Lila Catherine Koppel

Lila C. Koppel was born in Pennsylvania on August 30, 1926 to Sylvia Johnston. Lila was known to most as Kay and to family as Ming or Mom or Grandma. Kay passed away at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital on August 6, 2022 just a few weeks shy of her 96th birthday.

Kay spent her childhood on a farm near Franklin, Pennsylvania with her adopted dad, Theodore Adams. Kay graduated from Franklin High School in 1944 and married her high school sweetheart Curtis John (Jack) Koppel on April 13, 1946. Kay and Jack were married nearly 73 years until Jack’s passing in 2019. Their three children Curtis, Ray, and Patty were born in Franklin. Kay and Jack moved their young family to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1953.The family moved again, this time to San Diego, California in 1960.

Kay went back to school after her children were raised and worked at Mesa Junior College in San Diego helping adults learn to read. She made an impact on many young adults. Jack retired in 1988 and they moved to McMinnville, Oregon to spend time with Jack’s brother and then to Yakima, Washington to be near some of their children and grandchildren.When their youngest grandchild graduated from high school they moved back to sunny California.

Kay and Jack moved back to Yakima in 2015 and resided at Living Care Retirement Community until February 2019. At that time Kay moved into Blossom Place Assisted Living Community. Kay moved to Fieldstone Memory Care in November 2021.

Kay and Jack loved to travel. Their favorite vacation spot was Hawaii, but they also enjoyed visiting their son Curtis in Saladitas, Mexico and Santa Cruz, California. And they went on several cruise ships and tours, including trips to Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe.They loved spending time with their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.

Kay was an avid reader and she loved music. She never learned to play an instrument but she loved to listen to all kinds of music and she would sing along if she knew the lyrics. Kay spent countless hours knitting, crocheting, quilting, doing needlework, stamping/card making,and making crafts of all kinds.

Kay is survived by her sons Curtis (Marianne) Koppel of Santa Cruz, CA and Ray (Linda) Koppel of Casa Grande, AZ; and daughter Patty (Jim) Dobbie of Yakima, WA. Kay is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Heather (Rick) Valtee, Thornton (Theresa) Koppel, Corinne Koppel, James Dobbie, Rachel (Mike) Hawkins and Jared Dobbie; 13 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Shirley Caplinger of Georgia. Kay is predeceased by her husband Jack Koppel and by her brother Bob Colwell.

A remembrance luncheon will be held for Kay on Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Tieton Drive Bible Chapel, 4305 Tieton Drive, Yakima, WA 98908. The luncheon will take place in the fellowship hall downstairs.

Our family thanks the care-givers at Fieldstone Memory Care, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, and Blossom Place Assisted Living for the great care they provided for Mom. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Cottage in the Meadow, Yakima, WA.