Isabelle Dito (Crist) Saling

         Isabelle Dito Saling

June 13, 1924 – February 16, 2018

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Isabelle Saling, 93, of Coos Bay, will be held this summer. A private inurnment will be held at Allegany Cemetery in Coos Bay.

Isabelle was born on June 13, 1924 in San Francisco, California to Edward Sponsler Crist and Anna Elizabeth ( Flohs ) Crist. She died following a short battle with cancer on February 16, 2018 in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo County, California. She is now present with her Lord.

Isabelle was educated in the San Pablo Elementary School District in San Pablo, CA and graduated from Richmond Union High School in Richmond, CA, class of 1942. Her father was a Contra Costa County Deputy Sherriff, and her grandfather was at one time the District Attorney of Santa Fe, NM. She recalled spending many summers camping in Santa Fe with her family.  On March 3, 1945 Isabelle married Merchant Marine, Albert M. Saling, in Reno, Nevada.  Together, they had two sons and a daughter. Isabelle was widowed in 1960.

Isabelle was independent and a hard worker…traits she said she "inherited from her parents". She was a longtime resident of Coos Bay, and worked for HGE Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, and Planners from the late 1970’s to the early 1990’s. She continued to work to keep busy and active even into her nineties, and most recently could be found serving samples at the Coos Bay Walmart, where she worked until the summer of 2017.

Isabelle loved walking, gardening, and feeding the “little birdies” ( especially quail and hummingbirds ). She spent a lot of time preparing home cooked meals and making baked goods, and loved to put on a pot of coffee for anyone who would stop by to visit. She was always reading books from her local library, and enjoyed reading the daily newspaper and completing crossword puzzles. She loved watching old movies, particularly musicals and westerns. She was also entertained by local, live theater performances and especially “Little Ole Opry on the Bay”. She was a self-taught pianist and could play almost any old song or hymn one could name. She often played nightly before bed, even when she lived alone.

Isabelle is survived by son, Glenn Saling and Dena Orlacchio of Burbank, CA; son, Melvin Saling and Milly Benson of San Luis Obisbo, CA; grandchildren, Heidi Saling of Rapid City, SD, Roland Hall ( Saling ) and his wife Cheryl Soule of Spanish Springs, NV, Nicole Hitner and her husband Jared of Coos Bay, Amy Kostbade and her husband Michael of Coal City, IL, and Martin Jansen of Oregon City; great-grandchildren Sunne Hall of San Jose, CA, Kasey Dixson of Eugene, Kortney Dixson of Portland, Jeremy Dixson and his wife Kiersten of North Bend, Aidan Kostbade of Coal City, IL, Isabelle Kostbade of Coal City, IL, and Kameron Hitner of Coos Bay; and great-great grandchild, Jacob Dixson. She was loved by her extended family in the Coos Bay area, nephews Dick Saling and his wife Judy, and True Saling; widower of beloved niece  Bonnie  Bias,Tom Bias and his wife Kathy, and their families, as well as other nieces and nephews throughout Oregon and California; one surviving cousin, with whom she was very close, Helen Vaughan and her son David Vaughan; and treasured friend, Vicki Solomon of Coos Bay.

In addition to her husband and parents, Isabelle was also preceded in death by her brothers, Edward Sponsler Crist Jr. and Jacob Haines Crist; youngest child and only daughter, Trudy Jansen in 2013; and grandchild, Sean Hall ( Saling ) on February 14, 2018.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. A special thanks from Isabelle’s family is extended to Betty, Peter, Brian and Liz of Anna’s Gardens in Grover Beach, California for providing superior care in Isabelle’s final weeks.

As Isabelle would often play and sing, “Happy trails to you …until we meet again.”

Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

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