Florence Ernst Obituary, Resident of Mariposa Has Passed Away

Florence Ernst Obituary, Death – Florence Elizabeth Ernst, née Wahlrab, passed away on October 29, 2022. She had reached age 101.
She spent 59 years in Mariposa, was the family’s matriarch for five generations, and was a devout Catholic who will be laid to rest next to her devoted husband at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
She was the third of Albert and Louella Wahlrab’s seven children, all of whom were born before her, in Dayton, Ohio.

She met and married her husband George in Dayton. They operated businesses in Bakersfield and Inyokern after moving to California in 1946 before taking over and managing the local Western Auto store in Mariposa. She had seven boys and seven girls, making her the ideal mother! Several of Florence’s older children who were still living at home helped her take over the management of the company after George passed away suddenly in 1968. For the next 20 years, she successfully ran the business despite resistance from Western Auto corporate.

She was honored by Western Auto corporate for being the first woman to successfully run a Western Auto store. The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce named her “Businesswoman of the Year” in 1988, the year she retired. Florence was known for her generosity. Numerous instances exist where Florence is said to have forgiven debts owed to her by clients who had gone through “hard times.” She also extended an invitation to a few prominent members of the neighborhood to stay with her over the holidays, posing the question, “What’s one or two more?”

After retiring, she traveled extensively, particularly relishing cruises with her seven daughters. She also offered house and pet sitting services for a long time. She kept busy and happy by regularly entertaining the family, devotedly cheering on Notre Dame football, and practicing her faith every day. Florence was predeceased by her husband George and daughter Marie. She is survived by her 13 children, 33 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren, 27 great-great-grandchildren, and a sizable number of nieces and nephews.

Florence Ernst Obituary, Death – Florence Elizabeth Ernst, née Wahlrab, passed away on October 29, 2022. She had reached age 101. She spent 59 years in Mariposa, was the family’s matriarch for five generations, and was a devout Catholic who will be laid to rest next to her devoted husband at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.…