Memorial

Peggy Sanders 1934-2009

Longtime resident of Lindsay, Peggy Sanders passed away on March 2, 2009 at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo surrounded by her loving family. Born January 28, 1934 in Lindsay California she attended Lindsay schools graduating from Lindsay High School. As a returning student she graduated cum laude from Fresno State University with a degree in Speech Communications.

Her business affiliations were numerous and she was a licensed Real Estate Broker and owned and operated her own business, Sanders and Company with her husband Bill. She was active in community activities from an early age and was a life member of PTA. She was a founding member and past president of the Lindsay Community Theater, the Lindsay Mural Committee, past president of the Porterville Toastmasters, past president of the Lindsay Cultural Arts Association and member of AAUW. In addition she served for many years on the Orange Blossom Festival Committee in many capacities including float design and building. In 2000 she received the AAUW Community Service award. Three times she was named Lindsay Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 1974, 1987 and 2000. In 2004 she was named California State 34th Assembly District Woman of the Year. Peggy served on the Lindsay City Council from 1978 to 1986 and was Mayor of Lindsay 1984 to 1986. She loved her community and the people in it.

Peggy was the driving force behind the movement to buy the Old Lindsay Theater and to change it from a movie theater to a play house. From 1983 until her death in 2009, she was an avid supporter of the theater, even after moving to Morro Bay. She appeared in many productions, most notably Music Man, Arsenic and Old Lace, and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. 

Hal Munter 1925-2012 

Harold “Hal” E. Munter was born March 6, 1925 in Madera to Harry and Belle Munter. He was raised and attended school there graduating in 1942. He married Helen Joyce Owen on May 22, 1949 in Carson City, Nev. Hal owned and operated Munter Music in Madera and Vallejo with his sister for many years. In 1960, Hal and Helen moved to Helen’s hometown of Lindsay where he worked for Perma Rain Irrigation. Helen went to work at her alma mater and taught at Lindsay High School for 22 years before retiring in 1984.

With Helen working at the high school and his love of football and baseball, Hal began volunteering his time with Lindsay High School Boosters Club. As president in 1971, Hal spearheaded the effort to move Lindsay’s home football games from the Olive Bowl Park to the high school campus. He led the fund-raising effort to build the stadium, purchase stadium lights and then helped construct the bleachers at Frank Skadan Stadium.

Hal retired from his own Agri-Mall Irrigation company in 1981. Yet in retirement, Hal was often busier than when he was working.

Involved in theatre as a high school student, Hal became one of the founding members of the Lindsay Community Theater (LCT) in 1983 and served as treasurer continuously since its inception. Shortly after his passing, the theater’s website changed its home page to an “In Loving Memory” tribute to Hal featuring a photograph of him and the cast of “Never Too Late,” a play which Hal directed in October 1992. In all, Hal directed 17 and co-directed two of the theater’s over 200 plays, including productions through Lindsay High School drama.

Jeff said his father was extremely dedicated to the success of the LCT, and in the beginning, it was a struggle to keep it alive.

“He was a big part of holding the Lindsay Community Theater together,” Jeff said of his father, who at times served as both manager and treasurer. “The very existence today of the Lindsay Community Theater is very heavily attributed to his dedication.”