Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Nancy L. Ewald, 83, a life-long Hood River resident, passed away Aug. 10, 2012, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital with family by her side. Nancy was born July 5, 1929, in Hood River, Ore., to William Phillip and Emilie Klara (Fechner) Edling.
Nancy attended local schools and graduated from Hood River High School in 1947. She continued her education at Oregon State College (now OSU) and then Good Samaritan School of Nursing and graduated in 1952.
Nancy married Richard “Dick” A. Ewald in Sun Valley, Idaho, on April 4, 1954, and to this union were blessed two children: Dawna and Tom. Nancy and Dick lived in Sun Valley for a period of time but with the new addition to their family they moved back to Hood River.
Upon their return Nancy went to work for the Hood River hospital and 54 years later, in 2009, retired from Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital as the longest-serving registered nurse for any Providence hospital, spending the majority of her time in the ER and surgery.
“There is only one way to improve one’s work: Love it,” said Phillip Brooks, and Nancy loved what she did! She was not only active in nursing locally but also for the State of Oregon, nationally and internationally.
In addition to her career as a registered nurse, Nancy and Dick were very active in the skiing world. She was a professional ski instructor from her time in Sun Valley, Cooper Spur and Mt. Hood Meadows. She enjoyed skiing with family and friends until she had to hang her skis up after her second knee surgery.
Nancy lived life. She reached the summit of Mount Hood a number of times, as a member of the Mazama Mountain Climbing Organization. She was a member of the Parachute Club of America — yeah, that’s right: She was a skydiver!
With all of her accomplishments professionally and personally her greatest love was her family. Nancy is survived by her children: Tom and his wife, Christy Ewald, of Hood River, and Dawna Lewis, of Oregon City, Ore.; four granddaughters: Chelsea Lewis, Lindsey Ewald, Jessica Lewis and Courtney Ewald; other distant family and many, many friends that she has collected over the years through nursing and skiing.
She was preceded in death by her partner in life, Dick, in 1995.
A service was held Thursday, Aug. 16, at Anderson’s Tribute Center, with a reception following at the Hood River Valley Adult Center. Family friend and celebrant speaker Bob Huskey officiated. Private interment will be at Idlewilde Cemetery.
Memorials are encouraged to be made to the Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation in memory of Nancy.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.
To plant a tree in memory of Nancy Ewald as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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