Edna Rose Cloaninger, 96, of Colfax, passed in her sleep on Monday, November 23, 2015 at the Whitman Hospital. Rosary will be recited at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 7:00 pm. on Friday, November 27 and Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 28 also at St. Patrick's. Burial will follow at the Colfax Cemetery. Viewing will be one hour prior to both services at the church.

Born on April 25, 1919, Mrs. Cloaninger was the 2nd of 6 children born to Arthur & Florence (Codd) Cloaninger. She grew up in the Green Hollow area of Whitman County and attended the Golding School. She lived with her grandmother so she could attend high school. She was an avid basketball player while in school and a Colfax High School graduate.

After high school, Edna Rose went on to attend classes at the Kinman Business School in Spokane. She worked briefly for an insurance agent in Spokane before taking the civil service exam - a decision that led to a long and distinguished career as an administrative secretary at the Pentagon, serving in the legislative liaison's office of the United States Air Force. Because the generals in the office would change every few years, Edna Rose became an unchanging fixture in the liaison's office through World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. She was instrumental in the Air Force's obtaining of funding for the B-2 Bomber, Awacs aircraft and other major defense purchases. She retired in 1974 and returned to Colfax shortly thereafter. Edna Rose loved to garden and work in her yard. She enjoyed entertaining guests at her home and will be remembered by her family as a meticulous housekeeper.

She is survived by her sister Florence (Emery) Sherfey of Kennewick; brother Jim Cloaninger of Colfax as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters. Memorial contributions in her honor are suggested to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Whitman Hospital Foundation or to the Colfax EMTs.

Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax has been entrusted with arrangements.