Ethel Jesse Church

Ethel Jesse (Bartos) Whitaker Church

Funeral services were held on March 15, 2008 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel, Calif. Ethel passed peacefully at home in Aptos, Calif. on her 101st birthday

Ethel was born March 11, 1907, in Hemingford, Neb., the daughter of Joseph and Minnie (Wanek) Bartos. She was the oldest of four children. During the early years Joe Bartos moved the family to homestead northeast of Lost Springs.

In 1922, Ethel married Franklin Whitaker and together had four sons. Later she married James Church and together raised two more children.

In 1945 the family moved to California when United Airlines closed in Cheyenne. All through the years she has been very active in her church Sunday school, bible study and choir. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother-in-law. She will always be remembered for her kindness and caring of others. She has donated several items to the Lusk Museum including a bridal quilt given to her in 1922.

Ethel is survived by her sons Jim Whitaker (Kay) of San Carlos, Calif., Ted Whitaker (Georgia) of Lingle, Marty Church (Andrea) of San Carlos, Calif., and daughter Benecia Price of Incline Village, Nev., a sister Merle (Bartos) Sylvester, Jennings of Wheatland, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Floyd and Glen Bartos, husband James Church, sons Jack and Wendall Whitaker, and granddaughter Riley Church.

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