Obituaries
Kulwant Dhaliwal, retired District 6 Construction employee
Courtesy of Kulwant's family
Note: The following obituary was shared with District 6 employees in an email on Sept. 11.
With deep sadness and a heavy heart, you all are informed of the passing of our dear colleague and friend Kulwant Dhaliwal on Sept. 5.
He was 78.
Kulwant started his career at Caltrans District 6 in 1992 in Bakersfield Construction Office. After 23 years of state service, he retired in May 2015. Upon retirement he kept himself busy with his family, gardening (very passionate) and long walks in the park adjoining his house.
Kulwant was enthusiastic, energetic, encouraging, passionate, humorous, happy, always smiling, and willing to help anyone in need. He touched so many people in so many ways and made everyone who knew him laugh with the stories he shared.
Kulwant lived a full life, filled with joy and happiness. He is survived by his only daughter, Dupinder Kaur Chahal, grandkids and friends.
Christopher Willard Martin, retired Caltrans supervisor
Courtesy of Christopher's family
Note: The following obituary was posted on the Marshall Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel website earlier this year.
Retired Caltrans employee Christopher Willard Martin, 72, of Pismo Beach passed away unexpectedly at Marian Regional Medical Hospital in Santa Maria on April 4.
Chris was born to Leslie and Willard Martin on May 25, 1950, in Sutter Creek. He spent his young life traveling the globe from Okinawa to Germany as an “Army brat,” but California was always home.
Chris graduated from Jackson High School in Jackson in 1968. He was known to be a loving parent and involved member of the community, who coached Little League when his children were young and played in local softball leagues, where he was legendary on the field.
He completed an impressive 40 years of service with Caltrans, working to keep people and the environment safe as a HazMat and storm water drainage specialist among other roles, and retired as a supervisor.
Always quick to laugh and smile, Chris spent his life making friends everywhere he went. An avid golfer, Chris could often be found out on the course with friends, or at his beloved Pismo Beach Moose Lodge. Traveling was also his passion, between baseball fields and golf courses, he was always on the road to new adventures. He loved hosting gatherings, spending time with friends and family, meeting new people, watching sports and cheering on his favorite team, the Baltimore Orioles. Chris had a warm heart; to know him was to be his friend.
Chris will be remembered as a loyal family member and friend, a wonderful father and an incredible “G-pa” to his three grandchildren. An irreplaceable source of good times and love, he is sorely missed.
He is survived by his loving fiancee, Maxine; his children, Tony and Maren; his daughter-in-law Miki; his sisters, Karen, Meghan and Lisa; his grandchildren, Gavin, Hannah and Lily; his nieces and nephews; and many lifelong friends. He is predeceased by his best friend, Willie “Uncle Bill” Perales.