Claudia Celeste Wyatt

A strong, gracious lady and friend to many left us on April 7 when Claudia Celeste Wyatt died surrounded by her family after a determined struggle with extramedullary multiple myeloma.
She was born to Paul M. and Evelyn G. Ingebretson in Detroit Lakes, Minn., and made the trip west to Oregon when her father came to work in the Swan Island shipyards during World War II. She grew up in Portland, graduating from Jefferson High School in 1957, and then went on to Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, graduating with a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1960.
While attending OCE, mutual friends introduced her to Ralph, who was attending Oregon State College in Corvallis, and that introduction led to their marriage on Aug. 20, 1960. Ralph graduated with a commission in the United States Air Force in June 1961 and went on active duty in May 1962, and he and Claudia became a military family for the next 28½ years. That military odyssey saw 23 moves with homes from coast to coast, including four years in Japan, with extended time as the only parent present for their three children. She taught for seven years after graduation and then switched to being an involved woman and full time mom in charge of creating a loving home wherever the Air Force happened to move her.
When Ralph retired from the Air Force in 1990, they moved from Virginia back to Oregon settling in Corvallis in June 1992. Finally having a house of her own, this daughter of a cabinet maker who grew up in a house her parents built, she immediately launched into major remodeling projects that transformed the house into a bright, welcoming home. Actively involved with it all, her approach to much of the remodeling work was "I can do that." But her interests extended outside the house to the community, serving as a co-chair for the Corvallis Art Center's Chocolate Fantasy one year, as a teacher for many years with Oregon State's Crossroad Conversation School, and as a very active member of both the Assistance League of Corvallis and PEO Chapter CL.
A much loved wife, mother and grandmother, Claudia is survived by her husband, Ralph; son Kristoffer; daughter Maren; and daughter Kirsten, husband Raafat and grandsons Hassan and Joseph. She is also survived by her brother, Paul Ingebretson of Scio.
Her parents and brother Erik preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 N.W. 35th St., Corvallis.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Linn Benton Food Share or Benton Hospice are encouraged.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).