Eloise Marilyn Despain

Eloise Marilyn Mielke Despain was born July 5, 1934 in Los Angeles, California to Waldo William Mielke and Florence Ellen Sanford Mielke. In 1940 her family moved to San Megil, California so her father could work as a foreman on Camp Roberts.
They lived in a little house down in a canyon with no electricity or plumbing. She went to a little 2 room schoolhouse out on the prairie with a bell on the top.
Then the next June they moved to Medford, Oregon, when Camp White was just beginning to be constructed. Her father was a carpenter’s foreman, and headed up the shooting range (where the Sports Park now is), and was foreman on the prisoners of war camp.
The family bought property on the Old Stage Rd, and that is where Eloise grew up, going to the old brick school in Central Point. There were no buses until her mother got petitions and the school district started bussing students.
They moved into Medford later and she graduated from Medford Senior High School 1952. She attended 3 years at Brigham Young University, one at SOU, and graduated from Institute of Childrens Literature by correspondence. In 1956 she married Marwin Richard Despain, in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. They had 5 children, who have given them 30 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
She has been a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She has held many executive callings, the church being her life. Leading music was a great joy to her, in church or elsewhere. Also was a member of the Boy Scouts committee, training Den Mothers through out the valley. She worked on the Jackson County Election board for more than 40 years. Eloise loved doing Family History, and has volumes of names, and pictures. She also wrote poetry; printed a book of them, and had them published in College Anthologies, the 50/50 magazine, and others.
Her major in college was in elementary education, and she also took classes at RCC, for the registered Child Care of Jackson county, then had a terrific day care for four years, before going to wok for Mariott School Food Services for 10 years, and was the baker, and one year at the N. Medford High snack bar. She loved baking, gardening, country music, reading, and little children. Her husband was a beekeeper, among other things, and she helped in packaging products, but, was highly allergic to bee stings. They lived in the same house for over 46 years.
Survived by children – Richard Despain, Weiser Idaho; Laura Zurligen, Seattle, Washington; David Despain, Bountiful, Utah; Julie Farmer, Clatskanie, Oregon; and Karen Patton, Central Point, Oregon. Sons in laws and daughter in laws. 30 grandchildren, great grandchildren. Brother Gerald Mielke, Blacksburg, Virginia; sister Mary Lou Whittier, Blacksburg, Virginia; and many other family and friends.
Proceeded in death by her parents, her husband of 57 years; one sister Sharon Fischbeck, and one great grandchild.