| Notater |
- From the "Lewiston Morning Tribune," of Lewiston Idaho
Lillian Otness, 85, retired UI English instructor
Sunday, July 31, 1994
MOSCOW - Lillian Gritman Woodworth Otness, a retired University of Idaho English instructor, died of causes related to age July 22 at Latah Care Center at Moscow. She was 85. She was born Dec. 21, 1908, at Moscow to Jay and Lillie Irene Lieuallen Woodworth, a Latah County pioneer family.
The family left Moscow when she was a child and lived for a brief time at Playas, N.M., and southern California. They later returned to Moscow and lived in the landmark home at 101 South Almon St., now on the National Register of Historic Places. She attended Moscow High School, where she was active in the yearbook and newspaper and was named valedictorian for the class of 1926.
She graduated from the UI in 1930. While there, she was active in the Delta Gamma sorority, sports, drama, dance and scholastic activities. After graduation, she served as the girls' athletic director at Klamath Union High School at Klamath Falls, Ore., where she coached girls' basketball, baseball, volleyball and tennis.
In 1933, she began teaching at the southern branch of the UI (now Idaho State University) at Pocatello, and was later named director of women's athletics. She also studied dance at the Bennington School of Dance at Vermont and later taught dance at Pocatello.
She was presented with a Distinguished Alumna award from the UI Division of Healthy, Physical, Education, Recreation and Dance in recognition of her work with dance and, in October 1993, performances by the University Dance Theatre were dedicated to her.
In addition to teaching and coaching, she earned a master's degree from the UI in 1940 and was active in campus groups ranging from the Colonial Hall women's dormitory to the Faculty Women's Club. From 1942 to 1943, she served as program director of the United Servicemen's Organization operations at Palacios, Texas, and Salt Lake City.
She returned to Pocatello in 1943 and married Dr. H. Robert Otness in 1945. They lived at Farragut, Idaho, Pullman and Buckley, Wash., before moving to Moscow in 1950. While he taught psychology, she was active in a number of community organizations, including the American Association of University Women, serving as president for one year.
She graduated in 1951 from the UI with a second master's degree and taught courses in English and linguistics there throughout the 1960s. She was also elected to Phi Kappa Phi, a national scholastic honor society. They both retired in 1972.
During the 1970s and 1980s, they traveled extensively through Europe, Asia and the United States. She later became active in the Latah County Historical Society and held several offices in the organization. She also wrote ''A Great Good Country: A Guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho,'' which was published in 1983. She was awarded the Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History the same year.
In 1991, she was given an award by the city of Moscow for outstanding achievement in historic preservation. She was also an active volunteer with the Gritman Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, logging more than 3,000 hours of work and was active in Moscow Community Theatre productions.
Survivors include her husband of Moscow; and a son, Robert Jay Otness of San Carlos, California. A brother, John Lieuallen Woodworth, died previously.
At her request, no service will be held.
Cremation has taken place and burial was held at Moscow Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials be sent to the Latah County Historical Society, 110 South Adams St., Moscow, Idaho 83843.
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1908 - 1994 (85 år)
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