Elva L. Whybark Armitage passed away Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, due to complications related to cancer surgery. She was born July 28, 1918, to John and Olive Knight in Stites. She was the youngest of nine children. She spent her childhood on the family farm in Woodland, Idaho, where she attended the Harrisburg Elementary School.

She often related stories of riding her horse, Brownie, to the one-room schoolhouse there in all kinds of weather. She prided herself on the fact that she often won races against school boys on their way to school.

In November 1933, she married a young pastor, Arlie Whybark, and for 37 years they served at various United Brethren churches in northern Idaho, Washington and Oregon. They were married for 56 years before his death in 1989. She was active in the various Women's Missionary Societies, often serving as president. She was most recently a member of the Lewiston First Church of the Nazarene.

As well as being a homemaker, she worked outside of the home at various jobs through the years, and retired from Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston after 17 years, in 1983.

She enjoyed embroidering, reading, church activities and going on sightseeing road trips. She never grew tired of the beautiful scenery to be seen on such short trips around the Northwest and Canada. She also enjoyed family get-togethers and preparing good home-cooked meals for everyone. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great source of joy to her. She cherished each of them and the times she was able to spend with all of them.

In 1990, she and Rollin Armitage were married in Lewiston. They were married for 12 years before his death in 2002. Soon after his death she moved to Evergreen states in Clarkston.

She is survived by her children, Betty and Wes Lowe, and Janet Fulcher, all of Manhattan, Mont., Jane and Ed Jording of Clarkston, and Gary Whybark of Lewiston; stepchildren Rona and Duane Meske, and Dave and Ardean Armitage; as well as eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home of Lewiston.