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Ethella Cramblett Ethella Cramblett
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Obituary for Ethella Cramblett

Ethella  Cramblett
Ethella Josephine (Blied) Cramblett, 91, passed away peacefully September 27, 2013 at Parkhurst House in Hood River. An only child, Ethella was born February 5, 1922 to Hamer & Ethella Adeline (Mobley) Bleid in Portland, Oregon. Her father brought her up with the love of Jazz Music and took her to see Duke Ellington when she was young. Although she was a Portland girl, her grandparents had acreage and a summer home on the lower bench at Cape Horn next to the river where she learned to love the Columbia River Gorge as well.

While in high school, she was an accomplished swimmer. Her coach invited her to swim at the Aero Club to race against the Olympic swimmers. She graduated from Washington High School in Portland in 1940. Working as a telephone operator for Pacific Northwest Bell, she was the first person in Portland to hear of the bombing of the Oregon Coast during World War II. She was promoted to a supervisory position and roller skated from operator to operator, a skill she learned at Oaks Park Roller Rink.

She was introduced to her husband, Harry Cramblett, by her father, the lead painter at Bonneville Dam, who worked with Harry. Ethella & Harry were married September 26, 1942 and lived in Portland for one year. She loved to dance with Harry, and apparently they could really 'cut a rug’! Then they settled in Cascade Locks where they raised 5 children. A love of the beach was acquired from her parents, and so the Cramblett family took annual vacations to either Seaside or Long Beach every summer.

Ethella loved the English language, had beautiful handwriting, and although she could have been a superb journalist, she chose to support her husband and children. She was a scout Den Mother for her 3 sons and took her youngest daughter to Boy Scout Camp Meriweather again supporting her husband, the Scout Master. All of her children participated in tumbling, tap dance, or ballet. Since Ethella didn't drive for the first 10 yrs of their marriage, she took all 5 children on the Greyhound bus which traveled Old Highway 30 to downtown Portland to do seasonal clothes shopping. During the 1960's, when 2 of her 3 sons were in the service, one in Vietnam, she was an advocate against the Vietnam War and marched in Portland, Salem, & Olympia, WA. As a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center, she was also a strong advocate for racial equality.

When Harry was superintendent of the City Lights and there were power outages, Ethella would receive phone calls from concerned citizens. She would kindly explain that the crew was attending to the outage, and the problem would be repaired as quickly as possible. Sometimes they received phone calls for other needs as well, maybe firewood or milk for a baby. Ethella taught her children to answer the phone politely and take messages so that their father or Ted Klapprich could attend to whatever the need was. Ethella & Harry were Hood River County Democratic Committee Chair people, and she was a strong supporter of Harry's involvement with the Port of Cascade Locks.

Ethella was a lover of all animals, but especially enjoyed the 4 German Shepherds that she had over the past 40 years. She enjoyed her walks in the wooded areas around Cascade Locks as well as in the park and out on the island. Since swimming was a lifetime commitment, she received awards in racing as a Master Swimmer.

Ethella was preceded in death by her darling Harry. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Sundby of Bismarck, ND, sons Larry & Tom Cramblett of Cascade Locks, OR, son Jon Cramblett of Portland, OR, and daughter Joeinne Caldwell of Cascade Locks, OR., 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials in memory of Ethella can be made to either the Oregon Humane Society or the Salvation Army. The family will have a private celebration of her life.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.
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Life Story for Ethella Cramblett

Ethella Cramblett passed away September 27, 2013 at the Parkhurst House Assisted Living Facility in Hood River, Oregon.She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Ethella was born February 5, 1922 and was 91 years of age at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Please visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.

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