Catherine L. Rydberg died peacefully Aug. 17, 2016 in Walnut Creek, California, where she had lived for 63 years. 

In 1922, Catherine Louise Sollmon was born in Haubstadt. 

She married Richard Gammon in 1942.  In 1945, they had a daughter, Catherine, followed by a son, James in 1948.

She is survived by her two children, a daughter-in-law, a step- daughter, four beloved grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

 She was crowned Queen for a Day in April 1964, Cathy was Queen For a Day on the popular TV show with that same name.

She worked tirelessly to help establish a special education program in the Walnut Creek school district for blind children, which included her son Jim.

She was active in Eastern Star, and supported her daughter Cathy’s work in the local chapter of the Rainbow Girls.

An accomplished violinist, Cathy performed with the Evansville Symphony in her youth, and much later, with the Diablo Philharmonic orchestra. An Avon Lady for 60 years, she sold their products until she was 92, and was the winner of multiple awards.  Richard died in 1971 and she later met Robert Rydberg whom she married in 1979.gatherings. Bob died in 2008 at 91.

 In her honor, her family is holding a private Celebration of Life.