Pearl Marie Lilyard

Pearl was born in the Ledyard, Iowa area on Valentines Day, 1923. She was a farm girl, one of 9 children born to Ray and Alberdena Wentworth. During WWII she joined the Navy as a Corpsman and was stationed in Philadelphia for the duration of the war. She married Frank Lilyard Jr., and he continued his career in the Navy. They were stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, Stockholm, Sweden, San Diego, California, and Stuttgart, Germany. In 1975 she moved back to Coronado, CA and pursued a career in the Federal Government. She retired and moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2001.

Pearl was smart, funny, independent, and adventurous. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She never met a baby she didn’t love or a child who did not adore her.

Pearl loved to dance. Square dance was her favorite style. She was often seen in her white VW bug with her square dance petticoat filling the interior. Music would always start her feet tapping and moving to the rhythm.

In retirement she continued to travel, even into her 80s. Her trips included China, Mongolia, Russia, and Europe.

Pearl created wonderful homes wherever the Navy sent her family. Her hobbies included sewing, crochet, and baking. Every year the family looked forward to her Christmas fruitcake. Her pies and fried chicken were legendary.

Pearl is survived by her daughters Corinne Lilyard-Mitchell (Derrick), Caroline Lilyard (Jeff),grandchildren Cameron Mitchell (Melissa), Aaron Mitchell (Kendra), Matthew Tajbakhsh (Carolina), Jessica Tajbakhsh, and Adrienne Ables Sinclair (nee Mitchell) (Chris) and great-grandchildren Keely Jobe (Wyland), Kellan Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell, Lexi Mitchell, Sienna Mitchell, Ali Tajbakhsh, Kian Tajbakhsh, and siblings Delbert Wentworth, Vivian McDermott, and Butch Wentworth.