Valeria Eggleston passed away Feb. 16 in Golden, Colo. She was born Nov. 3, 1920, in Kilgore, Neb., to Paul G. and Olga A. Hirschler.

Valeria grew up primarily in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended schools around the country, as her father was in the Civilian Conservation Corps. She met her lifetime partner and love, Dale Eggleston, at Burns Union High School while her father was building the Malheur Wildlife Refuge headquarters and auxiliary buildings in 1934. She and Dale began their 70-year marriage in Berkeley, Calif., in 1943.

Valeria lived in Garden City, Kan., where Dale was stationed during WWII, and where their son, Paul, was born in 1944. Daughter Gail was born in 1945 in Berkeley, Calif. After Dale’s active duty, the family returned to Burns, where Valeria raised their children and worked as the secretary at Slater Elementary School.

When the children went to college, so did Valeria and Dale. Valeria earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Portland State University and went on to earn a PhD, magna cum laude, in child psychology at the University of Oregon. Her thesis on autism exemplified her passion and interest in children’s issues.

After college, they worked in various positions in Oregon, California, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Beaverton, and then returned to their beloved home of Burns for retirement in 1989. During these years they also traveled widely, including trips to Germany when “The Wall” fell, Norway, Egypt, Vienna, Great Britain, France, Russia, and Thailand. They enjoyed a grand opera tour during the Christmas holiday in New York, London, and Vienna, as well as a World Seminar Tour which took them around the world in six weeks.

Valeria was a world-class quilter, creating many quilts for family and charity, often hand-stitching with friends. She was an avid reader, loved music, and was keenly interested in history, world news, and political events. Her interest in art started at a young age when she designed all of her clothes, and continued throughout her life with painting, sketching in her journals, and making greeting cards. She kept journals most of her life, recording all of her trips and jobs.

Valeria started running at age 65, and was so fast she won almost every race she entered. She ran the Steens Mountain race at the age of 70, with her son, Paul. She was also active in the Pioneer Presbyterian Church, and the Pioneer Presbyterian Women’s Association where she served as historian for many years.

Recently, she resided with her son in Bend and her daughter in Colorado.

Valeria is survived by son, Paul (Jan Eggleston); daughter, Gail (Darryl Womack); six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Hirschler of Berkeley, Calif.; and many friends and acquaintances who will all miss her very much.

A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Contributions in Valeria’s honor may be made to the charity of one’s choice.