Orpha May Oliver

Orpha Oliver was born December 27, 1930, in Whitewater, Kansas, to Floyd and Myrtle Wright. She left this world and journeyed to heaven on August 11, 2022, at the age of 91. Her family moved from Kansas to Washington State, where Orpha graduated from Columbia Burbank High School as the class Valedictorian. In Wallula, Orpha met her husband of over 50 years, Dan Oliver. Their life together focused on their children and their menagerie of farm animals. Not only did Orpha teach her own children the values of cooking, sewing, and raising animals, but she also shared these skills with countless children as a 4-H leader for over 30 years and a staunch supporter of the Touchet FFA program.

Her door was always open to friends, neighbors, and anyone else that needed a cookie. You knew you were one of Orpha’s special people when she would memorize your favorite dessert, whether it be white cake with white frosting, lemon meringue pie, peach pie, or one of her incredible apple pies, and have it ready for you on your birthday or when you came to visit.

She showcased her superb cooking skills for many years at the Walla Walla Livestock Auction Restaurant. She also judged baking and canning entries and clerked at the Walla Walla Fair and Fair & Frontier Days for many years with her dear friend Priscilla.

Orpha is survived by her sisters, Patsy and MaryJane; daughters, Janice and Jeanette and their husbands, Steve and Rolando; son, Ed, stepson Steve; grandchildren, Michael, Jennifer, Chase, Zach, Matt, Evan, and Katie. Add to this 12 great-grandchildren (Bo, Rory, Thor, Magnus, Rozalynn, Piper, Oliver, Owen, Sawyer, Fiona, Mo, and Cainen) plus her little dog Muffin and Orpha’s house was always filled with noise and love. Orpha went to heaven to cook up a meal for her husband, Dan; daughter, Judy; grandson, Andy; as well as her mother and father; brother, Jr.; and sister, Betty. She even left a few cookies in the cookie jar for us when she left.

We will say goodbye to Orpha on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens. Please join us for cookies and coffee immediately following the funeral service at the Memorial Gardens.

Donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. Guests may sign the guest book at www.herringgroseclose.com.