Alvina (Martin) Ditton

Alvina (Martin) Ditton, 98, longtime resident of Cheney, went peacefully to be with her Lord on March 30, 2017, in Moses Lake, Wash.

Alvina was born July 7, 1918, in Shafer, N.D. to George and Ova (Cruise) Martin. She was the fifth of eight children and grew up in Fairview, Mont.

Alvina married John Ditton on April 14, 1936 and raised three sons and a daughter, LeRoy, Douglas, Wilmer and Verna. The Ditton family moved to Cheney in July 1944.

In the late 1950s, Alvina started a daycare center in her home, which she ran for 33 years. At the spry age of 72, Alvina went to work for Willow Springs Restaurant as a baker for over 15 years. She was well known for her pies and cinnamon rolls.

Alvina rented her spare rooms to many college students and made personal friends with a number of foreign students and their families.

Alvina's passions were her beautiful flowers and her faith. Her yard was always picture perfect, she had quite the green thumb. Alvina was a longtime member of the Cheney Community Church where she worshipped her Lord and made lifelong friends.

Alvina was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband John in 1993, son Wilmer in 2012 and beloved son-in-law Lyle Morehouse in 2016.  

She is survived by sons LeRoy (Clary) of Costa Rica; Douglas of Palm Springs, Calif. and daughter Verna Morehouse of Whidbey Island, Wash.  She is also survived by her sister Alberta "Bert" Sowle of Billings, Mont., 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren; many beloved in-laws and friends.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 14 at the Cheney Community Church, 1307 Third St. in Cheney. Interment to follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens, 5909 S. Cheney-Spokane Road.

A potluck will be held following the interment at the Cheney Community Church.  Hazen and Jager is in charge of funeral arrangements. Alvina wished for donations to be made to your favorite charities in her honor.