Obituary of Miriam Barnhill

Miriam E.(Breniser) Barnhill passed away on December 23, 2010. She was born August 27, 1918 in Hillsdale, Oregon the sixth of 10 children of Armour Herbert Breniser and Elizabeth Anna (Young) Breniser. Miriam graduated from high school in Gresham, Oregon. After high school she held a variety of jobs. In 1939 she moved to Camas to work at West Coast Telephone Company as a telephone operator. There her roommate introduced her to her future husband V.F. (Barney) Barnhill at a dance at the Fern Hill Grange. Barney proposed in April 1940 and presented her with a ring in May and they were married in August 1940. They eventually settled in the Barnhill family home in Washougal where she resided until 2003 when she moved to a retirement center in Vancouver, Washington. During her years in Washougal Miriam worked for Pendleton Woolen Mills as a PBX switchboard operator until her retirement She was preceded in death by her husband Barney in 1990; and, by 5 brothers and 3 sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Janke of Scappoose, Oregon; son Clyde Barnhill of Rockaway Beach, Oregon; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and sister Olive Johnston. No Services will be held. Private burial will be at the Washougal City Cemetery beside her husband. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice in her name. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.