Edward Jacob "E.J." Ebel

Edward Jacob "E.J." Ebel, 90, a longtime Moses Lake Businessman and resident for over 62 years, passed away Saturday morning, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.

He was born on November 29, 1914 at Irvine, Alberta, Canada to the late Jacob J. and Lydia (Patzer) Ebel. While yet an infant, the family traveled by covered wagon to their new homestead in the Northeastern Montana area 30 miles north of Chinook. In 1929, they moved to Washington state. They lived to the north of Wheeler prior to moving into Neppel, now Moses Lake. Some years later, they moved to Oaksdale, where Ed attended high school and graduated from Oaksdale High School in 1933. He entered the C.C.C. Camps, (Civilian Conservation Corps), and worked for two years before working road construction on what is now Interstate 90. In 1936, he went to work on the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. He worked at Grand Coulee Dam as a Concrete Finisher for the next seven years, through 1943.

He and Marjorie J. Goodwin met in 1938 and on August 1, 1940, they were married at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They moved their family of four to Moses Lake in 1943. Ed became an Insurance Agent and sold Insurance for a short time prior to becoming a Real Estate Agent and Broker. He started his own agency known as Ebel Realty in Moses Lake in 1947 and operated it until selling the Agency and retiring in the mid 1980's. The Agency is now known as Gary Mann Realty.

Upon retiring, Ed and Marge enjoyed touring a large portion of the United States towing their travel trailer.

Ed joined the First Presbyterian Church of Moses Lake in 1948 and quickly started singing in the choir. He served as an Elder, was Chairman or Treasurer of various committees, active with the Building Committee and had been youth group director. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Tall Timber Presbyterian Church Camp located near Plain, Washington. He had been involved with the Camp since before its inception, had assisted in aspects of its construction and had been a counselor. He received an Honorary Life membership in the Tall Timber Wrestling Association in appreciation of his contribution between 1959 - 1976. He was a longtime member of the Association of Realtors. As a broker, E.J. organized the Moses Lake Real Estate Board in 1952 and served as the first President of that organization. He also helped organize the Multiple Real Estate Listing Board and the Insurance Association. He served for many years on the Grant County Fair Board and was the Treasurer for 25 years. He was community minded and had served as a member of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Rotary and the Agriculture Committee. He helped start Little League Baseball in Moses Lake and had also been a coach. He was involved with Boy Scouts and had served as President of the P.T.A. at Chief Moses Junior High School.

He continually invested in community and church, speaking out and offering assistance wherever needed. He met challenges and accepted responsibility with a grateful, giving heart. Ed was committed to serving his Lord, Jesus Christ.

He was a remarkable bridge player, enjoyed playing the harmonica, growing roses and when he was younger liked to water ski, ice skate, going fishing and ice fishing.

Ed is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Marjorie "Marge" Ebel, Moses Lake; their son and daughter-in-law, William E. "Bill" and the Rev. Suzanne Ebel, Albuquerque, N.M.; their daughter, Ann L. Ebel, Moses Lake; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Harold and his wife Phyllis Ebel and Charlene "Chuck" Ebel all of Moses Lake; his sister, Christina "Tina" Vance, Fruita, Colo.; four grandchildren, Edward Ebel and Lauri Ebel both of Albuquerque, N.M., Amy Paul, St Louis, Mo., David Ebel, Prescott, Ariz. and five great-grandchildren, Mikayla, Jonathon, Jacob and Ericka Ebel all of Albuquerque, N.M. and Zachary Ebel, Bellingham. He was preceded in death by his brother, Leo "Butch" Ebel, sister, Viola Hochstatter, half sister, Lillian Gilbertson and his grandson, Thomas Ebel.

Services of Commemoration will be held on Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Moses Lake at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Eric Frey officiating. The services will conclude at the church. In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Whitworth College Scholarship Fund, c/o 300 N. Hawthorne, Spokane, WA 99251, Big Bend Community College Scholarship Foundation, c/o 7662 Chestnut Street N.E. Moses Lake, WA 98837, Moses Lake First Presbyterian Church Youth Camp Scholarship Fund, c/o 1142 West Ivy, Moses Lake, WA 98837 or the charity of the donors choice.

Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.