Husband Theodore Alvin "Ted" Lusher, Jr.
Born: 21 Jan 1928 - Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Co, WA
Christened:
Died: 19 May 1966 - San Francisco, CA
Buried: - Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co, CA
Father: Theodore Alvin "Ted" Lusher, Sr. (1908-1960)
Mother: Dorothy Rose McIntosh (1906-1952)
Marriage: Abt 1948
Wife Claire Marie Craig
Born: 29 Jan 1921 - California
Christened:
Died: 7 May 1966 - San Francisco, CA
Buried: - Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co, CA
Father: [Unk] Craig ( - )
Mother: Esther Marie Rentschler (1885-1971)
Other Spouse: [Unk] Cash ( - )
Children
1 F Jeanette Carol Lusher
Born: 4 Nov 1943-1944 - San Francisco, CA
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Terry Dodds ( - )
Marr: 1965
2 F Priscilla Marie Lusher
Born: 1 Apr 1947 - San Francisco, CA
Christened:
Died: 4 Mar 1951 - San Francisco, CA
Cause of Death: Encephalitis
Buried: - Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co, CA
Spouse: Did Not Marry
3 F Lora Lynn Lusher
Born: 22 Aug 1950 - San Francisco, CA
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: [Unk] Cornellus ??? ( - )
Marr: (Divorced)
4 M Craig Andrew Lusher
Born: 5 Feb 1952 - San Francisco, CA
Christened:
Died: 28 May 1976 - Mendocino Co, CA
Buried: - Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co, CA
5 M Theodore Lance "Teddy" Lusher III
Born: 7 Sep 1960 - San Francisco, CA
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Theodore Alvin "Ted" Lusher, Jr.
The San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
May 8, 1966; sec 1, pg B
Crash Tragedy For S.F. Cop
Inspector Ted Lusher, one of the city's best known and most colorful policemen, was critically injured and his wife was killed in an intersection collision with a Greyhound bus here last night.
Lusher, 38, was in surgery late last night at Mission Emergency Hospital. As doctors struggled with massive head and internal injuries, his breathing was being assisted by mechanical means.
Mrs. Lusher, 32, was killed instantly in the collision. She was sitting in the right front seat of the unmarked police car when it entered the intersection of Eighth and Howard streets and was struck broad-side by a Los Angeles bound Greyhound bus.
THE LUSHERS have three children: Laura, 15; Craig, 13; and Ted, 5. They live at 724 McClay street, Novato.
At a late hour last night, officers were attempting to determine the facts of the accident.
All that was definitely known was that Lusher's car entered the intersection heading westward and the bus was headed south.
James Bain, 36, of Clovis, the bus driver, refused comment. He was uninjured. Two women passengers were treated and released at Mission Emergency Hospital. They were Ruth Miller, 53, of 443 Niantic street, Daly City, who suffered a sprained ankle and possible heart attack; and Elizabeth Barcas, 49, of Tracy, who was treated for bruises.
Lusher, a 17-year veteran of the Police Department, is an inspector in the Missing Persons Bureau.
DURING SEVEN years at the helm of "Solo 65," a two wheeled motorcycle, he gained several meritorious citations in a series of high speed chases and spectacular arrests.
The late Chief Frank Ahern ordered him transferred into the Inspectors Bureau in 1956. Since then he has served in many of the details of the Inspectors Bureau.
Force of the collision destroyed the police car. Witnesses said that every window in the late model sedan was shattered and it was bent almost in half.
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA
May 9, 1966; pg 11
Car-Bus Crash
Inspector Lusher Still Unconscious
Police Inspector Ted Lusher remained unconscious and in critical condition today at San Francisco General Hospital from injuries suffered Saturday evening when a bus crumpled his unmarked department car.
Lusher, 38, father of three children, suffered a fractured skull and other severe head injuries.
His wife, Claire, was killed instantly.
LUSHER'S CAR was heading west on Howard Street, siren on, when a Los Angeles-bound Greyhound bus rammed it broadside at Eighth Street.
James F. Bain of Clovis, the bus driver, told police he was nearing the intersection when he heard a siren and hit his brakes.
A passing police motorcycle officer told investigators the bus had the green light as it approached the intersection, and so did some of the 13 bus passengers, two of whom suffered minor injuries.
POLICE theorized that Lusher had picked up his wife at the Emporium where she worked and was en route to the Hall of Justice to get his own car. They were unable to find out why the siren was on - but possibly he had spotted a speeder.
When Lusher rode Solo Motorcycle 65, he received many commendations for catching speeders and wanted men. And he never had an accident.
But this was the third accident he had had since he was transferred to the Bureau of Inspectors in 1956.
Lusher suffered a back injury in 1962 when his police radio car and a truck and trailer collided at Seventh and Bryant Streets.
And he and a taxi driver were injured slightly when his car hit an island at Market and Seventh Streets and then slammed into a parked taxi in 1960.
The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
May 20, 1966
Victim of Crash
S.F. Policeman Dies of Injuries
San Francisco Police Inspector Theodore A. Lusher Jr. died at San Fancisco General Hospital last night of massive head injuries he received May 7 in a violent car-bus collision at Eighth and Howard streets.
His wife, Claire, 32, was killed instantly in the crash.
Doctors at the hospital said Lusher 38, had never regained consciousness after the crash and his condition had deteriorated steadily until death.
The Lushers were riding in an unmarked police car that was hit broadside by a Los Angeles-bound Greyhound bus in the center of the intersection. Investigation of the accident was still continuing yesterday.
