Darlene Virginia Lightbody

Darlene Virginia Lightbody was born April 15, 1930 in Wenatchee to Harry and Mary (Kissler) Tompkins. She died July 10 at Eagle Springs Memory Care in Walla Walla.

Darlene, known as "Dolly," spent her childhood in Hatton, Wash. She graduated from Lind High School with the class of 1948.

Darlene married Paul William Lightbody on June 25, 1948, in Missoula, Mont. They lived on a farm between Ritzville and Odessa, where they had three sons: Steven Paul born September 28, 1949, Stanley Daryl born December 29, 1951 and Myron Glen born June 8, 1954.

They moved into Odessa in 1963 when Darlene started working for Drs. Anderson and Gudgel at the Odessa Clinic, while Paul worked for the post office. The medical practice moved to Spokane in 1969, and Lightbodys moved there so Darlene could work in the medical field, and Paul worked for the University School District.

Darlene later became secretary and bookkeeper for the Spokane Railroad Union until her retirement, when she and Paul became "snowbirds," traveling to Arizona each winter.

Paul died July 26, 1986. Darlene also lost her two younger sons, Stanley on August 19, 1969 in an automobile accident and Myron on April 30, 2008 from a heart attack.

She found a traveling companion in Millard Owensby, and they purchased a home in Spokane. They were together for 14 years before his death.

In 2008, Darlene moved to Walla Walla to be closer to her surviving son Steve and his wife Peggy Lightbody.

She is also survived by two grandsons, Travis Glen and wife Clara of Atlanta, Ga. and Troy James and their mother, Mindy Lightbody of Spokane Valley. She is also survived by one sister-in-law, Helen Tompkins Vincent of Spokane and many nieces and nephews.

Darlene's sisters and brothers all proceeded her in death, Elta Ragsdale, Lorraine Miller and Thomas Tompkins, all former Ritzville residents, and Vernon and Glen Tompkins from Pasco.

Services were held at Thornhill Valley Chapel in Spokane Valley July 30, with burial at the Pines Cemetery.