Elva Jodar Obituary

Elva Jodar

Elva A. Jodar passed away on Saturday, August 14, 2004, following a brief illness. It was just four weeks after her 87th birthday.
She was born Elva Anna Caroline Anderegg on a farm in Guttenberg, Iowa in 1917. After attending college in Elkater, 18-year-old Elva became the youngest person ever to teach the Jolly Ridge School, grades 1-8. She married Theodore (Ted) Jodar in October 1940, and the couple moved to California in 1942 to build "Liberty Ships" in Richmond, California during the war. At only 4'8" and 105 pounds, she was a talented and indefatigable worker throughout her life. Living in Richmond, she and Ted raised four sons.
The Jodars retired to Edmonds in 1970 and soon became highly active in the seniors community. Until Ted's death in 1996, Elva and he were well known as "the Keenagers" performing dancing exhibitions at Senior Centers throughout the region. Second only to her Christian faith, dancing was Elva's passion and she last danced on July 4th.
Elva Jodar's favorite scriptural passage was Philippians 4:4-10 and she always urged others to "choose joy" as a way of life. Her life was characterized by robust health and boundless energy. Even during her final illness, she still had the vise-like grip of the Iowa milkmaid who used to empty eight cows twice a day.
Elva is survived by her four sons: Paul, Byron, Vaughn, all residing in California and David Jodar of Seattle. Additionally, she has six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren to remember her. She is also survived by sisters Fern Carlson (Sacramento, CA) and Opal Strohmeyer (Phoenix, AZ), as well as by her brother Dale Anderegg of Guttenberg, Iowa.
Memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 19th at 4:00 pm at the Faith Community Church, 10220 238th Street S.W. Edmonds, WA.