Obituaries for April 15, 2009

Elsie Whelchel

Entombment was today at River View Cemetery in Portland.

Elsie Johns Whelchel was born on Sept. 23, 1910, at Smith Center, Kan., to Clyde Carleton Johns and Minnie Belle Nichols. A farm family, in 1918 they moved to the bench at Emmett, Idaho.

Elsie attended Emmett High School and the College of Idaho, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music. She married her high school sweetheart, Harold Carver Whelchel in 1933. Carver also attended the College of Idaho and graduated with a degree in music.

They traveled to several towns in Idaho teaching music and finally settled at Lake Oswego in the early 1940s.

Elsie started a private musical kindergarten in 1948. While caring for 3- to 5-year-old children, she also taught them music. At each graduation ceremony all the children would march in a parade with their drums, triangles and sticks accompanying a Philip Sousa march. She finally sold the business after 20 years of teaching.

Elsie was an accomplished pianist and a longtime member of Portland Music Clubs. She didn’t start playing a church pipe organ until her 40s. She was the organist for the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church for 40 years, tried to retire, but the Stafford Baptist Church heard she was available and asked her to be their organist. She was their church organist for another 15 years.

Elsie moved to Baker City in 2007 to be closer to her daughter, Janice Cowan.

Survivors include a sister, Elva Bass of Boise; a daughter, Janice Cowan of Baker City; sons, Carleton Whelchel of Palmdale, Calif., and James Whelchel of San Francisco; 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Maxine Tura; her husband, Harold Carver Whelchel; two brothers, Marion and Richard Johns; and a sister, Lily Dresser.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church Music Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.

Elmer Schulz

 There will be a celebration of life graveside service at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Elmer was born on April 22, 1918, at Portland (Garden Home) to Harry Schulz and Elva Ellen McCormick Schulz.

He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. His service included New Guinea, the Philippines and the occupation of Japan. He also served in the Oregon National Guard, rising to the rank of master sergeant.

After the war, Elmer began his civilian career working for Pacific Northwest Bell for 34 years until he retired at 62. Elmer was assigned to the University of Oregon at Eugene during the last several years of his phone company career. He and his wife had lived in Oregon in Baker City, Sisters and the Portland area most of their lives.

Elmer was an active member of the First Christian Church in Baker City for many years. He loved the Lord all his life.

Survivors include his wife, Vina M. Schulz, whom he married on May 6, 1948; his daughter, Flora L. Schulz Wade, and her husband, Charles E. Wade, of Portland; his only brother, Keith Schulz, and Keith’s son, Terry Schulz, and Terry’s wife, Nanette; his granddaughter, Miriam L. Bradetich, and her husband, Terry Bradetich, of Springfield; four great-grandchildren, Russell A. Wade, and his wife, Staci Wade, of Portland and their children, Elmer’s great-great-grandchildren, Madison, Austin and Blake Wade, Floyd DeWayne “Rocky” Montgomery Jr. of Portland, Myndi L. Montgomery of Eugene and Teddy Jean Montgomery and his son, Elmer’s other great-great-grandson, Keelynn Montgomery, of Gresham.

Patricia Thompson

Pat was born on Sept. 8, 1937, near Halfway to Gene and Florence Ryall. She received most of her primary and secondary schooling in or near Halfway. She graduated from high school at Brownsville in 1955.

After a period of time as a switchboard operator at the Benson Hotel in Portland, she joined the U.S. Navy where she trained as a radioman. As a member of an All Navy Talent Show, Pat toured numerous cities throughout the United States.

A highlight of the group’s tour was an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (Kirk Douglas was standing in for Sullivan). Pat had the privilege of singing a solo of “Wayward Wind,” as well as participating in the group singing on national television.

Pat received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in December 1959. She worked for Pepsi Cola in Washington, D.C., before returning to Oregon in 1962.

Pat married Norman Thompson on Sept. 8, 1962, at the Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Their first son, Blaine, was born at Corvallis in 1964, and their second son, Clayton, was born at Bakersfield, Calif., in 1965.

Pat treasured her many friends, especially those in Gabbs, Nev., and the surrounding area. She was proud of her service in the U.S. Navy, as an EMT at Dorris, Calif., and as a member of the Baker County Fair Board. Moreover, she was proud of her family, and we are proud of her.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Norman, of Gabbs, Nev.; sons, Blaine of Las Vegas, Nev., and Clayton of Portland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker County Fair Board through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.