Edith Viola Brintnall Updike

On January 9, 2013, our Heavenly Father welcomed His daughter, Edith Viola (Brintnall) Updike, home to Heaven. She was 91. Edith, better known as "Viola" or "Vi", was born March 21, 1921, in Fairview, OK to James Emerson and Mary Martha Brintnall. Their family moved to Craig, CO in 1923, then to a homestead 17 miles north of Maybell, CO.

Vi attended school in Maybell until her junior year at which time she moved back to Craig to finish high school, graduating in 1938. She attended Mesa Junior College for two years, going on to graduate from Western State College with a Bachelor's degree in education in 1943. She also worked in the Moffat County assessor's office for three years and the County Superintendents office for two years. She began her teaching career at Craig Elementary School, teaching second grade for 30 years.

She married Orville Updike in 1943. They had two daughters, Saundra (Ward) Holderness and Sonya (Demetrio) Salazar. Vi had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and was born again and baptized in 1975, which changed the course of her life. She felt led to take early retirement in 1977, and she and Orville moved to Grand Junction, CO. She began to use her teaching skills doing private tutoring, then moved into a new career of volunteering at a Christian Thrift store for a few years, the Pregnancy Center for two years, then holding Bible class/studies at various care facilities in the Grand Valley for 20 years, as well as ministering at a facility for those with head injuries. She was faithful to follow the Lord's call on her life to help those she met "find their way home to Heaven". She became a member of First Assembly of God church in 1982, and was very active in Ladies Bible studies and activities, attending services regularly. She also enjoyed writing poetry, having a poem published and took up painting as well as playing pinochle and bridge. She provided many fun times and activities for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when she had the opportunity, and attended many sports and other activities they were involved in whenever possible, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She never learned to drive and was a familiar figure around town, known to walk rather long distances to hold a Bible study, visit and pray with shut-ins in assisted living or nursing facilities and to be an encouragement whenever possible.

Orville passed away in 2004, and she moved to the Pueblo Retirement Center in Pueblo, CO in April, 2008 to be near Saundra and other family members. She talked often of the power, favor and awesomeness of God that she experienced during this time of transition. Upon requiring more care - although her mind remained very sharp - we found a wonderful place called Gingrich Home for the Elderly in Farmington, NM, close to Sonya and family, where she received kind, loving, compassionate care until her time of moving home to Heaven, with all of us visiting as often as possible. We are so grateful for the wonderful care she received.

She was preceded in death by her parents; in-law parents; her husband, Orville; sisters, Olive and Beulah; brothers, Duard, Bob, Harold (Mary), Ronald (Viola) and Warren (Kay); also her first grandchild, Danette RaNae; great-grandchild, Skye Diamond; son-in-law, Ward Holderness; brother-in-law, Vernon Updike, and sister-in-law, Ella Marques.

Along with Saundra of Pueblo, and Sonya and Demetrio of LaPlata, NM, those remaining are grandchildren, Troy (Patti) Salazar, Kimberly Salazar, Demetrio Salazar, Jr., Fred (Michelle) Holderness, Kandace (Greg) Peterhans, and Krystal (Shawn) Nakamura; great-grandchildren, Skye Matthew and Shawn Salazar, JoRae (Carlos) Sedillo and their children, Aspen, Angel, Genesis and Lorenzo, Demetrio III (or Trio), and Canyon Salazar, Justin and Landon Holderness, Chandler Holderness, Bryce and Ashton Peterhans, Jett, Jarett and Jace Nakamura; sisters-in-law, Flo Brintnall and Ruth Updike, Elwin and Maxine Updike, and Marvin and Maxine Updike, as well as many nieces and nephews dear to her heart along with many other relatives and friends. We will all miss her presence in our lives.

Services will be on Saturday, January 19, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. at Faith Heights Church, 600 281/4 Rd., Grand Junction, CO. In lieu of flowers or food, please send donations to Gingrich Home for the Elderly, 27 Rd 5577, Farmington, NM 87401. Arrangements under the care of Martin Mortuary in Grand Junction, CO.