Louise Wetzel Choate

Louise Wetzel Choate, age 92, of La Grande, died, January 2, 2003 at a local care facility.


A celebration of life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6, 2003 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. Private interment will be held at the Summerville Cemetery.


Louise was born December 28, 1910 in Pendleton to Lewis I and Floy Wells Wetzel. She attended school in La Grande and graduated from La Grande High School in 1928 and from Eastern Oregon Normal School in 1931. She taught one year in La Grande and two years at Kamela. On August 15, 1933 she married Virgil A. Choate in Pasco, Washington.


Louise enjoyed reading, crafts and needlework. She was interested in working with children, was an active PTA member and a 4-H Leader for boys and for girls. She taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, a den mother for Cub Scouts, a leader of Brownies and Girl Scouts and was a counselor for the regional Girl Scout Camp at Wallowa Lake.


Louise was a life member of the National Good Sam RV Club and a charter member of the Tri-Mountain Good Sam Chapter. She was a 50 year member of the OSU Home Extension study clubs. She enjoyed her family and RV traveling with her husband. She was a member of the Union County Museum, the Union County Historical Society, and the Daughter of the American Revolution. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church.


Survivors include her husband, Virgil A. Choate of La Grande; son, Virgil L. Choate and his wife, Carolyn of The Dalles; daughter, Nancy Christensen of Lebanon, Oregon; sisters, Vera Hearing of Island City and Floy Matthews of Beaverton; four granddaughters, Louisa Christensen and Sara and John Lee, all of Corvallis, Catherine and Perry England of Bellevue, Washington and Judy and Tyler Kendall of Oregon City; great grandchildren, Ivy and Conner Farrell of Corvallis, Zachary and Sebastian Lee of Corvallis, Zachary England of Bellevue, Washington and Austin, Alyson and Adam Kendall of Oregon City; and other relatives and friends. A sister, Virginia Lewis died earlier.


Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Louise to the Union County Historical Museum in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.