Eula Thayer

Eula Gauby Thayer, 88, died Friday, September 9, 2011 at the Linn Community Nursing Home. A funeral service was held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 10 at the Ward Funeral Home, Washington. Rev. Robert Elder officiated. Gina Miller played the organ. Pallbearers were Chalmer Ditmars, Jeremy Elder, Anthony Stamm, Les Elder, Malcolm Stamm and Ben McCall. Burial was in the Brethren Cemetery. Eula was born December 24, 1922 in Washington to Alva and Nora (Gauby) Ditmars. She attended Garfield School and graduated from Washington High School. Eula attended one year of college and received a teaching certificate. She taught one year at Shaw District #24 near Greenleaf and two years at Froghollow School, two miles east of Washington. Her first year, Eula had four students. Eula joined the Rural Bible Crusade. She attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and there met Charles Thayer. They were united in marriage on August 29, 1958. In 1960, their daughter Esther was born. Esther was the light of their life. While they lived in Chicago, Eula worked as a teacher’s aide and was active in church. They moved back to Washington in 1987 and lived on acreage east and south of town. After Charles death in 1999, Eula moved to Colonial Acres and in 2003 to the Linn Community Nursing Home. Survivors include her daughter, Esther Thayer; brothers, John Ditmars and Ray Ditmars; sisters, Lucy Rose, Bessie Penner, Ina Fike and Maud Lengel; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; brothers, Lloyd and Sherman; and sisters, Blanch Roop, Ruth Moffitt and Dora Ditmars. A memorial fund is established in her name and will be designated by the family at a later time. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eula Thayer, please visit our flower store.