Nydia Jane Oliver

Nydia Jane Oliver accepted eternal peace July 14, 2015, at Regency at the Park in College Place. Nydia was born on Sept. 24, 1925, to prominent wheat and livestock farmer J. Francis Munns and Mary Ninetta Bergevin Munns. She attended Valley Grove and Hadley schools and graduated from St. Vincent’s Academy with honors in 1943.

In the fall of 1943, Nydia entered Washington State College. Her college days were full of many activities, including: Chinook editorial staff, publicity committee for ASCS and Newman Club. She was also a member of the Delta Phi Delta Art Honorary and a charter member of the Delta Gamma Chapter at WSC. As the first woman announcer, Nydia participated in a morning news program on KWSC, a campus radio station. Due to excellence in leadership, service and scholarship, she was named to the Big Five in her graduating class of 1947, when she earned a B.A. in art. She was the first member of her family to graduate from college and was lifelong student.

On Nov. 15, 1947, Nydia married Harold Oliver of Prescott, who served as a P38 pilot during World War II. She kept busy as a wheat farmer’s wife. In the fall of 1965, they moved from the farm to Walla Walla with their four sons, Jim, Dan, Pat and Chris.

Nydia continued her education and completed a degree in education. From 1970-1984, she taught second- grade students at Edison and Prospect elementary schools in the Walla Walla School District. She was active in the community as a member of the Carnegie Art Docents, Docent Art Lovers, Junior Club, Chapter CN of PEO, Bridgettes for over 50 years, Art Club, Northwest Grain Growers, Walla Walla Country Club and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church.

Hal and Nydia enjoyed major trips together for 38 years including: England, Ireland, France, Belgium, German, Wales, Italy, Spain, China, Turkey and Eastern Europe. For their 50th wedding anniversary, they enjoyed a month in Portugal. In later years, they spent January and February in California and Nevada enjoying golf and spending time with friends.

Nydia Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Hal Oliver; sons, Jim and Pat Oliver; and brother, Frank Munns. She is survived by sons, Dan and Chris; and daughter-in-law, Katie Erwin Oliver. She has four grandchildren, Jessica Oliver Johnson and her husband Matt, Ana Oliver Crawford and her husband Casey, Adam Oliver and Whitney Oliver; and two great-grandchildren, Emma Ohler and Liam Johnson. Nydia is also survived by her sisters, Nadine Gerkey (husband, Gene), Mary Frances Towner (husband, Joe Sr.), Eulah Davis (husband, Carroll) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Friday, July 24, 2015, 2-6 p.m. at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. A rosary service will immediately follow at 6 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Aid Center, the Walla Walla Catholic Schools or to a charity of the donor’s choice through the funeral home.