Etheridge, Ursula
ETHERIDGE, Ursula
"Oh, look at the clouds, and the sunshine on my shoulder, why -- this is almost heaven!"-- Ursula Etheridge
Ursula Schlatter Etheridge passed away gracefully in Cleveland, Georgia on November 28, 2021. Ursula was born on July 24,1928 in a parsonage in Uitikon, Switzerland. Her father, Edvard Schlatter, a Lutheran minister, and her gentle mother, Elsie Schroder Schlatter, parented Ursula and her four siblings, Frieder, Regula, Hansi, and Heidi, all of whom have predeceased Ursula. The family moved to Zurich when her father accepted a position as the minister there.
From early childhood Ursula developed a lifelong love of nature. She learned to walk outdoors on the rock wall of the church overlooking the Lake of Zurich and the nearby high mountains. Ursula spent many hours cultivating the family's large garden. During the summers of her teen years, Ursula often helped farmers who were living in the Alps during WWII. However, this experience helped Ursula decide that she did not want to become a "farmer's wife."
Ursula's entire family was very musical, which instilled in Ursula a love for classical music. Ursula and her four siblings formed a "family orchestra," with their father as the conductor. They were required to practice regularly, and every Saturday night they "performed" together in their home. Ursula always proudly declared that she played "second fiddle" in the Schlatter Family Orchestra.
Beginning at the age of 18, Ursula spent two years in the United States, having accepted a nanny position in Connecticut. Ursula loved her new family and their children, but most often Ursula would talk about her "Tuesdays off," when she would ride the train into Grand Central Station in New York City. Ursula enthusiastically recalled her visits to New York's museums, theaters, and especially the Metropolitan Opera.
While returning to Europe on a ship, Ursula met the love of her life. As the story goes, a dashing young American man, Jack Etheridge, took notice of the beautiful Ursula as they were both participating in a line dancing activity on the deck. Jack opportunistically positioned himself in the line beside Ursula and struck up a conversation, thus marking the beginning of their relationship. But no one could guess what was ahead for them.
After both Jack and Ursula arrived in Paris, in a chase scene right out of the movies, Jack told the cabbie to "hurry up and follow that car" that was driving Ursula and her mother to their hotel. At the hotel Jack addressed Ursula's mother and discovered that she and Ursula were planning to attend the opera that evening. Emboldened with this information, Jack also purchased a ticket to the opera and even managed to sit in the same booth as Ursula and her mother.
Months of correspondence and visits to Zurich followed as Jack worked with Displaced Persons in Europe, helping to resettle refugees after WWII. Following Jack's return to Atlanta, he and Ursula corresponded for two more years, after which Jack sent a marriage proposal (written in Latin) to Ursula's father. Upon reading the letter her father was moved to kneel in honor of Jack's proposal, and gave his consent to their marriage. Soon Ursula traveled to Atlanta and on February 2, 1952 Jack and Ursula were married by Dr. Vernon Broyles at North Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Judge Jack Paul Etheridge, Sr., who passed away in 2016, was dearly devoted to his loving wife Ursula for 64 years. Jack affectionately referred to Ursula as "my dear Usi." Jack and Ursula had three children: Jack, Jr., Margaret, and Liz; seven grandchildren (who called Ursula "Omi," an endearing Swiss word for grandmother): Christina, Alison, Nicholas, Jessie, Teagan, Molly, and Meredith; and two great-grandchildren: Adelaide and Eli. Ursula gave all her attention to creating a beautiful and warm home for their family, as Jack pursued his career to become a prominent attorney, legislator, judge, mediator, and law professor.
Ursula's hobbies included sewing, gardening, refinishing furniture, and even selecting just the right Persian rug. She also enjoyed participating in her sewing, Swiss, bridge, and book clubs. Ursula and Jack held season tickets to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and frequently visited the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta History Center, all the while regularly attending services at North Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Jack and Ursula shared many adventures together in their love of traveling. This included frequent visits back to Switzerland, VW van camping across the Iron Curtain countries to Prague just as the Russian tanks were arriving, and several cruises to the Caribbean and Asia. But perhaps their favorite place to visit was the family's little cabin on Lake Burton -- a place of peace and quiet, with no telephone or television -- a place to slow down, reflect, and renew.
Ursula always looked on the bright side of life and was beloved by everyone who knew her. She encouraged her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to "bloom where you're planted," which is how Ursula lived her own life. After her dear husband Jack passed away, Ursula's ever-present wish was to be reunited with him. And now she is -- in the clouds, in eternal sunshine -- in heaven.
