Pam Oldenburg

For 39 years, she helped students both in and outside of the classroom covering school lessons and lessons about life. Often former students would reach out for her help with their writing, book recommendations and advice well past their graduation date. She retired from teaching in 2014, spending her entire professional career with Lyle Schools.

During her first year as a teacher, she met Dean Oldenburg and a romance flourished. Married in 1975, they welcomed son Aaron in 1979. Pam cherished being a mother, and especially was proud of Aaron’s accomplishments as a social studies teacher, coach, and leader in Glenwood.

She loved living in the Columbia River Gorge, and immensely enjoyed the sweeping vista of its beauty out her living-room window as she graded papers or read books. Pam rarely could travel anywhere in the area without former students greeting her with smiles and “Mrs. O!” Many credit her for helping them get through school, inspiring them to careers, and helping them become good people.

She loved her family, her friends, her students, and her Internet friends worldwide in the All Souls Trilogy online groups. Opening day of fishing in the Gorge was an important date for her – she loved fishing and always invited her extended family to gather to go fishing and swap stories, along with not-yet-delivered Christmas and birthday presents.

She spent tireless hours volunteering in the community at the Lions Club breakfasts, Senior meals, and school activities. Pam was a longtime member of the Lyle Lions Club and Lyle United Methodist Church.

Pam is survived by her husband, Dean, of Lyle; and son, Aaron, of Goldendale; as well as her mother’s twin, Carol Minard, of Scottsdale, Ariz. She was predeceased by her mother in 1982 and her father in 1997. She also is survived by her brother Arden “Denny” Lawrence and his wife, Lyndee, of Damascus, Ore.; their children, Ryan Lawrence and Bethany Clubb; and brother Hugh Lawrence and his wife, Carol, of Bellevue, and their son, Brian Lawrence; aunt Margaret Fox Lawrence, of Nampa, Idaho; and uncle Roy Wayne Lawrence, of Farmingdale, N.J.; along with many cousins. She also is missed by brother-in-law Dennis Oldenburg of Pomeroy, and sisters-in-law Virginia Morgan and her husband, Harold, of Tekoa, and Rosalie Morgan and her husband, Lorin, of Walla Walla, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 23, 2016, at the Lyle High School.

Contributions can be made to a scholarship fund for local students — the Pamela Jane Oldenburg Memorial Account, at any Columbia Bank in the Gorge, or mailed to: Columbia Bank ATTN: Carmen Esquivias, 316 E 3rd Street, The Dalles, Ore., 97058.