Ernest Oster Sr

Ernest (Ernie) Oster Sr. passed away peacefully at home Aug. 19, 2014, in College Place. He was born on Nov. 7, 1936, in Odessa, Wash., to Jacob Oster Sr. and Lorena (Giese) Oster. He attended West Valley High School in Spokane, and spent eight years in the U.S. Air Force spending most of his service time at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

He married Marjery (Marjie) Pickens at Millwood Presbyterian Church on Jan. 7, 1958. They later divorced. He moved to College Place in 2002 to be with his former wife, friend and caregiver, Marjie Erickson. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge in Walla Walla.

Ernie is survived by six children, James (Cindy) Oster of Mill Creek, Wash., Cheryl (Lloyd) Craig of Spokane Valley, Linda (Stephen) Richardson of Lancaster, Calif., Ernie (Debbie) Oster Jr. of Camas, Wash., Dwain (Heather) Oster of Portland and John (Mandy) Oster of Copperas Cove, Texas; grandchildren, Danielle and Jacob Oster, Heidi (Fernando) Garcia, Amanda and Jeffrey Craig, Nicole Richardson, Krissy (Mike) Blurton, Ashley (Cody) Forgey, Hailey Oster, Kaitlyn and McKenzie Oster and Ryan and Rylee Oster; great-grandchildren, Kadin, Rylie and Peyton Blurton; sister, Dolores (Jerry) Hudspeth of Springdale, Wash.; two nieces, Suzanne Moore and Linda Dix; and one nephew, Danny Kimbrow. Ernie was preceded in death by his parents; one niece, June Mendanwalt.

A graveside service will be held in Odessa on Aug. 22, 2014. Memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla First Presbyterian Church through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362.