Ellen Marie Grindle

Wasilla resident Ellen Marie Grindle, 89, died Sept. 26, 2013. A memorial service is at 4 p.m., Oct. 5 at Wasilla Bible Church.

Ellen was born Jan. 28, 1924, in Wellington, Kan., to Roy and Pansy Omohundro.

She grew up in Wellington and graduated from Wellington High School. She married Harold (Hal) Grindle on Oct. 15, 1944. She received a degree in dietetics from Kansas University in 1949.

In 1952, they moved to Juneau and in 1955 to Anchorage, where they made their home until moving to Wasilla in 1999.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who genuinely loved God. She was always ready with a meal and a set of clean sheets for anyone. She loved singing, dancing, playing piano, all kinds of crafts, cooking, attending concerts, entertaining and playing games. Mostly she loved people. She was a huge fan of snail-mail and kept up with friends on a regular basis. She was always quick on the uptake. She was adored by her family and friends and will surely be missed.

Surviving are her husband of 68 years; daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Loren Kroon of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Lee Grindle of Renton, Wash.; grandchildren, Troy and Meghan Grindle of Seattle, Wash., Keplan and Rachel Kroon of Wasilla, Teagen Kroon of Las Angeles, Calif., and Tillerman Kroon of Wasilla; and three great-grandchildren, Parker, Noah and Savannah Kroon, all of Wasilla.

Arrangements were made with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory.