Central Oregonian

Ellen Newburn

November 08, 2012

Ellen Newburn passed away Oct. 18, 2012 at the age of 85 in Prineville. A celebration of Life will be held on Nov. 17 at the Prineville Elks with the ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. with Pastor Dan Parks of Prineville Christian Church presiding.

Born Ellen Loie Robinson July 30,1927 to Loy H. and Ida V. Robinson in Livingston, Mont. She married Kenneth E. Newburn on May 24, 1946, they were married for 55 years until Ken's passing in 2001.

Ellen graduated from Girls Poly in Portland, Ore. and worked for Blue Bell Potato Chip after school. Upon graduating from Girls Poly, she worked at Charles F. Bergs in the millenary and alterations department, she later went to work for Pacific Northwest Bell during WWII as a telephone operator.

Ken worked for Pacific Power and Light for 30 years which brought several relocations for the Newburn family. While in Yakima, Wash., Ellen worked as a switchboard operator and after moving to Walla Walla she worked for the School District.

Ellen was a beautiful seamstress and made clothes for herself starting at a young age, and later on for all her children while they were growing up. She was an avid gardener and loved playing the piano. She played piano for every church the family attended — the most recent being the Prineville Christian Church, as well as the Eastern Star and with her family. She was a volunteer Purple lady at the Pioneer Memorial Hospital and worked during balloting elections for Crook County.

She was a member of the Prineville Christian Church, Carnation Chapter #44 Order of the Eastern Star, Three Sister’s Nile Club, the Prineville Garden Club, and Christian Women’s organization for several years.

She is survived by her children, Keith Newburn and daughter in-law, June of Joseph, Ore., Cathy Thompson of Prineville, Sandra Ferland and son-in-law, John of Clackamas, Ore., son, Rob Newburn and partner, Randy Maurer, Kuna, Idaho; sister, Ruth Dietrich of Lafayette, Calif.; nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ken Newburn, her parents, five sisters, and her brother.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Prineville Hospice, OHSU’s Knight Institute for Cancer Research, St. Vincent-Providence Heart Research, Al-Kader Shrine Travel Fund or Hospital.

Whispering Pines Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements.