Ethel Emma Rathgeber

August 31, 1918 - January 19, 2010

Ethel Emma, daughter of Lottie Mina (Boham) and George M. Parker was born on August 31, 1918 near Hopeton, Oklahoma. She passed away at the Alva Share Convalescent Home on the 19th day of January at the age of 91 years, 4 months and 19 days. She attended a rural school near Hopeton and high school at Hardtner, Kansas graduating with the class of 1937. After graduating she was diagnosed with Polio and was paralyzed from the waist down, and spent the next year at the Wichita Wesley Hospital. With intense therapy and determination she regained the ability to walk again and returned home to Hardtner. Miss Parker was married to Charles A. Rathgeber on April 28, 1946 in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. To their marriage two daughters Linda and Carol were born. Charles passed away on March 22, 1989. Following their marriage they lived and farmed North of Hardtner. In 1989 she moved to Alva to make her home. Mrs. Rathgeber was a member of the Hardtner United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was preceded in death by a grandson Adam Klema, her parents, a sister, Mina Jane Knox and a brother Lawrence Parker. Ethel is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Linda and Ted Terwort of Grand Lake, Oklahoma and Carol and Jim Klema, Beloit, Kansas, two grandchildren, Jeff Terwort and Blake Klema, three great grandchildren, Kody, Zach and Drew Terwort. A brother-in-law Donald Knox of Alva, several nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. PDF Printable Version