(CLAIR) – Simi Valley has lost a dear soul, John Becker passed away on Sunday, February 12, 2023. He was just a few months shy of his 89th birthday.
Every year since 1964, John and his beloved wife, Phyllis Becker, created a winter wonderland that had become an important part of our Simi Valley Christmas tradition. The family brightened up the lives and filled the hearts of Simi Valley residents with joy and happiness for over five decades.
The iconic Becker Christmas House at 1332 Sycamore Drive in Simi Valley, was a place where children of all ages could find their moment of holiday peace and happiness every year during the month of December.
John was a structural engineer for Rocketdyne, which later became Boeing. He retired after working there for 50 years. His background in engineering gave him the skills to design and create the holiday displays with moving animations and captivating visual effects.
Phyllis Becker passed away in March of 2022 from Alzheimer’s-related illness. Last year, over 300 locals gathered in a vigil at the Sycamore home to express their love and condolences.
John and Phyllis started their holiday display in the mid-sixties, with a simple cardboard box train. When Phyllis asked John to motorize the wheels on her cardboard train, they never looked back. Every year, they created a bigger and better display, filled with lights, garlands, homemade candy cutouts, lollipops, floats, movie and cartoon characters, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and even a Santa Express train. Families traveled from all around Southern California to see and wonder at the Becker Christmas House.
John and Phyllis were an amazing, creative couple who wanted to bring joy to others. They spent many months preparing and several days setting up and decorating their home for Christmas. They also presented smaller displays at Halloween and Easter.
Despite the rumors, John never worked for Disney, but Phyllis was once offered a job with the company around the time Disneyland first opened. John and Phyllis met cruising on Van Nuys Boulevard in the late 1950s. They married and were together for 56 years. They had two children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
John had many long-time friends and neighbors, and was a kind, giving person who always put others before himself. He was fortunate to meet later in life a lovely woman, Cindy, who became his girlfriend and companion.
The Becker Christmas House was a cherished part of Simi Valley’s community for 50 years and an important piece of our city’s history. John and Phyllis were a blessing to the Simi Valley community, and they will be missed.
I’ve lived in Simi Valley my Whole Life – I’ve Always been Amazed with the Extensive Work and Creativity of this Massive Christmas Display (I’ve Always wondered how many Car Accidents have happened on Sycamore Dr. in front of this Wonderful House ???). So Impressive!!! So Wonderful!!! So Happy & Joyful!!! – Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, John & Phyllis for the Annual JOY you’ve brought to Simi Valley for the Many, Many Decades > your Talent(s) will NEVER be Forgotten ! ! !