Obituary of Pearl A. Ginther

Pearl A. Ginther went to meet her Lord in the early morning on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the age of 101 in her home in Puyallup, Washington. She was born in Canton, South Dakota on September 13, 1909 and was raised on her parents farm in Bryant, South Dakota with her 8 siblings and parents Alfred & Bergit Stadem. Pearl is survived by a younger sister, Cora Taylor (age 95) in Brazil and a brother, Rev. Leroy Stadem of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Surviving children include Darrell, Lorin, Wayne, Ronald, Roberta, and Jerry Ginther and daughters Joyce Bassett and Gloria Brown. She had 11 grandchildren and 15 ½ great-grandchildren. Pearl’s husband, Robert Lee Ginther, died in 1947. Mrs. Ginther worked for many years as head cook at the Lutheran Home, Lutherland Bible Camp and Marble Hall. Pearl was a life-long member of Mt. View Lutheran Church and was the church’s first ‘woman’ council member and participated as an active deacon, even as a centenarian. She worked hard and diligently in the 90’s on the church’s chapel restoration fund drive. Pearl was active with the Seafarers’ Mission, Puyallup Aglow, the Puyallup Garden Club and enjoyed quilting for missions with the ladies of her church. Pearl was notorious for her driving habits and was on a first-name basis with several traffic court judges – she was always in a hurry! Pearl Ginther touched hundreds of lives throughout her years of caring, loving and helping others in all walks of life who were in distress and without hope. She joyfully encouraged anyone in need, was never critical, and spent hours, days and months to help friends and strangers turn to the Lord. Her loving response to all was “if you want to go to heaven, you must go through the ‘Pearly Gates’! Memorial services will be held at Mt. View Lutheran Church on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 6:30pm. The family suggests that monetary memorial gifts be given to the Seafarers’ Mission, Pearl’s favorite charity, C/O Mt. View Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center 253-566-1008