrolled at UCLA as part of the class of 1939. Louis pledged Theta Xi. During the time on campus, Louis was able to make his grades each semester and served in various chapter offices, including President and Pledge Master. He graduated with a BA in Political Science.
After graduation, Louis decided to join his father in the insurance brokerage business. He worked in this field for about 2 years before he was drafted into the Army in September 1941. During the war, Louis served in various posts and positions, ultimately becoming a Company Commander of a Quartermaster Co. attached to the 3rd Army (Patton), landing on the European continent D-day + 40. His company served as a 3rd Army support unit across France and into Germany. During the military campaign, Louis met his future wife, however their relationship didn’t blossom until after the war. When peace was declared in both the European and Pacific theaters, Louis was separated from the service as a Major. Louis returned to his home in Glendale and resumed his association with his father in the insurance brokerage business. In 1946, Louis was able to rekindle his friendship with Dorothy “Dossie” Leigh, who served as a nurse in the 30th Field Hospital in Europe. This friendship blossomed into love and they married Feb. 16, 1947 and established their home in Glendale, CA. They had three children, Stephen, and twin girls, Leigh and Nancy.
Louis continued his business career until retiring at age 77 leaving a successful insurance agency, Hayward, Tilton and Rolapp that is still in business today. Louis was a member of the Optimist Club serving as President; past member of the Board of the Glendale Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, member in good standing in the Jewel City Lodge F&A.M. Glendale; and Oakmont CC. Louis served as President of the Glendale Jr. Chamber of Commerce in 1948 and was selected as Glendale Outstanding Young Man in 1949. In 1969, Louis was elected President of the Glendale Insurance Agents Assoc. Louis was also very active in Republican politics, serving for many years as a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Republican Central Committee.
After 78 years living in Glendale, Louis and Dossie moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where they resided for 12 years. There they made many new friends, enjoyed an active social life and Louis was able to pursue his love of golf. During their lifetime together, Louis and Dossie along with their children spent many wonderful summers on Warm Springs Creek near Ketchum. This ultimately led to their purchase of land in the Warfield homestead on which they built their log home in 1975. During the summers that followed, they enjoyed entertaining their numerous friends at the Rockin’ LH, attending the Jazz Festival and many beautiful rides in the Smokey and Boulder Mountains with their horses….and of course golf.
In 2007, due to Dossie’s health issues, they moved from AZ to Twin Falls to be near their children. Louis and Dossie were members of the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum but after moving to Twin Falls, called the First Baptist Church their church family.
Louis is survived by his 3 children, Stephen Hayward of Pocatello; Leigh (Jerry) Josephsen of Buhl; Nancy (Doug) Strand of Twin Falls; four grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Louis was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Dorothy L. Hayw