Talmadge Erle “T.E.” Worden (Nickname, Dude), was born on December 12, 1922 to Erle D. and Ople L. (Williams) Worden in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His early education was in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. T.E. served in the U. S. Air force during World War II. He served on Guam in the Pacific from 1943 to 1946. While stationed at Walker Air force Base in Kansas, he was introduced to Mary Rita Hrenchir by the Nuns of Saint Agnes. They were married on January 26, 1946 in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He had a lifelong career in the grocery business. Upon retiring he volunteered at the Jubilee Food Bank for eleven years.
The couple moved to Prosser in April of 1948 and then in 2009, moved to Yakima to be near his daughters.
T.E. loved fishing, oil painting and had a model railroad. He also enjoyed working on computers. He was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Prosser and served the Parish in many capacities. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a great example of faith and love to all who knew him. It was through his faith in Jesus Christ that he got through good times and bad. He had great pride and love for his family of six daughters and their husbands, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
T.E. is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary; his daughters, Sandra Metz and husband, Bill of Yakima, Rosemary Tapp and husband, Ray of Valdez, AK, Janet Ingham and husband, Terry of Yakima, Bernadette Worden of Yakima, Karen Worden and Jaddie Lee of Yakima and Sharon Rollinger and husband, Charles of Sunnyside; his grandchildren, Kathy (Mike) Hovenkotter, Andy (Kathy) Metz, Angie (Warren) Westfall, Chris (Jenny) Tapp, Mike Lamoreux, Thomas (Sarah) Tapp, Crissie (Casey) Greco, Ashley (Bob) Griffith, Seth (Debbie) Ingham, Allen Anderson, Sarah Rollinger, Jacob (Heather) Rollinger, Luke (Hanna) Rollinger and Charley Rollinger; nineteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Betty Worden of Knoxville, TN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Elizabeth Mary Worden; grandson, Marcus Ingham; brothers, Robert, Raymond and Dan; and sister, Dorothy Worden.
He will truly be missed by family, friends and all the lives he touched. T.E. passed away surrounded by his loving family.
Visitation will be held at Prosser Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 2nd from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Prosser. Special thanks to the Yakima Hospice team and Cottage In The Meadow for their wonderful care of Mary’s husband and our dad. Memorial donations may be made to Cottage In The Meadow or Memorial Foundation Hospice. You may leave a message for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com