Erma Mary Bolinger

July 30, 1909 – May 28, 2010 ERMA MARY HEMINGER BOLINGER was theLast living child of Wenatchee Valley, Pioneer coupleOliver Eli Heminger and Effie Kabrich Heminger.Born in East Wenatchee Washington July 30, 1909into a family of eight siblings, she wasraised on the family orchard where parents/families owned and operated Hi-Line Growers Apple Warehouse on Hi-Line Ave. Some of the storage buildings are still standing there today.Erma’s higher education was at Laverne College, Pomona Calif. She married Paul S Bolinger Jan 1, 1933, in the family home in E Wenatchee WA, at the stroke of midnight! Surviving are her three children:Paul Duane Bolinger, Chelan, WATerry Alan Bolinger, Yakima, Chelan, WAJanis Colleen Cooper, St Charles, IllinoisAnd their spouses Janet Bolinger, Patty Bolinger and Guy CooperAlso her Grandchildren:Kim D Hanford, Wenatchee (Phil)Kristi L Falco, Spokane (Louie)Jon Paul Bolinger, Long Beach, CA (Melissa)Jeff A. Bolinger, YakimaJeni L Perri, San Diego, CA – (Will) Blake Charles Holcomb, Denver, ColoradoAbby Erlandson, Chicago (Tim)Katie Craven, Maine (Adam) Natalie Cooerman, New York (Mike)Paul Cooper, Atlanta, GeorgiaAnd her Great Grandchildren: Grant L Falco, Tyler P Falco, Kolby Falco, Spokane, WAPhillip H. Hanford, Wenatchee WA Mathew, Anthony, Hope, Christian, Nathan Erlandson, ChicagoMadeline, Calvin Craven, Maine She also has enjoyed following the lives and accomplishments of her many nieces and nephews, most of who still reside in Wenatchee Valley. She and her husband purchased land and planted their apples peach and cherry orchard on SE 8th St. near Nile Road, in E Wenatchee Washington, prior to their marriage. While the trees were young, Erma would go with a hoe and knock the thistles away from the young trees, so they would not be uprooted by the wind. Erma worked for the Kress Store, Miller’s Dept Store and Tots and Teens Clothing store early on. She kept books for a family business, Apple Masters Packing Warehouse and was long employed by The Chieftain Motel as a book keeper/ desk person. She was very good at and enjoyed, meeting the public. She also liked to square dance, and sew her daughter's clothes including many prom dresses that were being hemmed as Janis walked out the door to the dance! Cross word puzzles were always in her hand. She would finish some of the grand kids harder ones they couldn't complete. She enjoyed her family, her church, needlework, gardening, and travels. She visited Alaska, flying over the North Pole at age 80 in a Nieces private plane. She also enjoyed trips to China, the Bahamas and Hawaii, New York and Illinois. She was active in the Alta Slabaugh Guild of the Brethren Church and enjoyed working in Camp Fire Girls as advisor and leader. She helped raise all of her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, her parents, five sisters and three brothers and an infant sibling. She was the first in her Heminger family to move from East Wenatchee, when they built and established their home where she raised her children, at 1131 Monroe St., “clear across the river” in Wenatchee. Erma spent her final years being cared for lovingly at Angel House Adult family home in Yakima. With Dana and Rebecca Rutz. Who cared for her as their own Family. She will live on in the many lives she has helped create. For those who wish, she had chosen in lieu of flowers, a fund at the Wenatchee Brethern-Babtist United Church, 535 Okanogan St., Wenatchee, WA 98801 Celebration Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 28, 2010 at Brethern Baptist Church, 535 Okanogan St, Wenatchee, WA 98801. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones ~ Betts Funeral Home

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Erma Mary Bolinger

July 30, 1909 - May 28, 2010