Ethel Pitchford

Ethel Pitchford, 99, died at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, July 31, 2011 at the Hospice of Hope in Mt. Orab, Ohio from complications from injuries received in an automobile accident while she was in Ohio visiting her granddaughter.She was born in Maquoketa, Iowa on Nov. 6, 1911 one of eight children born to the late William & Eva (Ward) Atherton.Her family moved to the Kemper area, where Ethel graduated from Medora High School.  She married Lynn Pitchford on Sept. 24, 1933, and the two made their home in Rockbridge for several years, before moving to Hettick where they lived for many years operating their farm.  After the death of her husband on May 18, 1989, Ethel relocated to Jerseyville, to be nearer to her daughter.While on the farm, Ethel thoroughly enjoyed family get togethers, and especially Sunday dinners.  She was a member of the Charity Christian Center in Jerseyville, the Panhandle Unit of Home Extension, attended Royal Neighbor meetings, and volunteered at many area nursing homes.Ethel loved to stay busy, and was a member of the Creative Gardeners of Jersey County, and she & Alvena entered many local fairs, including the Illlinois State Fair, and were awarded numerous ribbons for their vegetables and baked goods.She and her daughter, Alvena were blessed with a loving relationship, and the two enjoyed many walks together and numerous trips to Branson and many other locales, and many of her family were looking forward to a planned 100th birthday celebration to take place in November.Surviving are her daughter, Alvena Whitwell McGowen of Jerseyville;  three grandchildren and their spouses, Annette & Mark Partin of Williamsburg, Oh., Melissa and Arthur Schattke of West Chicago, and Mark Whitwell of Tampa, Fl.; six great grandchildren, Amber, Matthew, Luke, Michael, and Sherri Lynn Partin, and Katie Schattke; two sisters, Dora Couch of Pittsfield, and Iva Wildt of East Alton.In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sons in law, Donald Whitwell and Walter McGowen; three brothers, Art Atherton, Ira Atherton and Roy Atherton; and two sisters, Ida Fry and Perle Moore.Visitation will be fro 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday.  Rev. Wilbur Cain will officiate.Burial will be in the Witt Cemetery in Rockbridge.Memorials may be given to her family in care of Crawford Funeral Home.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home