Obituary for Bernice Harriett Harbaugh
Bernice Harriett Harbaugh lived at Columbia Basin Care in The Dalles, Oregon, where she passed away peacefully on evening of September 23, 2021, after several days of visitations from her family.
Bernice was born to Verna Maude Wax-Tilton and Edgar Albert Tilton on May 20, 1942, in Osage City, KS. Bernice was born on her cousin Bert Wax’s birthday. The story goes that when Edgar announced the arrival a “girl” Bert was very disappointed that Bernice wasn’t a boy. He was wanting a boy cousin to play with but instead got another girl cousin. Bernice joined her sisters Karen Lee and Judith Ruth which completed the Tilton clan. Bernice’s family moved to several small farming communities in rural Kansas throughout her childhood. Several of the homes had no indoor plumbing, which meant no running water inside so heating water for dishes and bathes was commonplace as was the use of an outhouse. Her family finally settled in Melvern, KS owning a small farm where they grew corn, soybeans and hay. Besides farming, Bernice’s dad, Edgar, worked for the Railroad and was gone several days a week. During the cold winter days, Bernice and her two sisters, Karen and Judy, were responsible for driving the tractor and throwing out hay for the cattle, as well as helping with other chores on the farm like gathering eggs and working in the garden.
When Bernice was young, she fell off a horse and broke her tailbone, which meant she could not walk and had to be carried around and spent most of her healing time in bed. This meant that her sisters had do Bernice’s chores.
Bernice and her sisters attended a one-room schoolhouse until Bernice was in the second grade when the family moved to Quenemo, KS, where each grade had their own classroom. Bernice graduated from Melvern High School. She was active in 4-H, played the drums in the marching band and participated in many other school activities and clubs. After graduation, Bernice attended nursing school and received a Certification as a Nursing Aid.
Bernice’s daughters Karen Kay was born in November 1962 and Judith Darlene was born in 1964. Bernice and her daughters settled in Kansas City, KS, where she met Carlos Ray Harbaugh and was married shortly after. Son Edgar (Eddie) Albert was born in August 1970. Bernice, Ray and family lived in Kansas City until 1979 when they moved to Cascade Locks, OR.
Bernice’s career focus was one of service; jobs included being a CNA for 20+ years, cook at various restaurants and Cascade Locks School, Meal Site Manage at the Hood River Senior Center, and her and daughter Karen Kay had a catering business for a couple of years. Bernice’s church and faith were a big part of her life where she served on various committees/ministries, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Bernice volunteered as a 4-H leader for several years, teaching her love of cooking and baking breads to her granddaughters and their friends. Though Bernice was not a trained culinary, she oftentimes shared her “expertise” knowledge with her family, Karen Kay remembers a time when she wanted to make homemade egg noodles and Bernice advised, “if you want to make them really nice, you could add a ½ of an eggshell of cream” at which Karen Kay was concerned as when cracking the egg it broke into multiple pieces. Other hobbies were spending time with her family, hosting holiday dinners, cooking with her daughters and granddaughters, watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, nightly visits and watching Dancing with the Stars with her sister Karen and playing a long card game of Canasta.
Bernice is survived by her children: Karen Kay & Mark Rutherford of Cascade Locks, OR, Judith & Ed Curtin of Coupeville, WA and Eddie & Sharon Harbaugh of Cascade Locks, OR. Grandchildren: Kendall Adams, Kristen Stuart, Mandi Rafanello, Adam Curtin, Travis Curtin, Aaron Curtin, Derrick Harbaugh, Nicholas Harbaugh, Autumn Harbaugh, Caden Harbaugh. Great Grandchildren: Emma Sampson, Helena Stuart, Mark Timothy Stuart, Isaac Stuart, Callie Mae Adams, Rileyanne Harbaugh, Liam Curtin, Mason Rafanello, Valerie Rafanello and Brooklynn Rafanello. And, sister Karen Peck of Cascade Locks, OR and many nieces and nephews. Bernice is predeceased by parents Verna and Edgar Tilton; husband Carlos Ray Harbaugh; Sister & brother-in-law Judy and William Logan; brother-in-law Calvin Peck; and nephew Rocky Brecheisen.
Memorial Service in remembrance of Bernice Harbaugh will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 273 NE Lutheran Church Road, Stevenson, WA where Bernice was a long-time member. The service will be held at 3:00 pm on October 23, 2021, Pastor Mary Shaima presiding. Service will be aired via live feed at that time (details at www.andersonstributecenter.com). Internment was on September 30, 2021, at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR where Bernice will be laid to rest with her husband Carlos Ray Harbaugh. The family is asking those who wish to donate to either the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association can do so in the memory of Bernice Harbaugh through Anderson Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave. Hood River, OR 97031 (541) 386-1000.
