Obituaries for the day of September 29, 2011

LOCAL FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS

Oct. 1 — Gladys Nobles, celebration of life, 3 p.m., Enterprise Elks Lodge; dinner to follow

Oct. 1 — Edith Johnson, memorial service, 2 p.m., Wallowa Christian Church

Oct. 8 — Estella West, graveside service, 2 p.m., Union Cemetery

Ralph J. Dawson

La Grande

1944-2011

Ralph John Dawson, 66, of La Grande and formerly of Junction City and Eugene, died Sept. 26 at a local care center. A family service will be held later. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Ralph was born Oct. 7, 1944, the son of Ralph E. and Elise (Wicks) Dawson in Eugene. He graduated from Junction City High School and served with the U.S. Navy.

He worked as a welder and mechanic for Ross Corp. in Eugene building logging equipment.

On Oct. 25, 1991, he married Geraldine Stone in La Grande. They moved to La Grande in 1994 and he worked as a field engineer for OPB.

He was a member of the Eagles. He loved to hunt and enjoyed fishing. His greatest hobby was woodworking, and he built many types of furniture. His spare time was always spent in his shop.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine of La Grande; son, Jamie Dawson of La Grande; stepchildren, Jeff Haxton of Eugene, Jim Haxton of Milwaukie, John Haxton of Milwaukie and Julie Hargrove of Nampa, Idaho; brothers, Gary Dawson of Junction City and Dale Dawson of Puyallup, Wash.; five grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.

Edith Johnson

Wallowa

1909-2011

Edith Johnson, 102, of Wallowa, a resident of Alpine House in Joseph for the last five years, died Sept. 24. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wallowa Christian Church. A private burial will be at Bramlet Cemetery in Wallowa. Bollman Funeral Home of Enterprise is in charge of the arrangements.

Edith was born at home Aug. 28, 1909, on Cricket Flat near Elgin, one of six children of Homer and Eunice Bechtel.

She married Charlie Johnson on June 23, 1928, in Wallowa. They had three children, Wayne, Wade and Dolores. The family moved to Elgin in the late 1930s and returned to Wallowa in 1951. Edith continued to live in Wallowa until she moved to Alpine House in 2006.

Edith worked in a planer mill, a restaurant and, in her 70s, cared for several Wallowa teachers’ children.

Survivors include her son, Wayne Johnson of Wallowa; daughter, Dolores and her husband, Bob Smith, of Wallowa; numerous nieces and nephews; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charlie Johnson; son, Wade Johnson; and siblings, Cecil Bechtel, Roy Bechtel, Clarence Bechtel, Eva Johnson and Clarice Scoubes.

Donations may be made to the Wallowa Christian Church Ladies Aid in care of The Wallowa Christian Church, 104 N. Spruce, Wallowa 97885.

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