Delores A. Truesdale

July 11, 1936-

December 12, 2019

Delores Ann Truesdale of Dayton passed away on December 12, 2019, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland. She was 83 years old.

Delores was born July 11, 1936, to Arthur and Leora Gochenour Stephens of Spray, Ore.

She grew up on the Spray Ranch and attended both Grade School and High School in Spray. Being a farm girl, she was involved with 4-H and other community functions. In her senior year, she was the Rodeo Queen and rode a beautiful spirited Palomino in the parade. She graduated valedictorian of her class.

After graduation, Delores moved to live with her aunt Nancy and her husband John Wantulok of The Dalles, Ore. They were the owners of Johnny's Cafe, once a landmark of earlier days. There she took the job as a Telephone Switch Board Operator, back when it was patch cords and plug-ins.

Aunt Nancy and one of her waitresses, having good intentions, set Delores up on a blind date with a young man who ate frequently at the restaurant. He had just been discharged from the U.S. Air Force and was working as a cable engineer, building the first TV cable in The Dalles.

After a short engagement Delores and Robert Truesdale were married in the little church in Spray, Ore. It is recorded that they were the first couple to be married in that church.

The newlyweds moved on to Angola, Ind., where Bob would attend college, after which they returned to Portland and then Walla Walla, where Bob managed the Montgomery Ward TV Service Department. At this time, in 1956, their first son was born. The couple then moved to Dayton and established a TV Sales Service (Bob's TV) and in due time two more children were born.

Delores enjoyed the small-town atmosphere and joined in many things. She was a member of the Bonita Jrs, the Order of the Eastern Star, TOPS and other social events.

She enjoyed sewing and crocheting, and making gift boxes for Ma Dingle. She liked growing and making flower arrangements for others. Like a lot of women, she enjoyed the seasonal work at the Green Giant Cannery. For several years she worked at the Joe Groom Realty. After that she worked a few more years at Freddie's Food Market.

When Freddie's closed, she retired and spent her time enjoying her family, gardening, crocheting, visiting with friends and being a housewife.

Delores is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Leora Stephens.

Delores is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert Truesdale; her oldest son Robert (Steve) Truesdale and his wife Louann; three grandchildren, Jennifer, Christopher and Matthew; her second son, Edward and his wife Dorene, grandchildren, Derek and Nicole; a great granddaughter, Lily; and her daughter Kristi Truesdale and granddaughter Seana and grandson Draeden.

There will be a Grave Side Service at 11 a.m., Friday, December 27, 2019, followed by a brief gathering and refreshments at the Delany Building.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.