Viola Violet Oman

Viola Oman, 82, lost her fight with cancer Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. A lifetime resident of Walla Walla, Viola was the family matriarch and the last living survivor of her generation.

Viola Violet Oman was born in Walla Walla on March 23, 1932, the fifth child of Wilhelm Georg and Elizabeth Backes Wendt. She attended Jefferson Elementary School and one year at Walla Walla High School before stopping to work helping the family financially during and after World War II.

Viola met Charles David Munger, son of Charles W. and Alma Mae Watson Munger, through her brother “Bud,” who met Dave after both were discharged from the service. The two were married June 24, 1950, in Walla Walla, building their home at 713 N. Ninth Ave., with the help of her father-in-law. She and Dave lived their life together there for 25 years while raising their four children. David passed away May 30, 1975. Viola married Dave H. Oman on Sept. 7, 1981, in Elko, Nev.

Viola’s first job was at the Old Roxy Theatre. She also worked summers at the old Birdseye Cannery beside her sisters and at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in the kitchen and Central Supply until retirement.

She joined the Eagles Aerie #26 in 1949 and has faithfully paid her dues over the years. She will be remembered for her participation as a past president of the Women’s Auxiliary Eagles Aerie #26, member of the Eagles Women’s Drill Team, and a member of Hobby Club, serving in various positions since 1950. Being a railroad wife, she and C. David Munger were very active in the Union Pacific Railroad Old Timers Club. Viola was an active bowler up until a couple of years ago, her “scratch” average at one time being 186.

Viola loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was especially excited for the upcoming arrival of two more great-grandchildren and was actively trying to gain strength so she could meet and hold them. She spent her life caring for her family, her aging parents, her siblings, and was well aware of the many coming and goings of her extended family, keeping everything and everyone in check. Her house was always full of relatives and she thrived on their love, support, and the assistance she could offer.

She is survived by her spouse, Dave, at the home. Her children, Dennis (Loretta) Munger of Billings, Mont., Candace (Thomas) Maroldo of Walla Walla, Kathryn (Manfred) Heim of Pullman, Wash., James (Shari) Munger of Walla Walla; step-daughter, Deborah Nielsen of Grafton, W.V.; 14 grandchildren; soon to be 16 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Also, her dearest and oldest BFFs, Minnie O’Dell of Portland, and Marie Marks of Walla Walla. Together they shared many happy memories over the past 60 years. Proceeding her in death were her parents; brothers and their wives, Ernest (Edythe) Wendt, Melvin (Nancey) Wendt, and Alvin “Bud” Wendt; sisters and their husbands, Margaret “Peggy” (John) Levens, Pearl (Dale) FaGalde, Verna Elder, Valerie (Russell) Hardin; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Norbert “Swede”) Clark and Josie (Rex) Jones, all of Walla Walla area; nieces and nephews, Sandra Lepper, Tony Hardin, Sheryl Fleming, Julie Fletcher, Thomas Clark and Marilyn Martin.

Special thanks to her new friends for their love and care, “Miss Black,” Yvonne and Christina, and the help and encouragement of the physical therapy department at Regency Rehabilitation. She loved her new friends and was thankful for their patience and assistance.

Memorial services will be Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens. I n lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence St. Mary Cancer Center, Special Needs through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362.