Source; http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/21/local/me-13140 Obituaries June 21, 2001|From a Times Staff Writer Bob Wondries, whose name was synonymous with selling cars in the San Gabriel Valley for half a century, has died. He was 87. Wondries died of a heart attack Friday after surgery on a broken hip at Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale. "In Alhambra he was really one of the pioneers as far as dealerships go," said Owen Guenthard, executive director of Alhambra Chamber of Commerce. "He was a hard-working man who spoke his mind and was usually correct." Ads by Google * American Apocalypse 2011?Top analyst warns "The American way of life to end forever" You decide. www.MoneyandMarkets.com In 1947, Wondries left South Bend, Ind., where his father was president of Studebaker Corp., his son, Paul Wondries, said. He settled in Alhambra, where that year he opened Wondries Studebaker. He remained a life-long resident of the city. He purchased the Ford dealership in 1967. Throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s he expanded his business to include Toyota, Nissan and Chevrolet dealerships. He also co-owned 18 car dealerships in Northern California and Nevada, and had interest in numerous others throughout the state, Paul Wondries said. The elder Wondries served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1971, and was once a board member of Alhambra Community Hospital. In addition to his son, 58, Wondries is survived by his wife Maryly, and a daughter, Susan Catalano. A memorial service was held Wednesday.