Bernice’s life was a true reflection of the most important things to her…Family, Love and Faith!
Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
Bernice was born to Verna Maude Wax-Tilton and Edgar Albert Tilton on May 20, 1942, in Osage City, KS. Bernice was born on her cousin Bert Wax’s birthday. The story goes that when Edgar announced the arrival a “girl” Bert was very disappointed that Bernice wasn’t a boy. He was wanting a boy cousin to play with but instead got another girl cousin. Bernice joined her sisters Karen Lee and Judith Ruth which completed the Tilton clan. Bernice’s family moved to several small farming communities in rural Kansas throughout her childhood. Several of the homes had no indoor plumbing, which meant no running water inside so heating water for dishes and bathes was commonplace as was the use of an outhouse. Her family finally settled in Melvern, KS owning a small farm where they grew corn, soybeans and hay. Besides farming, Bernice’s dad, Edgar, worked for the Railroad and was gone several days a week. During the cold winter days, Bernice and her two sisters, Karen and Judy, were responsible for driving the tractor and throwing out hay for the cattle, as well as helping with other chores on the farm like gathering eggs and working in the garden.
When Bernice was young, she fell off a horse and broke her tailbone, which meant she could not walk and had to be carried around and spent most of her healing time in bed. This meant that her sisters had do Bernice’s chores.
Bernice and her sisters attended a one-room schoolhouse until Bernice was in the second grade when the family moved to Quenemo, KS, where each grade had their own classroom. Bernice graduated from Melvern High School. She was active in 4-H, played the drums in the marching band and participated in many other school activities and clubs. After graduation, Bernice attended nursing school and received a Certification as a Nursing Aid.
Bernice’s daughters Karen Kay was born in November 1962 and Judith Darlene was born in 1964. Bernice and her daughters settled in Kansas City, KS, where she met Carlos Ray Harbaugh and was married shortly after. Son Edgar (Eddie) Albert was born in August 1970. Bernice, Ray and family lived in Kansas City until 1979 when they moved to Cascade Locks, OR.
Bernice’s career focus was one of service; jobs included being a CNA for 20+ years, cook at various restaurants and Cascade Locks School, Meal Site Manage at the Hood River Senior Center, and her and daughter Karen Kay had a catering business for a couple of years. Bernice’s church and faith were a big part of her life where she served on various committees/ministries, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Bernice volunteered as a 4-H leader for several years, teaching her love of cooking and baking breads to her granddaughters and their friends. Though Bernice was not a trained culinary, she oftentimes shared her “expertise” knowledge with her family, Karen Kay remembers a time when she wanted to make homemade egg noodles and Bernice advised, “if you want to make them really nice, you could add a ½ of an eggshell of cream” at which Karen Kay was concerned as when cracking the egg it broke into multiple pieces. Other hobbies were spending time with her family, hosting holiday dinners, cooking with her daughters and granddaughters, watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, nightly visits and watching Dancing with the Stars with her sister Karen and playing a long card game of Canasta.
Bernice is survived by her children: Karen Kay & Mark Rutherford of Cascade Locks, OR, Judith & Ed Curtin of Coupeville, WA and Eddie & Sharon Harbaugh of Cascade Locks, OR. Grandchildren: Kendall Adams, Kristen Stuart, Mandi Rafanello, Adam Curtin, Travis Curtin, Aaron Curtin, Derrick Harbaugh, Nicholas Harbaugh, Autumn Harbaugh, Caden Harbaugh. Great Grandchildren: Emma Sampson, Helena Stuart, Mark Timothy Stuart, Isaac Stuart, Callie Mae Adams, Rileyanne Harbaugh, Liam Curtin, Mason Rafanello, Valerie Rafanello and Brooklynn Rafanello. And, sister Karen Peck of Cascade Locks, OR and many nieces and nephews. Bernice is predeceased by parents Verna and Edgar Tilton; husband Carlos Ray Harbaugh; Sister & brother-in-law Judy and William Logan; brother-in-law Calvin Peck; and nephew Rocky Brecheisen.
Memorial Service in remembrance of Bernice Harbaugh will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 273 NE Lutheran Church Road, Stevenson, WA where Bernice was a long-time member. The service will be held at 3:00 pm on October 23, 2021, Pastor Mary Shaima presiding. Service will be aired via live feed at that time (details at www.andersonstributecenter.com). Internment was on September 30, 2021, at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR where Bernice will be laid to rest with her husband Carlos Ray Harbaugh. The family is asking those who wish to donate to either the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association can do so in the memory of Bernice Harbaugh through Anderson Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave. Hood River, OR 97031 (541) 386-1000.
Bernice’s life was a true reflection of the most important things to her…Family, Love and Faith!
Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.