Etta Battle

Etta Battle

Etta Battle, 76, of Oskaloosa, died Thursday, September 8, 2011, at her home. She was born September 2, 1935 at Gordon City, Kansas, the daughter of Richard and Grace Harris. In the early 1940’s, she moved to Oskaloosa with her family. She graduated from the Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1954, and then attended William Penn College for a year. She then married Ralph Longus, and they lived in Marshalltown and then Clinton before divorcing. Later she was united in marriage to James Battle, and then divorced. In the early 1960’s she moved back to Oskaloosa, and Etta worked at the Northwestern Bell Telephone office for many years. She usually held full time and part-time jobs while raising four boys. In January, 1970, she began working for the Oskaloosa Community School District in the hot lunch program. She continued as a cook for the schools until retiring in June 2007. Additionally, Etta worked as a cook at the old Mahaska Manor Nursing Home in Oskaloosa for many years.

Her family includes her sons: Ralph (& Janet) Longus of Waterloo, George Longus of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dan (& Jimmie) Longus and Joseph Battle, all of Dallas, Texas; three grandchildren: Miles, Tamra, and Carnetha Longus; two great grandchildren: Samel Lowes and Addisen Longus; a sister: Melvena (& Bill) Rose of Clinton; and a brother: Ernie Harris of Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Etta was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 16, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel, Oskaloosa, with Elder Joyce Moses officiating assisted by Elder Connie Sneller. Burial will follow in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Visitation will begin Thursday after 12 noon, and the family will be at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the family.