Inspector and Mrs. Lusher are survived by four children, Jeanette C. Dodds, now at the Lusher residence in Novato with the three younger children, Lora, 15, Craig, 13, and Ted, 5.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lusher were held in Novato May 10. Arrangements for Inspector Lusher were pending.
Lusher, a 17-year veteran of the Police Department, was an inspector in the Missing Persons Bureau, having served previously on many other details of the Inspectors Bureau.
During seven earlier years astride a two-wheeled motorcycle, he earned several citations for meritorious duty for high speed chases and dramatic arrests.
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA
May 23, 1966; pg 62
Obituary
T. A. Lusher Jr.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow for San Francisco Police Inspector Theodore A. Lusher, Jr.
Inspector Lusher, 38, a veteran of 17 years on the police force, was injured May 7 in a bus-car crash. His wife, Clair, 32, was killed instantly in the accident. He died last Thursday without regaining consciousness.
A former solo motorcycle officer, he joined the inspector's bureau in 1956. He had received many commendations for outstanding police work.
The Lusher home was at 724 McClay St., Novato. The Lushers leave three children, Laura, 15; Craig, 13; and Ted, 5. He also is survived by his stepmother, Mrs. Gladys Lusher and sister, Mrs. Bertella Humphreys.
Masonic services will be held today at 7:30 p.m. by Pyramid Lodge 562, Free and Accepted Masons, at the Daphne - San Francisco Funeral Home, 1 Church St.
Funeral services, with the Rev. Arthur Sorenson of Novato officiating, will begin at the funeral home at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Interment will be at Olivet Cemetery in Colma.
The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
May 23, 1966; pg 46
LUSHER, Ted - May 19, 1966. Ted Lusher, Inspector S.F.P.D., beloved husband of the late Mrs. Claire Lusher, loving father of Laura L., Craig A., and Ted L. Lusher and Mrs. Jeanette Dodds, loving brother of Mrs. Bertella Betty Humphreys, grandson of Harry E. Lusher and Dorothy Lusher; stepson of Mrs. Gladys Lusher.
Evening service Monday, 7:30 p.m., auspices of Pyramid Lodge No. 562, F.&A.M. Services Tuesday, 1 p.m. daphne SFFS one church st.
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA
Nov 3, 1966; pg 3, col 1
Lusher's Orphans To Get Pension
The City Retirement Board has voted to play kindly god-father to the late Police Inspector Ted Lusher's three orphaned minor children with a major financial award.
It held unanimously yesterday that Lusher was killed in line of duty, in a police car crackup which claimed the lives of the 38 year old inspector and his wife, riding with him.
The line of duty death benefits awarded will pay the children Lusher's full police salary at the time of his death - $855 a month - for the next 12 years.
In the fatal accident last May, Lusher's police car with siren and red light both on collided with a Greyhound bus at Eighth and Howard Streets.
There was nothing to indicate if Lusher was chasing a speeder or confronted with any emergency situation.
But board members cited Lusher's past outstanding record on the force and said it could only be assumed he was on police business, and thus was killed in line of duty.
Lusher's children are Ted, 6; Craig, 14, and Lora, 16. They are being cared for by their guardian, Mrs. Jeanette Dodds, Lusher's stepdaughter.
The minor children will receive the monthly award until the youngest is 18 years old.
CA Death Record: LUSHER THEODORE A 01/21/1928 ROSE M WASHINGTON SAN FRANCISCO(90) 05/19/1966 567-28-1869
General Notes: Wife - Claire Marie Craig
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA
May 11, 1966; pg 55
Claire Lusher
Services for Claire Lusher, 45, wife of Police Inspector Theodore ("Ted") Lusher, will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Daphne's S.F. Funeral Service, 1 Church St.
Mrs. Lusher, employed at The Emporium and living at 724 Clay Road, Novato, was fatally injured Saturday when a bus crushed the unmarked police car in which she was riding with her husband at 8th and Howard Streets.
The Rev. Arthur Sorenson, All Saints Lutheran Church, Novato, will officiate.
Mrs. Lusher is survived also by children Mrs. Jeanette C. Dodds, Lora, Craig and Ted Lusher Jr., all of the Novato address. Her husband is in critical condition with a fractured skull and other injuries.
The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
May 11, 1966
Claire Lusher
Funeral services for Claire Lusher, wife of Police Inspector Theodore A. Lusher Jr., will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at Daphne San Francisco Funeral Service, 1 Church street.
The Rev. Arthur Sorenson of All Saints Lutheran Church of Novato will officiate.
Mrs. Lusher was killed in a traffic crash here last Saturday evening. Her husband remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Also surviving are four children: Jeanette C. Dodds, now at the Lusher residence in Novato with the three younger children, Lora, Craig and Ted Lusher Jr. Mrs. Lusher also is survived by her mother, Esther Marie Craig, and two sisters, Evelyn E. Bokin and Dorothey E. Van Allen, all of San Francisco.
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA
May 10, 1966; pg 51
LUSHER, Claire - May 7, 1966, Claire Lusher, loving wife of Inspector Ted Lusher; devoted mother of Mrs. Jeannette Dodds, Lora, Craig and Ted Lusher Jr, daughter of Esther Marie Craig, sister of Evelyn E. Bokin and Dorothy E. Van Allen. Aged 32 years. Services Thursday, 11 a.m. daphne SFFS one church st.
CA Death Record: LUSHER CLAIRE 01/29/1921 RENTCHLE F CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO(90) 05/07/1966 556-16-9632