Lucretia Madelan Stinson

Lucretia M. Stinson died at her home in Walla Walla on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 at the age of 98. She was born in Walla Walla to Eugenia (Van Hollebeke) and Victor S. White on Nov. 22, 1917. She grew up in Walla Walla attending public and Catholic schools. She graduated from Walla Walla High in 1935 later graduating from Portland State University with a degree in Business Administration.

She married Chet E. Stinson, an accomplished aviator, in 1944 in Long Beach, CA. For many years, they operated Stinson Flying Service on Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, OR. Lucretia acquired her pilot’s license in 1942 and flew over 25 makes and models of aircraft ferrying planes across country from factories on the east coast. Chet Stinson died in 1986.

Lucretia loved to snow ski and to swim. She was a certified Life Guard. She loved music and she loved to sew making most of the families clothing. Her greatest love, though, was genealogy having published a book chronicling the history of the Van Hollebeke (her mother’s family) from their roots in Belgium in the 1600’s to the present day. Copies of the book have been distributed throughout the family in Europe and America.

Lucretia was a devout Catholic, a deeply held faith she cherished throughout her lifetime. As part of her dedication to her faith, she sponsored a young girl in Guatemala supporting her from the age of 5 into adulthood.

Lucretia Stinson was preceded in death by one sister, Vivian (White) McQueen. She is survived by her daughters, Sylvia J. Stinson of Walla Walla, Marlene C. Gaskins of Hillsboro, OR, granddaughters, Michelle R. DeBolt and Jennifer A. Massey of Hillsboro, OR and six great grandchildren, Kolten, Chloe, Brennon, Averey, Vincent, and Kaiden.

A funeral mass for Lucretia Stinson will be held Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 1 PM at Assumption Catholic Parish in Walla Walla, WA.

Dear God, keep Lucretia in your tender care for eternity….and keep faith in our sad hearts.