Oneita J. Nydegger

Nita passed away at home surrounded by family on Thursday, November 29th, 2012. Oneita Grace Jones was born December 2, 1923, in the family home on South Auburn Street in Grass Valley, California. Nita's father, Edward A. Jones, died when she was seven years old. Her mother, Vinita, worked in the family hardware. Her fond childhood memories included walking on the train trestle with her friends and riding the ore cars at the Empire Gold Mine with her uncle. Nita had a passion for Camp Fire Girls throughout her life. She worked at McClellan Army-Air Field during WWII. Nita graduated from San Jose State College in Home Economics in 1945. She met her beloved husband, John, in Japan where he was Executive Officer at Tachikawa Air Base and she worked in the Command Center. They were married in Shanghai, China in 1948. Nita moved more than 20 times as a U.S. Air Force wife until 1964 when the family settled in Denver, Colorado. Throughout their moves, Nita updated her teaching credentials and she earned her elementary certificate from the University of Colorado. She was a substitute kindergarten teacher in Denver and Aurora for many years. After living in the same home for 41 years, she moved to Spokane, Washington in 2005. Nita dearly loved to travel and went on many international and domestic tours with her friends. She was an avid walker and was a strong advocate and voice for people with Celiac Disease for over 30 years. She was predeceased by her husband Major John A. Nydegger (USAF ret.) and brother Samuel E. Jones. She is survived by her children John T. (Kathy), Gary (Terese) and Nancy (Tim), six grandchildren; Elizabeth (Nate), Tim (Shantel), Amanda, Bryan, Eric and Michael (Molly), and great-grandchildren Asher, Owen, and Eli. Nita's family would like to offer a very special thank you to Hospice of Spokane and Dr. Amy Echelberger for their care and compassion. A rosary will be held Friday, December 7, 2012 at 5:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home located at 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado, 80227. The memorial service will be held at the Horan & McConaty Funeral Home on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM with a reception following at the home of Gary and Teri Nydegger. Interment will be on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Inland NW Honor Flights, 608 West 2nd Avenue Ste 309, Spokane, Washington, 99201, where World War II veterans are flown to see the WWII Memorial on the Washington, D.C. mall. Please share your memories of Nita and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.