Ada Adell Young was invited into this world as a daughter to Floyd and Ella Baumhofer on October 23, 1919. After reaching the amazing achievement of 100 and a half years “young”, Ada completed a life well-lived to join her creator on June 11, 2020.
Ada’s life began with both she and her family braving the extreme elements of Montevideo, Minnesota. She graduated from high school in 1937, followed by completion of Minneapolis Business College. She was employed in numerous secretarial positions in Minnesota until 1948 when she and her brother made the journey to Olympia. Ada then worked for the Washington Gas Company followed by the State Parks and Inheritance Division for the State of Washington. Through mutual friends, Ada met Edward Young, a descendant of an Olympia pioneering family and they were married on June 20, 1953 and started a life together. After welcoming two daughters into their small home on Ed’s farm in East Olympia, they made the decision, with the help of Ada’s parents, to build a larger home on the property. It was a huge family undertaking with Ada drawing up the plans on graph paper and acting as the general contractor during the entire process.
Ada had great faith in God and was an active member of the Methodist Church. She held offices in the Women’s Society and volunteered each Monday recording the Sunday service attendance, which she did all by hand. She was known in the church office as the “human computer”. In past years she was the P.T.O. President at East Olympia School and a Girl Scout leader. She and Ed were long time members of the Olympia chapter of the Untied Ostomy Association. Just last March she retired as the treasurer after many years of preparing her monthly budget reports on a manual typewriter. Having lived through the Great Depression, Ada was practical and frugal. She managed her own household paperwork and finances and always did her math by long-hand. She read the newspaper daily and never missed watching a Mariners game or an episode of Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy.
As the matriarch of the Young/Baumhofer/Sharp family, Ada enjoyed visiting, talking on the phone and staying up into the wee hours writing letters and cards of comfort and love to bridge the miles between family and friends. She was a devoted grandmother known as ‘Granny’ and loved to read, play card games, encourage and be a good listener with her grandchildren. Ada also had a soft spot for animals and allowed stray and inherited pets to make their home with us. Every winter birds were fed daily and she enjoyed watching them from the window. Our family fondly recalls favorite foods from Ada’s kitchen: Grandma B’s recipe for steamy Graham Bread; creamy Macaroni Salad with home-grown chives served on hot summer nights; the best apple pies with paper thin crusts; the aroma of cinnamon rolls baking each time it snowed; and topping off every Christmas dinner with Suet Steamed Bread Pudding and Golden Sauce.
Ada was independent with a stubborn streak. She was not afraid to give you her opinion and at times could even be a force to be reckoned with. She operated on “Ada” time as a night owl, late sleeper and self-proclaimed slow-poke and the rest of the world would be wise to conform to her schedule. When asked her secret to living such a long life her response would always be “just take one day at a time”. Those who knew Ada will remember her as a generous, forgiving person who found joy in helping others.
Left to miss and cherish her memory are: brother Stanley Baumhofer (Susie), daughter Edith Young (Chopper), grandchildren Danell Sharp (Jim), Jeremy Sharp (Rebecca), Justine Sharp, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Waiting to welcome her into heaven were: her parents and husband, daughter Jennie, sister Ellen Swanson, grandson Damien Sharp and niece and nephew Cheryl and Gary Baumhofer.
Our family wishes to thank Dr. Gerald Fay and Nurse Cathy, Dr. Sheila Fay, Dr. Donald Sampson and Dr. Venn Peterson for their years of wonderful medical and dental care. We are especially grateful for the compassionate, loving assistance that Ada received from the 7th floor staff at Providence St. Peter Hospital during the week preceding her passing.
Final arrangements are by Mills and Mills Funeral Home, Tumwater, WA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations payable to First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way S.E., Olympia, WA 98501. It was Ada’s preference that donations benefit the church’s “Help Us Move In” fund.
All are welcome to join our family in a celebration of Ada’s life at the First United Methodist Church. The date will be announced when it is safe for us to gather.
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