Obituary: Willingham, Elva (Miesch)
Age 73
WILLINGHAM, Elva (Miesch)
10/13/38 to 3/24/2012
Elva Miesch Willingham was variously described as classy, elegant, sophis-ticated and passionate, but was best described as truly loving.
As a young adult, Elva went to France, married and eventually came to Spokane in 1965 with her husband, Guy Miesch.
She worked at the Shack restaurant as a hostess while earning her teaching degree at EWU.
Guy was the restaurant maitre d’ at the Spokane House.
She was widowed in 1975 with three children.
In 1977, she married Don Willingham, who always felt blessed by his good fortune, and formed an increased family with his three children.
Elva loved her husband, biological children, step-children and friends without reservation.
She taught French and English at Ferris High School (she said it was “for 100 years”), French for one year at Whitworth, English as a Second Language in Budapest, Hungary, and at EWU.
She was a licensed Financial Planner and had her own business for several years.
She served on the boards of Connoisseur Concerts and the Unitarian Church and was active in social concerns.
In her time she protested the Vietnam War and worked at eliminating rental bias.
Elva died after living with breast cancer for more than seven years.
She leaves behind her husband Don Willingham and children Marc Miesch, Andre Miesch (wife Vonnie), Eric Miesch (wife Adrianne Lara), Jeni Carr, Dodd Willingham (wife Joana), and Frank Willingham (wife Brenda); grandchildren Alexandra Miesch, Raven Willingham, Arwyn Willingham, Austin Willingham, Alia Willingham, John Carr, Jessi Carr, Courtney Herron, James Herron , Nick Bogle, Xavier Yeates, and Tiffany Yeates; brothers Lynn Johnson and Phil Johnson; and many nieces and cousins.
Her friends were legion.
She will be missed.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 6:30 pm on Monday, April 9.
A Life Celebration will follow the service at the Latah Bistro at 9 pm.