Garnet Suda

Garnet Suda was born July 19, 1925, in Elliston, N.D., to Marie and Orville Arnold. She died on July 23, 2013, at Summer Hill Retirement home. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Garnet grew up in Iowa and following graduation from high school, moved with her parents to Richmond, Calif. She worked for Kress Dime Store, Inland Steel and at age 18, began working in the shipyards as a welder.

Garnet attended a dance in Benica, Calif., where she met Pete Suda and a romance began. Pete was called to active duty with the U.S. Army and he and Garnet were married at Fort Bliss, Texas, on July 14, 1944. Pete was sent to Europe and Garnet was expecting her first child. She returned to Elliston to have her baby.

Pete returned from the war and the family settled in Kellerton, Iowa, where they purchased a pool hall. Selling the pool hall, they returned to California where Pete attended carpentry school under the G.I. Bill. The year 1960 found the family had expanded to two boys and three girls.

The Suda Family left the Bay area and moved to Oak Harbor, where Pete continued to build homes. Never afraid of new adventures, Pete and Garnet set out on a new adventure, heading for Arizona. Pete built a home for a friend in Pinnacle, Ariz., and decided to stay, moving into a senior mobile home park for 15 fun-filled years.

Garnet decided to return to Oak Harbor to be near their two daughters when Peter suffered a stroke. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church of Oak Harbor.

Garnet is survived by her husband, Pete, of Oak Harbor; and by four children and their spouses: Carmen and Gene Andre; Michael Suda; Stephen and Samantha Suda; and Joanne and David Wichers. Four grandchildren and three great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral Mass for Garnet Suda will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Oak Harbor with Rev. Paul Pluth as Celebrant.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences in the Book of Memories hosted by Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC. at