Stories from Ashes Found at an Ocean Beach Car Wash

Since news broke last week of the cremated remains of Henry Renaud Lefebvre found at the OB Suds Car Wash on Voltaire Street, the story has circled the world.

It was reported that the owner of the car wash found the remains left behind by a patron six months ago, was waiting for them to be claimed, but because nobody did, he handed the ashes over to the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association on October 22. The car-wash owner said he had called the police to come pick them up, but they never did.

In an interview with Denny Knox, executive director of the mainstreet association, she said she has had over 30 phone calls from all over the country, and even internationally, about Lefebvre’s remains.

An Erlene Lefebvre called the mainstreet association from Australia, claiming to be Henry's niece. She said the remains may have been stolen in a robbery, but she wasn't sure. She said the ashes were supposed to be interred at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California, where the family has a plot, and where Henry's wife is allegedly buried. Erlene said Henry’s wife was his caretaker before they were married and that Henry had no children. Erlene has a relative who lives in Arizona, where Henry was born, and that person contacted her and told her of the discovery.

Genealogy buffs have picked up on the story and found Henry's obituary in the May 6, 1997, Orange County Register. Henry was reportedly born on October 30, 1900, and was 94 years old at the time of his death. He went to USC and played on their football team. He also served in WWII. It is believed that Henry is the uncle of baseball player Jim Lefebvre, who was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1965 and played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.