Edna was born on February 13, 1932 in Ainsworth, Nebraska to William and Alma Billeter. During her early years she loved the open prairie and spent many hours riding her Shetland pony, Pepper. At the age of 13 her family moved to Robertsdale, Alabama where Edna attended Robertsdale High School. While in Alabama, she still loved to ride horses and swim in the gulf. She also often accompanied a classmate on the piano and organ at various events.
Upon moving to Portland, friends invited Edna to attend a youth group known as “New Horizons” at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Edna was interest in going but had no transportation. Her friends also knew a young man named Richard Paul and suggested he give the newest member a ride. Richard was reluctant at first, but fortunately began chauffeuring Edna in his 1951 Chevy and became a willing escort. Edna and Richard’s friendship grew into much more and they were married on March 23, 1958 at Westminster.
Edna balanced work and family and was employed as an administrative secretary with Wheeler-Hallock Lumber, Santiam Lumber, John Graham, architect for the Lloyd Center, Howard Brewton Construction Company, and Portland Public Schools before retiring in 1991. She also continued to play the organ regularly at a local Baptist church. She was always a hard worker and was very productive with her free time. Edna was a devoted and caring mother and grandmother. She was involved in her daughters’ activities in school, Camp Fire Girls, PTA, and numerous church activities; and cared for her grandchildren while her daughters were at work. Edna enjoyed spending time with family; hiking, agate hunting at the beach, playing games and white water rafting. She had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed trips around the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
In her spare time Edna served as a Deacon at Calvary Presbyterian Church where the family attended, was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and volunteered weekly, including special events as a friendly visitor at the Veterans Hospital in Vancouver.
Edna put others’ needs before her own. Her heart was big and was filled with kindness and compassion. She will be dearly missed by her loving husband of 55 years, Richard Paul: daughter Sarah Fawver and husband Steve Fawver of Boring, Oregon; daughter Carolyn Paul and husband Stan Eskierka of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Grandchildren, Kristin Fawver, Greg Fawver and Jackson Eskierka, and many family members and friends. Her only sibling, a brother Frank, predeceased her in 1986.
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