Kathryn Wilber

Kathryn was born in Clarkston, WA on November 26th, 1918 to Leslie R. Kuehl, manager of the Clarkston desk of the Lewiston Tribune, and Elma L. Rinard Kuehl, a church musician and piano teacher. Kathryn went to be with the Lord on March 13, 2017.

Kathryn was predeceased in death by her entire birth family, including her identical twin, Karolyn Earnshaw. When Karolyn passed in 2015 at age 97 they were sharing a room at Mother Joseph’s Care Center in Olympia and were thought to be the oldest living identical twins in Washington State. Kathryn’s other siblings were: Kenneth Kuehl, Lilyanne Barnea, Joy Craven, and Nina Westlin. A younger brother, Kingsley died in childhood.

After graduating from Clarkston High School in 1937 Kathryn cooked for the crew on the Porter Ranch in Pomeroy while saving money to attend Washington State College. The following year their mother moved the children to Pullman and opened a boarding house with good cooking. Kathryn, a home economics major and all of her siblings attended college.

During Kathryn’s senior year she met Frank Wilber, a horticulture major and trombonist in the band. On February 8, 1942 they were married. During WWII Frank managed Japanese farms in Kent. They soon had three children, CarolAnn, Gloria and Glenn. Kathryn’s big garden, chickens, excellent cooking, canning and sewing kept the family well fed and clothed. Home was a Quonset hut next to the Green River. In 1950 the family moved to Lake Sawyer.

Frank, a landscape designer and contractor wanted to be a photographer. In 1956 after years of study and working from home, he and Kathryn purchased a studio. They operated Wilber Studio in Auburn until 1969. Kathryn was a salesperson, camera room assistant, who processed orders, painted photographs, designed displays, and was a fulltime partner. After selling out Kathryn pursued her passion for homemaking, sewing, and church work while Frank free-lanced and Karolyn sold advertising for his publications. They traveled the country with the Wally Byam Trailer Caravan Club.

Around 1980 Lacey’s Land Yacht Harbor became home base, from which Frank and Kathryn worked and traveled. Frank died in 1993 after 51 years of marriage. Kathryn in her Lincoln Town Car named it Cleopatra, enjoyed taking friends to concerts at St. Martin's Abby, worship, Adult Study and Mary Martha Circle at Lacey Chapel. She visited family in California and Alaska and went to Hawaii with friends. Kathryn’s church work included sewing doll clothes and doing handiwork for needy children. She was a lifetime member of Eastern Star and had many friends in the church and community.

Kathryn is survived by her children: CarolAnn (Larry) Sanderson of Buckley, WA, Glenn Wilber of Craig, AK, and Gloria (Dean) Fearn, Stockton, CA. Grandsons: Robert Wilber, Rodger Wilber, Lars Sanderson, Gus (Laura) Sanderson, Neal (Lynn) Fearn, and Justin (Stacy) Fearn. She has five great grandchildren and six step great grandchildren.

Memorial service will be at Lacey Chapel, April 29th at 2PM.

Memorial gifts to Lacey Chapel or Mother Joseph’s Care Center.