Pearl Tonnemaker
Lifelong Central Washington resident Pearl Tonnemaker passed away peacefully at home in the company of family and friends on December 23, 2004. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday with an open house at the Royal City Nazarene Church. Pearl lived from the days of strictly horse transportation to the space and computer age. She was born November 28, 1904 in Ritzville, Washington to Jess and Eglin (Morris) Pearce. She spent her childhood in several towns in the Yakima Valley including Mabton and Zillah. She graduated from Zillah High School in 1923 as part of a class of 8 students. After finishing school, she became well known as the fastest apple packer in the local apple sheds. She married Orland Tonnemaker on June 14, 1925 in Zillah and moved to a farm between Zillah and Granger. While there a daughter Nadine was born in 1927 followed by a son Gene in 1928. In 1934 the family moved to Oroville to a small farm near the shore of Lake Osoyoos. In 1943 the family moved back to the Yakima Valley settling on a farm near Prosser. After Orland accepted a job as an extension agent for WSU, the couple moved to Ephrata in 1951. While in Ephrata, Pearl thoroughly enjoyed working as the bookkeeper for Ping Electric. She also loved attending the Ephrata Christian Church where an active ladies group met for lunch each week. During this time, Pearl and Orland were very active members of the Pomona Grange in Quincy. Recently she received her 80 year member card. She and Orland also worked a farm outside Quincy north of the present day rest area on Trinidad Hill. Orland and Pearl committed themselves to establishing a farm to pass down to future generations. They found an undeveloped farm on the north slope of the Frenchman Hills that they felt would be ideal for an orchard. In 1962 they purchased the land on Dodson Road near Royal City where Pearl has resided ever since. Pearl and Orland started the farm from sagebrush, sand and rock. They planted the first orchard on the north slope of the Frenchman Hills. Pearl did all kinds of physically difficult jobs on the farm well into her eighties.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
