Edna Ruth Schwamb Odell

Edna Ruth Schwamb Odell, 91, of Casper, Wyoming passed away peacefully with family by her side on September 23, 2019.

She was born on November 24, 1927, in Chicago, Ill, to Edward Theodore and Anna Kalas Schwamb. Born only three and a half pounds, she was nicknamed "Peanut." Her large family emigrated from Bohemia and worked several farms in Wisconsin. Edna spent many summers helping out. She loved ice-skating, the country store, farm animals, streetcars, and traveling on steam trains. She graduated from Jones Commercial High School in 1944. She started working as a bookkeeper and switchboard operator.

The world opened up for Edna when she went to work for Capital Airlines. She trained in Washington D.C. and was given a personal tour of the White House and Senate Chambers. She loved to travel and made several trips to Jamaica, San Francisco, Denver, and Albuquerque.

She learned to ski at Boyne Mountain in Michigan with her airline friends. She took lessons from Olympic Gold Medalist Stein Erickson. When he opened up a resort in Aspen, she traveled to take lessons and ski there as well. She moved to Albuquerque to live with her sister Grace and continued her enthusiasm for skiing. Edna also worked with the local ski club to develop the Sandia Peak Ski Area.

Edna was active in the Methodist church in downtown Albuquerque and met Robert Davis Odell in a Sunday school class. After a short courtship over dinner socials, dancing, and ice cream sundaes, they married on October 11, 1958. They promptly moved to Casper, Wyoming that same weekend. Bob worked for Getty Oil and was transferred on short notice.

Edna worked with Bob publishing the Rocky Mountain Uranium Scout, a professional newsletter of uranium exploration. She also worked and retired as a transcriptionist in the Pathology Department at Wyoming Medical Center.

She was an active member of Chapter 'O', P.E.O., GEO Wives, The United Methodist Women, book clubs, bridge clubs, hiking clubs, and volunteered for the FUMC Thrift Shop. Edna also worked on several successful political campaigns. She continued to enjoy cross-country skiing and hiking until the age of 88 when she hung up the boots and became even more of an avid reader.

Edna is survived by three exceptional children: Roberta Odell Frederick (Christopher) of Seattle Washington; Winne Odell Scott (Samuel) of Casper; and Dan Schwamb Odell (Marcy), also of Casper; four exceedingly exceptional grandchildren: Davis Odell (Bonnie); Madeline Odell; JoAnna LaPerriere; and Samuel Scott. She is preceded in death by her parents Anna and Edward Schwamb, her sister Grace (Ralph) Schulz, and husband Robert Davis Odell.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chapter 'O', P.E.O., or the Iris Clubhouse.

Services will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 332 East Second Street, Casper, Wyoming.

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