Lucille Grace Feil

Lucille G. Feil passed away January 6, 2011, at her home in East Wenatchee, WA. She was born November 5, 1922, to William and Margaret (McNuelty) Wood in Spokane, WA. When she was young, she moved with her family to Orondo, WA, where her dad worked for Ed Gensinger as a foreman of Orondo Orchards. He later started his own orchards, which became his life's work. Lucille worked alongside her brothers and sisters, watering the trees by hand and packing the fruit. She attended Cottonwood Elementary School in Orondo, East Wenatchee Junior High and Wenatchee High School, (the Eastside kids were known as the "bridge walkers"), graduating with the class of 1940. She went on to attend Multnomah Bible College in Portland, OR, and graduated with a Bible degree in 1943. She met her future husband, Bob, on the school bus when she was young. The Orondo kids were the first stop on the route, which then picked up the Baker Flats kids, where Bob lived. From the time he met her, he knew she was "the one." Bob always says that she was his "ninth grade sweetheart," and the rest is history. They married December, 26, 1943. Bob was working at Boeing as a machinist during the war years, so their first home was in Seattle. They later returned to the Wenatchee Valley and moved into a little house behind their repair shop when their first son, Dan, was just a baby. Later came Becky, Dick and Tom. Bob would simply add on another room to the little brick house as the kids were born. During this time, Lucille worked at the Wells and Wade packing shed and prided herself as being the fastest packer on the line. (Being paid by how many boxes you packed was a pretty good incentive.) Lucille would pick cherries for the Feil Family orchard, picking the tops of the trees so her kids could pick the lower limbs. Dan was the only one who got to pick his own trees. Bob continued to work at his repair shop, which eventually turned into Bob Feil Boats & Motors. Lucille kept the books for the business and became his support, as they built the business into what it is today. She and Bob made many trips over the pass to bring boats, motors and accessories back to the boat shop. When computers became a necessary part of the business, Lucille decided it was time for her to retire. She filled her time with her grandkids, lunches, shopping trips to Yakima to see Becky, boat shows (she especially loved the Seattle Boat Show), dealer meetings throughout the country, Mississippi River Cruises, working on the WHS 1940 Class Reunion Committee, and working on the Douglas County Election Committee. Christmas was always a huge production at her home, with decorations and presents that she seemed to start buying in July. She made sure everything was equal. Summers were spent at their home on the South shore of Lake Chelan. Lucille took pride in having a neat and orderly home. (Those of you who know Bob, know what a challenge she had there). Being on time or early was also one of her ways. (That really posed a challenge to Bob, who tends to get sidetracked and lose track of time.) She loved the social connections and people she met in all of her activities. She was an active member of the Wenatchee First Baptist Church and the Victory Circle and taught Sunday school there for many years. Later, Lucille and Bob attended Wenatchee Free Methodist Church and were active members until her health no longer allowed her to attend. These last few years, Bob devoted his time to Lucille's care and there was never any question for him that she should live her final years at home. Their kids were always there to help as her care became a full-time commitment. Bob was at her side, just the two of them, holding her hand and resting as she slipped peacefully through Heaven's gates. Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, William and Margaret Wood; her brother, the Rev. Merle Wood; and her sisters, Ruth Perkins and Lola Gange. She is survived by her husband, Bob Feil of East Wenatchee; her sons, Dan (Sally) Feil, Dick (Delores) Feil, and Tom (Susan) Feil, all of East Wenatchee; her daughter, Becky (Jerry) Besel of Yakima; her 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; her brothers, the Rev. Ralph (Alberta) Wood of Lancaster, PA and the Rev. Bill (Lois) Wood of Brewster, WA; and her sister-in-law, Helen Wood of Yakima. We shall miss you until we meet again. A Celebration of Lucille's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2011, at Wenatchee Free Methodist Church, 1601 Fifth Street, Wenatchee, with the Rev. Les Krober leading the service. Interment will take place Thursday, January 13, 2011, at Evergreen Memorial Park in East Wenatchee. No visitation will be held. Arrangements by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Lucille Grace Feil

November 5, 1922 - January 6, 2011