After Wa-Hi, I enrolled at WSU where I managed to flunk out three straight semesters. Joined the army and during the three years there learned I should have studied harder at Wazzu. Went back to WSU and was graduated in 1967 with a degree in Business and Economics. Moved to Seattle for a series of ho-hum jobs until becoming Director of Material for a large commercial bakery forecasting, negotiating and contracting for everything required to run a large commercial bakery. In January of 1978 after a few years of this, I noticed the sky was gray, my office walls were gray, the carpet was gray and my outlook, well.... Spotted the Wall Street Journal on a shelf and noticed an ad under the "Help Wanted" section saying, "Visit Exotic Saudia Arabia" and in April of that year I was landing at an airport half way around the world that brought a whole new meaning to the term "Foreign Country". Lived and worked in the Persian Gulf area off and on for eighteen years in Construction Management building offshore oilwell platforms and the connecting pipelines. Travelled a lot during this period enjoying the proximity to access new lands and cultures and, at times, opening very wide the eyes of this Walla Walla lad. Retired to Seattle in 1996 and, unfortunately, took up Golf, the bane of my existence.
The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.Send Jerry a Message
LindaKnapp (Stump)
Then
2012-07-11 22:26:49
Deceased
Funeral services for the late Mrs. Jerry Stump (M. Linda Knapp), 29, who was killed in a one-car accident Saturday near Spokane along with two of her children, was at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Spokane.
Linda and her husband were both 1959 Wa-Hi graduates. After her graduation from high school, she was employed by the Walla Walla District of the U.S. Army Engineers. Stump is an insurance salesman and was transferred to Spokane from Beverton about five years ago.
In addition to her husband, Jerry L., at the home Mrs. Stump is survived by a son Eric Scott, 2, the lone survivor of the accident; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Knapp of Olympia; and a brother, Larry Knapp of Los Angeles. Her two children that were also killed were Jefferey Michael, 5, and Jennifer Jo, 7.
(from obit dated 31 May, 1971)
GregKoehler
Then
July 02, 19402012-07-11 22:26:47
Deceased
Union-Bulletin, 27 July, 1964
Rare Ailment is Fatal for Gregory Koehler at Age 24
Gregory K. Koehler died in a local hospital Sunday at age 24 after several months' illness.
The young father, who was born and educated here, succumbed to aplasia, a form of anemia in the bone marrow. There have been numerous blood donations for him during his illness, many by persons unknown to the family, for which the grieving parents expressed their thanks Monday.
Greg was born here July 2, 1940, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Koehler. Other survivors include his wife, Beth Ann, and a daughter, Kim, at home; a sister, Mrs. Robert (Sheri) Fouts of College Place; two brothers, Gary, of Los Angeles, and Jeff, of Walla Walla; and a niece and two nephews.
A member of Christ Lutheran Church, Koehler was a graduate of Walla Walla High School. He served three years in the U.S. Army, two of the years in Germany. Since his discharge he had been employed by Tum-A-Lum Lumber Co.
Service was held in the Marshall (Herring) chapel with the Rev. Edward Wagner of Christ Lutheran Church officiating. Vault interment was in Mountain View Cemetery.
Joan EKooreny (Stimmel)
Then
Now
2022-10-29 20:34:49
DECEASED
Joan Elizabeth (Kooreny) (Ray) Stimmel was born on February 12, 1941, to Jack Kooreny and Norma Wilson in Minot, North Dakota. They moved to Walla Walla when she was about two years old.
Joan went to Baker Elementary School, Pioneer Junior High, and graduated from Wa-Hi in 1959. She went to Northwestern College in Kirkland, WA, for two years. Joan met Don Ray in 1962. She raised two sons: Steven D. Ray and Gregory E. Ray.
Steve met and married Wendy Allyn Sparks on May 23, 1992, in Salem, OR. They have a son Andy who is still single and living in Portland, OR. They also have a daughter McKenzie who married Cameron O’Neil on June 18, 2016, in Stayton, OR, and they have a daughter Lilias Cameron.
Greg met and married Debbie (Henry) (Gouge) on April 28, 1990, in Spokane, WA. Debbie has a son, Trever Gouge. He has two sons: Caius and Cayden, and a daughter Samantha. Greg and Deb have a daughter, Amanda, who met and married Chad Florance on October 24, 2010, in Spokane, WA. They have four children: Anna, Cheyenne, Gunner, and Blaze.
Joan had three brothers: James A., David, and Donald R. Jim never married, and Dave and Joellen had one son Joy. Donny and Sandy had two daughters: Paula, Lisa, and one son, Michael.
Joan was a Sunday School Teacher off and on for several years. She was a member of the 1st Assembly of God in Walla Walla, Presbyterian Church in College Place and Spokane, and Baptist Church in Salem and McMinnville, OR.
She loved going to the Oregon Coast, Silver Falls in Oregon, Little walks on Mill Creek, Balloon Stampedes, The Blue Angeles, watching children playing in the park playground, looking at the birds and ducks at Pioneer Park, and just going for rides in the car.
We started watching Adrian Rogers for our Sunday Worship Time.
Joan was reacquainted with H. Dennis Stimmel, and they were married on July 24, 1983. Dennis has two daughters, Lori Bixby and Kim Reeser, and one son, Jon Stimmel. Granddaughters: Emily, Jessica, Bonnie, Sha-Re, two grandsons, Nathan and Zebulun, and two great-grandsons, Landon and Koehn.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 10:30 AM at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens.
Memorial donations may be made to Caring Hands Adult Family Home, Walla Walla Community Hospice, and Community Services through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla.
Arrangements are pending at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla.
Karan (Bill)LaBadie
Then
April 11, 19392012-07-12 01:27:52
Deceased
Karan L. (Bill) LaBadie -- June 16 at his late residence, of College Place, aged 17 years. Son of Mrs. Charlea Nelson of Pasco; brother of DaVerle LaBadie and Lourine LaBadie, both of Walla Walla; nephew of Cyril LaBadie of Seaside, Ore.
Born April 11, 1939 in Washington. Private funeral services were held at the DeWitt Chapel with Interment in Mountain View cemetery. Elder, C.C. Rouse officiating.