Individual Details

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, California, Wednesday, June 25, 2003: Edith May Wisner Nee Walston Edith May Wisner joined her beloved late husband, Fred B. on June 20, 2003, one hundred years and one month from the date of her birth. Loving mother of James Fredrick and devoted grandmother ('Gammy') of James Jason, Vanessa MacLeod and Jordan Morin. Born May 20, 1903 to Cora Belle (nee Howell) and James Rufus Walston at Colville,Washington, she married Fredrick Benjamin Wisner on May 25, 1925. For 35 years they resided in Boise, Idaho where Fred was District Manager for Safeway Stores and where he later founded, owned, and operated, with his partner Louis Mendolia, the M & W Markets. In 1977 they moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek, California, where the pleasures of retirement were increased by the proximity of her grandchildren, for whom she, as a professionally trained candy maker, was always baking cookies and special treats. She was born in a log cabin in the age of the horse and buggy in the year of the first airplane flight by the Wright Brothers and when the earliest automobiles were being developed. After Fred's death in 1993, she drove her car and cared for herself alone until after she was ninety-five years old. She was an accomplished natural pianist and helped to support her widowed mother by playing the piano for silent movies. She graduated from what is now Washington State University with her teaching credential. Over the years she taught elementary school and designed and built five houses for her family. She was a devoted member of the women's organization P.E.O. In later years she served as the President of Third & Main, Inc., Real Estate and became adept at the use of the facsimile machine. Until the last week of her life, she was working with her personal trainer, Pam Whitman and her masseuse, Barbara Bobsin, and she was taking two outings each day by car. She ate out every Thursday noon with her son and oldest grandson at her favorite restaurant, Il Pavone, in Walnut Creek. None of this would have been possible without the skilled, practical and loving nursing provided by Julie McKinley, R.N. The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to Cindy Moore, Irma Sevin, Theresa Overton, Mary Walsh, and the Buttercup Farms organization in Clayton for their dedicated, imaginative, and compassionate care during her last years. The Memorial and Burial Service is Thursday, June 26 at 10 a.m. at Oakmont Memorial Park & Mortuary, 2099 Reliez Valley Rd. in Lafayette, reception to follow at her home: 3674 Rossmoor Parkway, Entry #8, Manor #7, Walnut Creek, CA 94595. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Edith's name to the Rossmoor Chapter of P.E.O., c/o Marilyn Groff, 2516 Tice Creek Dr., #1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595.

Birth	20 May 1903	Colville, Stevens Co., Washington
Marriage	25 May 1925	Fred Benjamin Wisner
Residence	1930	Seattle, King Co., Washington
Death	20 Jun 2003	Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Co., California
Burial		Oakmont Memorial Park & Mortuary, Lafayette, Contra Costa Co., California

Spouse

Fred Benjamin Wisner (1903 - 1993)

Father	James Rufus Walston (1867 - 1909)
Mother	Cora Belle Howell (1868 - 1950)
Sibling	Belle Gazelle Walston (1892 - 1947)
Sibling	Ray Elbert Walston (1894 - 1970)
Sibling	Lela "Lillie" Walston (1899 - 1980)