Alta Loretta Wehr, age 98, of Washington, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at her home following a brief illness.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at St. James Catholic Church in Washington with Fr. Bernie Weir officiating. Calling hours will begin at 4:00 p.m. Monday, May 25, 2015 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Monday evening. Prayer services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home. Interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery in Keota, Iowa. The family has requested no flowers. Memorials have been established for the Washington YMCA and St. James School. Online condolences may be sent for Alta's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Alta was born October 5, 1916 in Washington County, Iowa, the daughter of Omer Nelson and Anna Blanche (Wilcox) Grecian. She graduated from Washington High School and attended college for one year. She was united in marriage to Billy Harding on May 23, 1937. She later married Raymond Jacob Wehr on November 24, 1953 in Iowa City.

Alta grew up in Washington and lived in the Keota Community most of her life until moving back to Washington. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church and was a 4-H leader for several years. Alta was a devoted Christian who enjoyed attending daily Mass and Bible Study. She was an avid gardener and cook who loved to entertain. She enjoyed playing scrabble with her daughters and working crossword puzzles. Alta was a lover of words and wrote daily poems. She enjoyed swimming and celebrated her birthday every year by diving into the pool at the YMCA up until and including her 98th birthday. She traveled around the world and opened her home to foreign exchange students. Alta was a loving, gentle and inquisitive person who loved to learn. She was proficient with the internet and Facebook and lived independently on her farm into her 90's. Alta continued her independent living at her home in Washington.

She is survived by her son, Linden Harding of Troy, Michigan; son, Joel Harding and wife Candice of Larkspur, Colorado; daughter, Paula Gray and husband Bob of Cincinnati, Iowa; daughter, Mary Ann Greiner and husband Stephen of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Jean Perle and husband Mark of Plainfield, Illinois; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Alta was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond and her daughter, Claire McCoy.