1917 - 2018
100 years
Ethel was born to Archie Wilson and Nora Kauffman in Ayre, Nebraska. Tragically, her mother died when she was 4 years old and her brother Robert Archie Wilson was two. At that time she moved to Black Lake, Idaho to live with her beloved Grandmother Laura Wilson Hostutler and her Aunt Florence Shelley Hostutler. When she was 8, the family moved to Harrison, ID, where she made many life-long friends, including the Browns, the Cowans and the Richardson sisters. She left school at 14 and traveled to southern Idaho, where she met and became close with her mother's family, the Kauffman's and Rowen's. Then, to Spokane, WA where she went to work at the Linen Supply Laundry, where she met her best friend, Irene Lannen. Ethel was very social, outgoing and loved to dance. She met her future husband, Howard Oatney at a dance, where he played in a band. They were married on Dec 19th, 1940. Howard and Ethel were very active. They enjoyed square dancing, camping, fishing and entertaining. They had a large circle of friends including: the Eddy's, Lewis', Korb's and Tabit's. She was extremely close to her Oatney in-laws, including Dick, Bernie, Ralph, Carmen, Margret and their dear children. Both Howard and Ethel worked for, and retired from, the Spokane school district. They were also active members of Trinity United Methodist Church. Memorials may be sent to Green Bluff United Methodist Church. Her Funeral Service will be 10:00 AM, June 1st, 2018, at Ball & Dodd Funeral Home with interment to follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
