Elisabeth Riess Nolan

She had recently celebrated her 93rd birthday. She suffered from a chronic illness and passed peacefully at her home.

Elisabeth moved to Odessa from Andrews, Texas with her husband and son in 1970, and lived in the same home the entire time in Odessa. She had a long career in banking and was proud of her time in the banking industry. She was very organized and detail oriented and was highly respected for her work. Elisabeth also believed strongly in protecting environmental aesthetics, and worked hard almost every day cleaning litter in her neighborhood. In fact, she was featured in the Odessa American for her efforts, and received the Ector County Outstanding Environmental Citizen award.

Elisabeth was born in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, Germany on July 22, 1931. She lived her early teen years during World War II, with the challenges and fears of that time. But she also had very joyous days spending time in the woods and mountains of southern Bavaria, picking wild berries, skiing and ice skating, and living in the beauty of God’s creation.

Elisabeth emigrated to the US in 1948 and became a US citizen in 1951 in Tulsa, OK. She first arrived in the US in New York City and learned to speak English by going to movies. She eventually moved to Andrews, TX, where she would meet the love of her life, Glendon Denver Nolan. Elisabeth and Glendon were married in Andrews on January 12, 1957, and had their only son in October 1958.

Elisabeth loved her family and friends. She enjoyed working in the yard, up until her last week in life. She spoke to God often and loved her church. Elisabeth is survived by her son, Erich Donald Luis Nolan and his wife, Linda Lynn Nolan, residing in Rancho Cordova, California; and her grandson Connor Daniel Nolan, also residing in Rancho Cordova, California; her sisters-in-law Liselotte Riess and Doris Riess, both from Kaufbeuren Germany; her niece Laura Nolan Gilley and husband Lonnie Gilley residing in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; niece Christine Müller of Kaufbeuren, Germany; nephew Kirkland Caves Nolan and wife Amy Gould Nolan residing in Austin, Texas; nephew Jay Denver Nolan and wife Michelle Jones Nolan residing in Austin, Texas; nephew Christos Delidimou and wife Litsa Delidimou from Thessaloniki, Greece; nephew Günter Riess and wife Elisabeth Riess from Kaufbeuren, Germany; nephew Gerhard Riess from Kaufbeuren, Germany; nephew Uwe Riess and wife Cornelia Riess from Kaufbeuren, Germany; and nephew Armin Riess and wife Sabine Riess residing in Pforzen, Germany.