Caroline Ellen (Goll) Purdon

Caroline Ellen (Goll) Purdon passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 in Yakima, Washington at the age of 97. She was born in Waterville, Washington January 8, 1919 to Ellen Merle (Ringheisen) Goll and Elmer Goll. As a young child she lived in: Waterville, on her grandparents homestead near Farmer; Coulee City; and Streator Il. At about 10 she moved to the Yakima Valley the place she would call home for the rest of her life. She received most of her education in Yakima, eventually as an adult earning her RN from Yakima Valley College.

She married John Purdon in Yakima July 18, 1938. During WWII they worked at the Swan Lake shipyard in Portland, Oregon. A couple of years after the war in 1947 they purchased an apple orchard in Tieton, Washington where they raised their 3 children: Alan, Mary (Sanford) and David. Both of them were active members of the Highland community. John died in 1979. A few years later Caroline sold the orchard and moved to Yakima.

At 65 Caroline retired from Memorial Hospital, as head nurse in Labor and Delivery. She immediately started her bicycling adventures. Over the course of a few years she rode in all 50 states, making 4 trips across the United States (three times with Wheel Power.) She also rode in Belgium and New Zealand. At home she was always busy: outside working in her yard or inside baking or creating with various textiles (sewing or weaving ) She also found time to cheer those who were confined to their home or bed.

Some of her formal activities included: Volunteer at North Star, Gilbert House Docent, CTA (Textiles), PEO (philanthropy), Cascadians, Fitness by Gale & Functional Fitness. She was active at several churches teaching Sunday School and serving as a deacon. Her church memberships included: Yakima First Presbyterian Church, Tieton Presbyterian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Englewood Christian Church.

All of her life Caroline lived by her faith in God. She also had a spirit of adventure and a determination to do all things with excellence, even when she had limited resources. She had a smile that warmed many hearts and a twinkle in her eyes that could bolster any spirit.

Besides her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brothers: Norman Goll and Harvey Swofford and infant great grand son, Cameron Sanford. Those surviving her include: Children: Alan Purdon, Mary Sanford (Gary) and David Purdon. Grand children: Kara (Purdon) Celeste, Keith Sanford, Laurel (Sanford) DeHaan, Ray Purdon, and ten great grandchildren.

She was thankful for the opportunity she had to complete her nursing degree as an adult, and therefore she established the Caroline Purdon Scholarship Fund at Heritage University (3240 Fort Road Toppenish WA 98948) “so that others may know the joy and fulfillment that comes from a rewarding career of service through nursing.”

Rather than flowers please reach out to someone today.

A memorial service will be held at Yakima First Presbyterian Church (Grace of Christ) 9 S. 8th Ave. Yakima, WA. at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016. To share a memory of Caroline, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.