Ethel Koeninger Patterson

Ethel Childers Koeninger Patterson died in Austin, Texas on April 27, 2004. Ethel had a long and fruitful life. She was born in Lake Victor, Texas on June 20, 1907 to Susie Browning and William Walter Childers. Before Ethel was three, her mother died of tuberculosis, but Ethel was enveloped with the love of her aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmothers and her dear papa. Ethel grew up in the Oklahoma panhandle. She learned how to play the piano, sew her own clothes and make friends. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in English in 1930. During her college years, she spent summers working with the Y in Arkansas. Also, through the Y she participated in a project to determine the conditions of factories in Houston with the hope of improving the lot of workers. After graduation, she worked for the Y as a secretary in Kansas City. She was an excellent typist and editor, and took shorthand as well. After several boy friends and broken engagements, she married Rupert C. Koeninger in 1934. He was a sociologist who had grown up in the Texas panhandle, and they had many adventures together. In Chicago he worked on his master's and in Columbus, Ohio on his doctorate. Ethel was able to find work throughout the depression. During the 1940's Ethel raised their four children, became a weaver and learned how to play the accordion. They lived in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where Ethel developed many valuable and life-long friendships. She helped her husband start a co-op for Chippewa basketry makers. In 1947, they moved to Huntsville, Texas. In the 1950's, Ethel participated in the Missionary society at the First Methodist Church in Huntsville, she belonged to the AAUW, was a scout troop leader and sewed her children's clothes. She was instrumental in getting the Huntsville school board to improve the conditions in the Black schools. She was a representative at the National Council on Children in Washington, D. C in 1953. She also typed and edited the masters' theses of many Sam Houston State Teachers College students. She was secretary to the president of First National Bank from 1954 to 1962, when the family moved to Houston. In Houston, in the 1960's, Ethel worked as a secretary for Bob Eckhardt and was the office manager for Ralph Yarborough's campaign. In addition, she worked as a cataloguer at the library of Texas Southern University. After Rupert retired from the state of Texas, they lived in Washington, D. C. two years while he taught at American University. In the 1970's, they moved back to Huntsville, where Ethel managed the Trailways Bus Station for a while and worked on a Master's in Library Science. She was an intern at the Huntsville Public Library, and became a puppeteer and storyteller in the library's outreach program. In 1981, she and Rupert moved to Austin. In Austin, Ethel volunteered and took courses with Lifetime Learning, and was a friendly face at the Serendipity group at University United Methodist Church. They were active in the Gem and Mineral Society and the Audubon Society. Rupert and Ethel traveled all around the U. S., Canada and Mexico in their camper. Also they traveled back and forth from Austin to Chitina, Alaska. Ethel ran the bookmobile one summer for the Kenny Lake Library. In 1991, Rupert died and the following year, Ethel married Louis Patterson of Kenny Lake. Ethel and Louis traveled back and forth between their two homes in Alaska and Austin until 2002. Ethel was on the board of the Kenny Lake library, attended the Community Church in Kenny Lake and crocheted snowflakes for the local fair. In May of 2003, Ethel and Louis moved to Vista Oaks of Lakeway, where she continued to be a social butterfly. Ethel was an avid reader all her life. Also she wrote letters and cultivated friendships until her death. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, a half-brother, a brother, her first husband, Rupert C. Koeninger, and her sweet great-grandson, Nico Bracho. She is treasured by those who survive her: her loving husband of eleven years, Louis M. Patterson, her children, Fiamma di Gioia and husband Craig, of Lindstrom, MN, Cliff Koeninger and wife Katrinka, of Austin, Frieda Koeninger, of Huntsville, Texas, Art Koeninger, of Homer, Alaska; eleven grandchildren, Francesca Bracho and husband Romer, of Singapore, Gianmarco Conegliano, of Tokyo, Sara Koeninger and husband Tom, of Austin, Casey, Cody, Rachel and Rebekah Koeninger of Austin, Frieda Gomez and husband Chuy of Mexico City, Salvador Padilla K. and wife Begonia of Puebla, Mexico, Susan Carlock and husband Emilio of Houston, Heidi Plata and husband Marcelo of Puebla; eleven great-grandchildren, Alexander, Marcelo and Leandro Bracho of Singapore, Daniela and Emilio Carlock of Houston, Chuy Gomez of Mexico City; Salvador and Santiago Padilla V., Marcelo, Carolina and Victoria Plata of Puebla, as well as a host of friends. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff and residents of Vista Oaks of Lakeway for their care and friendship. Also they would like to recognize Dr. Peggy Russell for 23 years of very special and wonderful medical care for Ethel. A celebration of Ethel's wonderful life will be held on May 8, at 2:00 p.m., at the chapel of University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe. Arrangements by Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin, 442-1446. You may view memorials at www.wcfish.com.