Edith "Edie" Charlotte Emma Clark

Edith Charlotte Emma Clark, 82, of La Grande, died May 7 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, the result of a stroke.

A celebration of life will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Pastor John Schraan, Zion Lutheran Church, will be assisting with the service. A reception will take place afterward at the Masonic Lodge in La Grande for family and friends.

Known as Edie, she was born March 23, 1925, to Albert Matysiak and Emma Blank in Berlin, Germany, the youngest of five children. She attended school in Berlin but completed her American high school diploma in 1967 by attending night school

Edie was drafted into the German Army at the age of 18 toward the end of World War II. She served as a teletype operator until she and her company surrendered to the Americans in order not to be captured by Russian soldiers. Having quickly learned English during her captivity, Edie was able to find work with the Americans once she was released.

She first worked as a chambermaid and then, because of her command of English, became the secretary for several American officers. While she was working for the Americans during the American Occupation of Germany she met her first husband, Kenneth Greene.

Edie married Ken in 1948 and traveled aboard a troop ship to her new country as a German war bride. They settled in Ken's hometown, Hornbrook, Calif.

Edie obtained her American citizen ship as soon as she was able and remained a proud American Citizen throughout her lifetime. After living in other California towns, they moved to Oregon in the late 1960s. Edie and Ken had two children and divorced after 25 years of marriage.

By that time, Edie had moved to La Grande. She worked for Lynch Motor Co. for many years as the automotive bookkeeper. Edie married longtime La Grande resident Larry Clark in 1979, and they had almost 16 years together.

Edie belonged to various local organizations, including the Order of Eastern Star Hope Chapter No. 13, Emblem Club No. 518, Eagles Auxiliary, Hospital Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Beta Sigma Phi and TOPS. She was a longtime Pink Lady volunteer at Grande Ronde Hospital and was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church for many years.

Survivors include her children, Trish Neal of Coos Bay and Art Clark of La Grande; three granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren, including three soon to arrive from Haiti and China. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; a son, Robert L. Greene; and husband, Larry Clark.

In lieu pf flowers, memorials may be made to the Grande Ronde Hospital Foundation.