Edith Elizabeth Litrap

Edith was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on February 6, 1933. She was an adventurous, courageous and fun-loving person. She was only 20 years old when she left her homeland in Germany with her infant daughter (Ida), traveling by ship to New York to join her husband, whom she had met while working at the American base in Frankfurt. An excerpt in her journal reads:

The day before we were due to arrive in New York, we were told to be on top deck at daybreak if we wanted to see New York in the distance. I set my alarm, got Sissy ready and up we went. What a great sight, and so much excitement on board – it was wonderful!

Being the wife of a military man, she learned to pack and move quickly. A note attached to a recent gift to her daughter reads “This dish I received in 1947 when I was confirmed in Langen [Germany]. Since then, it has been packed and moved many times.”

After arriving in the United States on July 9, 1953, Edith’s journey took her to Missouri, California, Minnesota (where Wayne was born in 1956), and Washington state, along with many trips back home to Germany to visit high school friends and family. She and her young family arrived in Seattle in 1957 (where Barbara was born in 1958). In 1961, Edith began working at Grange Insurance Association, and remained a loyal and hard-working employee until her retirement as a supervisor in 1995.

Church membership was important to Edith, and over the years she was a member of Central Lutheran Church, Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church in West Seattle, and finally Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn. She had a beautiful voice and sang in the church choir, occasionally singing a solo in German.

Edith married Jay Litrap on May 5, 1978. They shared a passion for the Olympic peninsula and, in particular, Hurricane Ridge. They lived in the Sequim area until Jay’s death in 1992. After Jay’s death, Edith’s journey continued to other cities in the Pacific Northwest including Auburn, Maple Valley and finally Merrill Gardens in Renton. She spoke fondly of her friends at Merrill Gardens, and enjoyed the activities there. She looked forward to dinner each evening with her friends, and it was reported that their dinner table was the liveliest in the dining room! Edith was a determined, “pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps” person who taught her children to never give up. In her final letter to her children she asked for forgiveness, and to be remembered for the good choices she made. Even in the toughest times, her children had a roof over their heads, food to eat and clothes. She never missed a childhood birthday celebration which always included a cake and gifts. Her current calendar was full with every family member’s birthday, and they could always count on receiving a card in the mail with heartfelt birthday wishes.

Her favorite holiday was Christmas and her children and grandchildren will always hold fond memories of large “Santa Bags” for each family full of individually wrapped gifts, which she worked on all year. She passed down our German culture – foods, language and games. We will think of her when:

~ going to the German store to buy wϋrst, brӧt and Leibenz cookies (affectionately known as “toe cookies”)

~ bouncing babies on our knees reciting the “Hoppe Hoppe Reiter” poem

~ playing Mensch Ӓrgere Dich Nicht or Gelb Versteckten

~ making her potato salad or Santa butter cookie recipes

~ eating pumpkin flavored ice cream in the fall

We will remember her laughter, sharing meals at Gloria’s Restaurant, and lessons on how to be a safe traveler. She will be missed. Edith is survived by her children, Ida Werner of Seattle, Wayne Senter of Port Orchard, and Barbara Senter of Puyallup; sisters Ilse Oles and Doris Koeppler, both of the Seattle area; grandchildren Michael Werner Jr., James Werner, Aimee Jurenka, Aaron Senter, Craig Senter, Chelsea Robinson, Shelly Webb, Brian Frink and Tami Johnson; and 15 great grandchildren (and two more on the way!).

She was predeceased by her husband, Jay Litrap, and a granddaughter, Jennifer Werner. The family will be gathering at Edith’s favorite place, Hurricane Ridge, to carry out her wishes. She left the following poem with her final papers:

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me

I took His hand when I heard Him call

I turned back and left it all

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play

Tasks left undone must stay that way

I found that place at the close of the day

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow

My life’s been full, I savored much

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, He set me free

[author unknown]

Contact Information:

Family of Edith Litrap

PO Box 80621

Seattle, WA 98108