Elfie Switzer
Elfie Mabel Switzer, 102, died June 23, 2005, at Marion Manor.
Born Dec. 20, 1902, near Wonsevu, she was the daughter of Charles and Emma (Silver) Sidener.
She attended Wonsevu Grade School and two years at Burns High School before entering the work force.
Her first job was caretaker of a small child of a Eureka car dealer. Upon moving to Wichita, she served as a hostess at the former Eaton Hotel. She also was a live-in nanny for the well-known Koch family and worked at a drugstore where she met Howard Switzer.
They were married in July 1951. He was an oil well driller and the couple moved often, living in Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, and western Kansas before settling in Wellington, where they lived until he retired.
The couple owned a trailer at Marion County Lake and spent most summers there, visiting relatives and being near Elfie's mother, who lived in Burns.
In 1975, Elfie and Howard moved to Marion. He died in 1981, and she continued living in Marion.
In 1987, she and her sister, Annie Hanschu moved to September Apartments until last year, when she moved to Marion Manor.
Survivors include a sister, Dorothy and Woody Wilson of Potwin; nephew, Dale and Tootsie Snelling of Marion; and many other nephews, nieces, and longtime friends.
Private graveside services were held.
A memorial fund has been established with Emmanuel Baptist Church, Marion.
