Leonard Carrol Vorhis was born August 30, 1917 in Torrance, California to Mr. and Mrs. Don Vorhis. He lived at 3730 Garnet Street and graduated from Narbonne High School in 1938. Vorhis enlisted and served in the U.S. Army from 1937 to 1940. On October 16, 1940, he was drafted by Selective Service Board No. 280 into the California National Guard and served until 1945, when he reenlisted into the Army. In the California National Guard he was Platoon Sergeant of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 39th Regiment. In March 1946 he was medically discharged from the Army by Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco and died May 18, 1946 in the Navy Hospital in Long Beach from illness.

Before joining the military, Vorhis was active in the Torrance community, especially through his music. He was part of the Narbonne Jazz Orchestra and the PV Symphony. He also performed at the Narbonne St. Patrick’s party in March 1940, the Torrance Woman’s Club home talent variety show in November 1936, and the semi-annual open formal installation of Torrance Chapter of the Order of DeMolay at Masonic Temple in February, 1941. He was also a part of the Narbonne Letterman Club.

On December 3, 1941, Vorhis married Ivy Rosalind at Methodist Church in Redondo Beach. Even during his military service he served the City of Torrance. On July 18, 1944 he was part of the Torrance State Armory dedication and public demonstration. During this event members of Vorhis’ company displayed military equipment to visitors, with Vorhis specifically displaying a Tommy gun.

Leonard Vorhis’ funeral was on March 23, 1946 at Stone & Myers Mortuary and he is buried at Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach. He was survived by his parents, his daughter Carol Lynne Vorhis, his two brothers Charles and Norval, and his two sisters, Dorothy and Hazel.

Research by Noah Kim.