Eva Lou (Sweetwood) Greiner

Eva Lou Greiner 92, of Condon, died Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at The Dalles, Oregon. A graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2023 at St. Joseph Cemetery in Condon. A celebration of life will follow at St. John Catholic Parish Hall. 

Eva Lou was born May 14, 1931 in Paonia, Colorado, the only child of Roy and Esther “Simpson” Sweetwood.

Due to the depression, the family moved to Vale, Oregon in 1936 to be near family. There, Eva Lou began her education at Vale Grade School and her parents purchased the Welcome Inn Cafe. In 1941, they purchased Roys Recreation and Pup Shop in Payette, Idaho where Eva Lou learned to bowl. She attended East Side Grade School and graduated from Payette High School in 1949.

After graduation from High School Eva Lou attended Boise Junior College, now Boise State University, where she lived with her aunt and Uncle for two years, majoring in Education. Upon graduation in 1951, she was hired by the Boise School System to teach 3rd grade which she did at Franklin Elementary for three years. Later she attended Eastern Oregon State College for a year where she completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a minor in Speech Correction.

In 1955, Mr. Tub Warnock hired her to teach third grade for Condon Elementary School. On her first day in Condon she met Fred V. Greiner, local insurance agent, whom she would marry six years later on August 5, 1961. The wedding was held in Ontario, Oregon followed by a honeymoon in Banff, Canada. They made their forever home in Condon, Oregon. She taught for seven years before retiring to raise her own family.

From this union two children were born. Marjorie Esther (Meg) was born September 12, 1963, followed by Bonnie Lou on May 8, 1966.

During her life she was always active in the Condon community:

• Involved in her daughters’ school life, including school committees, Condon High School Booster Club, and served as room mother multiple years;

• Participated in Home Extension Programs and was a 4-H leader;

• Charter member of the Gilliam County Historical Society, instrumental in publishing the Gilliam County History Book in 1981;

• Charter member of the Condon Garden Club, serving as president numerous times. Through Garden Club she and Fred traveled to many state conventions and later continued this tradition with other fellow Condon Garden Club members. She served as District Director of Blue Mountain District 1991-1993, State Board of Oregon Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and chaired various factions including championing Smokey Bear Campaign and being State Bird Director.

Many accolades were bestowed upon her for her unwavering community volunteerism and support. The Condon Garden Club was honored as Fair Grand Marshal’s. She and partner in crime, Myrtle Potter, were honored for their civic duty by being named Grand Marshal of the 4th of July parade in 2014.

Eva Lou was an avid reader and valued her membership in the Condon Reading Club. She also enjoyed gardening, Family Genealogy Research, crafting, sewing, quilting, traveling, collecting antiques, her family, and her friends.

Fred, Eva Lou and family made many memories together: Traveling throughout the United States trailer camping, Hawaii, New Zealand, Europe, and Australia. They attended family events, stage shows, concerts, Barnum and Bailey Circus, and The Pacific International Rodeo. There is also the trip where the Greiner’s and Mrs. Martin, former Condon Elementary School Teacher, drove from Condon to Topeka, Kansas where they dropped off Mrs. Martin. The Greiner’s continued on to Indianapolis, IN to pick up the new pickup. Along the way they stopped at many a courthouse and local graveyard to research and discover gravestones of passed relatives. Bonnie and Meg would receive a quarter if they found the grave first. Family genealogy research was important.

Eva Lou is survived by her daughters, Meg and Bonnie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Esther Sweetwood, and her husband, Fred V. Greiner.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Gilliam County Historical Society, PO Box 377, Condon, OR 97823 or to Summit Springs Village, PO Box 687, Condon, OR 97823.

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