STRAHL, Violet Leona

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, October 20, 2010 Violet Leona Strahl Violet was born to Mary Myrtle and Chalmer Emerson Strahl in Malta, Ohio, June 28, 1915, and died on Oct. 12, 2010, in Prescott, Ariz. Chalmer died in the flu epidemic of 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army. During her childhood, Violet and her younger sister Emma often sang for various occasions and were known as the Strahl Sisters. Their mother accompanied them on the piano. Violet graduated from the University of Ohio with majors in French and mathematics. After teaching French for a year, she obtained employment in Washington, D.C., working as a statistician for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. She was one of the first to use the Univac computer. While in D.C. she hiked many miles of the Appalachian Trail with friends and family. She loved her city, and was proud to show the many sites to her family and friends. As a lifelong lover of nature, she knew the names of most flowers and birds in the United States. She was also an avid traveler throughout her adult life, traveling by bus when in the U.S. visiting her sister and family every summer, as well as many friends and favorite natural areas. She also traveled abroad to Israel, Egypt and China, always taking many photographs. Her favorite hobbies were photography and pastel painting. When Violet retired in 1974, she moved to Prescott, Ariz., for the agreeable climate and many biking opportunities. She was an active member of the Prescott Outings Club well into her 90s, and often served as a "scout" discovering and mapping new trails for the club to explore. Above all else in her life were her strong Christian faith, and her lifelong membership in the Church of Christ. Since her retirement, she has been a faithful and active member of the Mount Vernon Church of Christ in Prescott. She was preceded in death by her sister, Emma Helene Pollock, and her parents. She is survived by four nieces and nephews who reside in Colorado and seven great-nieces and nephews and eight great-great-nieces and -nephews. Her engaging personality and infectious love of life will be sorely missed by all who have had the privilege of knowing and loving her. Information provided by survivors.