Patricia Ann Oberg
Elmer and Pat
Patricia (Patty) Oberg passed away on March 23, 2020 at the age of 95. She was born in Leavenworth, Washington to Isaac C. and Bertie (Scarbrough) English on September 21, 1924, the youngest of five children. She lived in Peshastin until the family moved to Wenatchee in November, 1928. Patty attended Columbia Elementary School, H.B. Ellison Junior High School and graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1942. Her teacher, Mrs. Vere DeVoe recommended Patricia for a job at the Wenatchee YMCA and she started working as Office Secretary in April, 1942, getting credit for her business classes and taking a two hour lunch so she could complete her English class requirement. It was at the Y she met the love of her life, Elmer M. Oberg, who was working for his room at the Y while attending Wenatchee Junior College.
They were married in April, 1944 at the Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church when Elmer came home on leave. They went to Denver, Colorado, where Elmer was in training as an armorer gunner for the US Army Air Corps. His next duty station was in Harlingen, Texas where Pat worked at Montgomery Ward as a salesperson. After a furlough home to Wenatchee they were then stationed in Pueblo, Colorado where Elmer was assigned to a B-24 Liberator bomber crew as a Sperry ball turret gunner. When the crew flew off to Italy in February of 1945, Pat returned to Wenatchee and worked again during the income tax season for CPA C.W. Franklin.
With the war over in Europe, Elmer came back to the States and they enjoyed R & R in Santa Monica, California. Elmer was sent to Laredo, Texas, to train as gunnery instructor and Pat was waiting at her uncle’s home in Long Beach to see if she could join Elmer when Hiroshima was bombed. Pat did go to Laredo and when the Japanese surrendered and the training was discontinued, Elmer was honorably discharged and they came home to Wenatchee.
Pat worked part-time for Mr. Franklin and was working full time until she “retired” to start their family. Their son, David, was born followed by Ann, Margaret and Nancy. She continued to work part time for Mr. Franklin during tax season until caring for four little ones became a full time job. When Nancy was in fifth grade Pat started working two hours a day at Lewis and Clark Elementary School, eventually increasing hours as the children got older. In 1973 she transferred to a full time position at the Superintendent’s office and retired in 1982 as an Assistant Accountant and Administrative Secretary. She then worked part time for another year before “retiring” for good.
Pat had been a member of Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church since March, 1937. She was so proud when the church held its Centennial in 1992 and their four children all sang in the reunion choir as they had all sung in the youth choirs for many years. Pat was active in Presbyterian Women and was honored to receive their Woman of the year Award in 1991. She was a circle member, a deacon and treasured all the lasting friendships she had make through the years. After moving to Kirkland to live with her son, David, she became a member of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church.
Elmer and Pat were both very active in Lewis and Clark PTA and held many offices, including Co-Presidents and both received the Golden Acorn Award from the State PTA in 1963. Pat felt very blessed that all four of their children graduated from Wenatchee High School with honors.
Elmer took his final flight on September 24, 2010. Pat was also pre-deceased by her parents, Isaac and Bertie English; her siblings, Homer and Alice English, Bob and Ella English, Fred and Julia English, Ethleyn English; her nephews Robert E. English and Robert L. English, Jr. Surviving are her beloved children, David Oberg, Kirkland, WA, Ann and Bob Torkelson, South Bend WA, Margaret and Syd France, Kirkland and Nancy and Sherman Knight, Kirkland. She is also survived by her precious grandchildren, Thomas France and Christine, David France and Ashley, Kevin Torkelson, Alexandra Leggett and Shaun, Danielle Giles and Matt, and Michael Knight. She is also survived by great grandchildren Charlotte and Vivian France and Henry Leggett as well as several very special nieces and nephew and in-laws.
A memorial service in Kirkland will be planned for sometime in the summer and a grave side service in Wenatchee for late summer.