Lela Ward

Died Jan. 20, 2018

Lela was the fourth out of six children born to George Wellenbrock and Sophie (Kuhnhausen) Wellenbrock.

Lela was born and lived her entire life in Glenwood. She loved to look at Mt. Adams and admire the beautiful valley below. The locals always said if there was any history you wanted to know about Glenwood Lela was the one to ask.

After a hard fight against cancer, Lela passed on January 20, 2018, with family around her. She was 93.

In 1945, Lela served as a Donut Dolly for the troops at the end of WWII.

Jan. 5, 1946, Lela married DeRowland Ward. After they were married they moved to Camp Draper where Lela was a cook under her Aunt Anne. In 1953, they moved to Mount Adams Highway where she lived the rest of her life. They had two sons, Dennis and Dale.

Lela was a homemaker who made the very best pies, pickles, jams and just about anything she baked or cooked. She enjoyed doing embroidery with many of her beautiful pieces hanging in her home. She loved her flowers in the spring and summer, her Christmas lights during the holidays as well as all of the family gatherings.

Family and friends were the very most important thing to her. Lela babysat and took care of many children in the Glenwood Valley, enjoying them all. When the boys were younger there were always extra kids hanging out; everyone was always welcome in her home.

She was a Cub Scout leader, a Grange member for over 50 years with most of that time being the treasurer. She worked on the election board for many years. She also belonged to the Emblem club out of White Salmon in her earlier years.

DeRowland and Lela loved to travel and went on many family vacations, a lot of times including her parents.

She never missed a Wellenbrock family reunion since they started in 1953.

Every memorial weekend, she would gather up the kids and head out to pick wildflowers to put on all of her family and friends’ graves. Last year, she put out over 50 bouquets.

Lela loved to play cards, games, and bingo with her friends and grandchildren. She always had a puzzle going on the table.

Lela loved her birthday parties that her family and friends would throw for her, with white cake and raspberry filling being her favorite.

We will all miss her so much, she was truly an amazingly beautiful woman who was loved by so many.

She is survived by her two sons Dennis (Barbra) Ward of Goldendale, and Dale (Doneva Brown) Ward of Glenwood; two grandchildren Chris (Amber) Ward and Danielle Ward all of Goldendale. She also has three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family would like to thank all of the staff at Celilo Cancer Center and to Dr. Samuels for all of their love and support during her fight. They would also like to thank Providence Hospice of the Gorge, especially Izzie, who was so kind and caring to their beautiful mother.

Donate in Lela’s name to Celilo Cancer Center, 1800 E. 19th St., The Dalles, Ore., 97058 or the Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 63, Glenwood, Wash. 98619.