Gretchen Kay Pili's Obituary
Gretchen, 86, died January 30, 2024 at Palomar Hospital after an extended fight with cancer. Born August 15, 1937 in Findlay, Ohio, she was the daughter of Dorothy D. (Cramer) and Laurel C. Powell. Her father was an engineer with Marathon Oil Company and they moved frequently. Gretchen spent time growing up in Terre Haute, Indiana, Mt. Pleasant and Big Rapids, Michigan, Lawrenceville, Illinois and Casper, Wyoming. She graduated from Garfield High School, class of ’53, and attained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, classes of ’58 and ’59, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Delta Delta Delta. She married into the military and lived in Monterey, Los Angeles, abroad in Bamberg, Germany, and then moved to Escondido where she has resided for the past 51 years. She worked as a teacher, accountant and tutor.
Gretchen loved reading, travel and exploring new ideas. She had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed hot air balloons, gliders, white water rafting, and the national parks. She cherished making quilts as a member of her church’s interfaith ministry. Gretchen was a longtime member of House of Prayer Lutheran Church as well as Patio Playhouse Theater in Escondido and has many beloved friends in both communities. She tutored for many years through the Escondido Public Library and cared for her cats, Punkin, Rambo and Jack.
She is survived by her two sons, Gilbert and Erik Pili. Gretchen was predeceased by her loving partner, William Metzler with whom she spent many wonderful years, her foster son Clarence Edward Livernois and her two angels, David and Johnny.
Services will be held on March 9, 2024, at 10:00 am at House of Prayer Lutheran Church at 795 N. Rose Street, Escondido, California 92027 (Ph. 760-745-3738). Relatives and friends invited. Private cremation and burial in Maple Grove Cemetery, Findlay, Ohio.
Flowers may be sent to the church shortly before the ceremony but should be scheduled to arrive between 8am and 3pm, Monday through Friday. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gretchen can be made to Interfaith Community Services in Escondido (add “In Memory of Gretchen Kay Pili” in the Comments field).
https://www.interfaithservices.org/donate/
Or send a check with “In Memory of Gretchen Kay Pili” in the memo to:
Interfaith Community Services
550 W Washington Ave.
Escondido, CA 92025
Phone: (760) 489-6380
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