Eleanor Violet Hatch

Eleanor Violet Hatch, 93, of Bend and formerly of Joseph, died Nov. 28 of natural causes at her family's home in Bend, where she lived the past three years. A memorial service will begin at

11 a.m. Friday at the Joseph United Methodist Church, 301 S. Lake St., Joseph. A graveside burial will follow at Joseph Cemetery.

Eleanor was born July 1, 1917, in Beach, N.D. At the age of 8, she moved to Newberg with her mother, sister and brother after her father died.

She worked as a nanny in Corvallis while she attended Oregon Agricultural State College and graduated in 1940 after the school changed names to Oregon State College (and later Oregon State University), with a degree in home economics.

In 1944, she married Henry I. Hatch and they made their home in Joseph. Eleanor was the home-ec teacher at Joseph High School for more than 30 years until she retired in 1983.

She was an avid sports fan (she loved the OSU Beavers) and enjoyed serving as assistant girls basketball coach when Joseph won three state titles.

She was a member of Joseph's Valley Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star and the Beta Sigma Phi sorority for the past 52 years. In 2000, she was the proud grand marshal of the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Parade.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Olive; brother, Herb; and husband, Henry "Hank," the love of her life.

Survivors include her sons and their wives, Merle and Chela Hatch, Phillip and Suzanne Hatch, Gene Hatch, and Dean and Denise Hatch; her nephew and his wife; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children - Portland, 800-241-GIFT, or Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, 62326 Hurricane Creek Road, Joseph 97846.

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