Memorial
Oletha Ebsen, 85, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.
A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the family and sent in care of Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, 4200 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
Oletha was born March 26, 1931, to Talmadge and Eivlee Courson in Nichols, Ga. She was raised and attended high school in Nichols. Following high school she moved to Tallahassee, Fla., where she worked as a waitress at a local drive-in. It was during this time she met Delbert, the love of her life. In 1950, she moved to Cedar Rapids to stay with his parents while he served in Korea.
On Sept. 15, 1952, she was united in marriage to Delbert Ebsen, and to this union two children were born. Oletha was employed by Cryovac in Cedar Rapids for several years before she left to start a family. In 1972, she began a 19-year career with Hy-Vee Food Stores in Cedar Rapids, where she worked as manager in the deli department. Oletha and Delbert moved to Georgia for several years after their retirement, returning to Iowa in 2008.
Oletha enjoyed sewing, knitting, crafts, training dogs, dancing, going to casinos and spending time with her family.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Delbert, of 65 years; a son, Stephen (Laurie) Ebsen, and daughter, Kathy (Dave) Markham, both of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Tony and Shay Ebsen, Jessica (Chris) Blake, Chris (Jen) Markham and Sarah Markham; and three great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Alexandra Blake and Makayla Markham.
Preceding her in death were her parents, four sisters, one brother and two grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of Mercy for all the care and comfort during this difficult time.