Ada Alizabeth Wampler; Retired Telephone Operator

Ada Alizabeth Wampler, a longtime Sun Valley resident whose handkerchief became a harbinger of happy marriages, has died in Glendale. She was 83.

Mrs. Wampler died Monday after a recent stroke, said her niece, Lynne Wampler.

Born Ada Alizabeth Magee on Jan. 31, 1907, in Sulphur Springs, Tex., she served as a parachute technician in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1944. She moved to Sun Valley in 1946 and worked as a telephone operator for the Pacific Telephone Co. in North Hollywood from 1947 until her retirement in 1970. She was also a member of the Pioneers Club, a group associated with the company.

She will be remembered for loaning about 160 brides the white lace handkerchief she carried down the aisle when she married Chester Wampler in Burbank on July 1, 1951. Mrs. Wampler kept an accurate history of her keepsake’s journeys, which was duplicated for each bride who used it as her “something borrowed” wedding apparel. The brides were mostly family members and family of co-workers.

“And it works magic too,” Mrs. Wampler said in a 1965 newspaper interview, when 68 brides had then borrowed the article. “All but four of the couples are together, a pretty good batting average for this day and age.”

The handkerchief, which was given to her by fellow telephone operator Ruby English, was lost in the mail five years ago.

She has no immediate survivors. Her husband died in 1987.

A funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at Eckerman-Heisman Funeral Service Chapel, 333 E. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, which is handling the arrangements. Burial will be private. Donations can be sent in Mrs. Wampler’s name to the American Cancer Society, San Fernando Valley unit, or AIDS Project Los Angeles.