One of the world's rays of sunshine, Glenda Whittle, passed away on Dec. 9, 2018, at the age of 80. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was a source of joy to her family and those who were privileged to know her. She was dedicated to her family and was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Born in Rupert, Idaho, on Sept. 19, 1938, Glenda was welcomed into this world by her parents, Elmer and Clara Skaggs. She was the middle child of five, with an older brother and sister, Elmer and Lorraine, and two younger sisters, Sharon and Kathy. She grew up in rural Idaho where she and her siblings worked hard to help support their family. After graduating from high school in 1956, she completed business school and worked for the state government in Boise. She went on to attend Idaho State University in Pocatello with her sister Sharon.

She loved ISU where she was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority, donned the Bengal mascot suit for football and helped tutor a sight-impaired woman with whom she became very good friends. But the highlight of her college experience was a blind date where she met her future husband, Gary Whittle. That initial date blossomed into a romance that ended with wedding bells a year later. Glenda decided to work full time at Garrett Freight Lines supporting Gary to complete his degree in Pharmacy.

After Glenda and Gary were married in Pocatello on Nov. 11, 1960, they welcomed their first of three sons, Greg, in Sept. 1961. Soon after graduation, they moved to Kennewick, Washington, where Gary began his career as a pharmacist. They rounded out their family while in Kennewick with the births of two more boys, Brad and Randy. A new job opportunity for Gary brought them to Lebanon, Oregon, where they lived for a short time in the beautiful rolling hills of Sodaville.

Glenda and Gary then had an opportunity to move to Central Oregon in 1972, and become a co-owner and pharmacist of Thrifty Drug (later renamed to Home Town Drug) in Madras. Even though they initially missed the lovely green of the valley, they grew to love Central Oregon – the mountain views, clean dry air and the friendly people. Her favorite activity was early morning walks where she would watch the sun rise and light up the mountains. She became a fixture in the community working at Thrifty with Gary, and would make everyone feel welcomed by chatting with friends and strangers alike.

Glenda was a voracious reader and adored all types of books, from religious to fiction. She also wrote regularly in her journal, leaving a legacy of memories for her family. She treasured teaching and was an early morning seminary teacher for nearly 10 years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved going to church and enjoyed a rich fellowship with the members of the Madras ward where she served in various capacities throughout her life. She was the proud mom of two sons, who served full-time missions for the church in Italy and Australia.

One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to spend time with them. A favorite shared memory her grandchildren experienced was grandma's bedtime stories. She would use her vivid imagination to conjure up personalized stories resulting in wide eyes and lots of giggles.

Glenda is survived by her husband Gary and their two sons Brad (Thia) Whittle and their children, Caleb (Rachel) Whittle, Nicole and Rachel; Randy (Colette) Whittle and their children, McKenzie (Chandler) McCullough and their son, Riley; Noah, Luke and Sam. The children of Greg (deceased) Mike Ashton (Jourdan) and their daughters, Markley and Sawyer, Tyler Ashton, (Jessi) and their children, Mckenzie and Justin, Lindsay Storm (Tyler) and their son, Tanner, Tatum and Micah Whittle. Glenda was preceded in death by her sisters, Lorraine and Sharon; son, Greg; and granddaughter, Sydney. She was loved by many. She will be greatly missed.

Viewing will be held Friday, Dec. 14, at Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home (762 NE 10th St, Madras) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (340 Northeast Oak St, Madras) 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 15.