Raised in Columbia City, Seattle and on Mercer Island, she graduated from Franklin High School in 1948. As a child, Diana enjoyed working as a “soda jerk” in her father’s drug store, and when she was old enough, she bought a 1928 Model A Ford. With great delight she worked on her car, keeping it in shape, and driving it wherever she went. She formed lifelong love of the Model A. In her later years, she bought herself another Model A – this time a 1930, with a genuine luggage trunk on the back. She joined and was active in the Evergreen A’s Model A Club, attending meetings, driving in several parades, and serving as treasurer.
While Diana was growing up, her older sister Betty, would bring friends over and they would have dances. It was at that time she met a fellow who was to be her future husband, Charles Vogel. She was shy at the time she met Charles and wasn't too interested in dating, but somehow knew she would marry him. Who knew that she’d be right?! During Charles Vogel’s time in the army during World War II, they wrote to each other a few times, but it was very casual. She was doing her part to support the soldiers at war.
After Charles returned from the war, he reacquainted himself with Diana. She was now 18 years old, and they were quickly attracted to one another. Diana finished school, graduating from Franklin High School, and they became engaged at Christmas, 1948. They married July 23, 1949 on Mercer Island.
Diana continued to work at her dad’s drugstore, Charles finished his accounting degree at Auesrwald Business College in Seattle, working nights at the post office. His first accounting job was as a Federal Credit Union Examiner, which he held for 5 years, and later worked as a State Credit Union Examiner for another 5 years. Vogel family life was very busy during that time. Daughter Karen was born in 1950, followed by Wendy in 1953, and Cathy in 1958.
With 3 young daughters to raise, and after years of Charles’ travelling, Diana and Charles decided to start a family business of managing credit unions, and stay closer to home. Their idea was unique. Serving several small credit unions under one management umbrella so individually and together all would thrive and grow. Diana and Charles pioneered this type of credit union collaboration. Diana, Charles and all of the girls worked at the credit union center as they grew up. Following Charles’ death in 1970, Diana took over managing the credit union management business, growing it to manage over 20 credit unions at one time. Diana retired gradually in the late 1990s.
Diana was instrumental in growing the credit union industry, serving on the board of the Washington Credit Union League and the Washington Credit Union Share Guaranty Association as Treasurer. Her lifelong involvement with the credit union industry was near and dear to her heart, and she was always involved to influence, improve and strengthen their future.
For relaxation the family took many summer vacations, often hauling a trailer. In later years with her girls grown, Diana took many trips to Maui with her daughters and families. To each grandchild she gave the gift of travel, having them pick the place they would like to go following their high school graduation. Those travels took her to Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, Iceland and Greenland. They flew the Concorde, travelled on the Queen Elizabeth II. The joy that this brought, not only to the grandchildren, but especially to Diana was the light of her life.
Diana had fun with her family during holidays, birthdays and the annual Hydroplane party she held on the first Sunday of August. There was swimming, partying and the Blue Angels flying over the house.
Diana was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, parents Herbert and Myrtle Attlesey, sister Betty Roundhill, and mother-in-law Anna Hertel.
She is survived by daughters Karen (Bill) Aggenbach and their children Charles and Josephine; Wendy (Charles) Larson, and their children Andrew Larson and Shelby Burris; Cathy Vogel-Jackson and Paul Jackson, and their children Chris (Staci) Jackson and Casey Jackson; great-grandchildren Charles and James Larson and Leia Burris.
Diana supported many diverse charities. Rememberances may be made to the charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18