Obituary of Elva Mae Guttu

Elva Mae Guttu Born into time July 3, 1930 – Entered into Eternity January 19, 2011 Elva Mae Guttu of Camas, WA, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, surrounded by her family. She was 80 years old. Born in Vancouver, Washington on July 3, 1930, she was the only child of Kermit and Mae Edwards. Elva was a life-time resident to the Pacific Northwest. At age nine, her family moved from Vancouver to Seaside and then to Warrenton, Oregon. Then they returned to farm in the Fisher's Landing area in 1942. She graduated from Union High School in 1948 where she enjoyed many friendships of whom she still kept in contact with at the annual Union HS class reunions, was a May Day princess and lettered in basketball. In 1947, she met her loving husband, Vernon Guttu, at the Johnson's barn dance, and they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Camas on May 19, 1950. They were married 58 years. In the early 60's, Elva was employed at the Camas Inn Hotel as a part-time waitress and later at the Bank of Washougal as a teller. In 1980, she worked as the Washougal branch manager for Riverview Bank until retirement in 1992. Elva loved being with people and being involved in the community. She was a member of the Camas Chamber of Commerce, the Washougal Business Association, and the Camas-Washougal Soroptimist. After retiring from the bank, she was involved in the club's community concerts and served as their treasurer. What she enjoyed most, though, was helping with the estate sales, which fueled her passion to collect antiques. Elva will be remembered as an avid gardener of flowers and vegetables. She loved baking and cooking with her collection of hundreds of recipes. Her favorite subject in school was history, and she enjoyed researching the family history of both her and Vernon's families. She dearly loved her family, and she will always be remembered as the family photographer capturing so many loving moments of her families' lives. She was a gracious person who was kind, caring and giving to all. Elva will be deeply missed by her beloved mother of daughters, Karen Gary Tortorello and Donna M. John Rankins; granddaughters, Kristin Tortorello; Jennifer Friedrichsen-Coles DJ; and grandson, Scott Friedrichsen and great-grandchildren, Emma Friedrichsen-Coles and Mabelle Coles; her aunt, Dorothy Kirsch; cousins, Laurel Kirsch and Nancy Stan & children Katie & Kyle Horton; and cousin, Jane Johnson & family. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband Vernon Guttu February 15, 2009, and granddaughter, Kelsey Tortorello September 16, 2000. A viewing will be held at Straub's Funeral Home, 325 NE Third Ave. in Camas, WA on Thursday, January 27, 2011, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 28, 2011, at 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church, 824 NE 4th in Camas, WA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Elva Guttu, to the Zion Lutheran Church or the Camas-Washougal Soroptimist, PO Box 621, Camas, WA 98607. To send condolences or sign the online guest book, visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com