It is with great sadness that the family of E. Eileen Koontz announce her passing after her extended battle with COPD. Eileen as she preferred to be called, died at the age of 75 in her home in Oakdale, California on November 20, 2018.

Eileen was born March 13, 1943 in Southern California to Geneva and Eldon Starkey. The family moved to Oakdale where she graduated high school in 1960. She married Richard Koontz of Oakdale and they worked together in sales and several businesses before his passing in 2003. Eileen lived in many communities in Central California. She enjoyed meeting new people, games, a glass of wine and gatherings with her friends and family.

Eileen will be lovingly remembered by her three children: Kimberly DeRosa, Karla Fielder and Kevin Koontz and their families, including her nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren; her sister Elaine Manion of Wyoming and her family; and her many old and new friends.

In keeping with Eileen’s wishes for cremation, and no formal funeral services there will be a celebration of life gathering in the spring, with location/date/time to be announced in another notice. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Eileen’s name to a charity that helps children such as Shriner’s Hospital at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org or St. Jude at http://giftfunds.stjude.org/Eileen_Koontz or call St. Jude at (800) 805-5856.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

Dec. 5, 2018