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Clifton Graber
Clifton Edgar Graber, 92, passed away
peacefully on Thursday, May 21, 2009, at his home in Hood River,
Ore., with devoted daughters and families in close attendance.
A longtime resident of Kennewick, Wash.,
Clifton was born in the family’s orchard home in Wapato, to
James and Gertrude Graber on Feb. 16, 1917. He attended and
graduated from schools in Wapato.
Clifton completed three years of college
at Washington State University before joining the Army Air Corp.
He met his future wife, Opal, on a blind date and they were
married three years later in Yakima on July 11, 1942.
Clif and Opal enjoyed 64 years of a
loving and devoted marriage. The day of their wedding, they
hopped into a car with their friends and drove day and night to
catch a train to Savannah, Ga., so that Clif could report to
duty in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a second lieutenant.
They were stationed also in DeRidder,
La., and Rice, Calif., until 1943, when Clif was shipped
overseas to serve our country in World War II in the Southwest
Pacific.
During the war, Clif flew his A-20
Bomber, “Olga” (Opal’s middle name) on 13 fighter missions and
90 bombing and strafing missions. Promoted to the rank of major
and then lieutenant colonel, Clif received many honors during
his service, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two
Air Medals.
Maj. Graber was the 389th Squadron
Commanding Officer and then moved to the 312th Bomb Group
headquarters as group operations officer. He continued dual
duty: Major Graber (his men referred to him as “Smiling Jack”)
inspired his troops and continued to lead the 389th in combat,
as his successor had no combat experience.
As squadron leader, Major Graber was
proud that all men flying in his squadron returned safely to
base after each mission.
Clif and Opal exchanged letters every
day, until Clif returned home from war. Following the war, they
settled in Yakima and Clif was hired to work for Yakima
Hardware.
In 1951, Clif, Opal and three daughters
moved to Kennewick, where they resided for 58 years. Mr. Graber
was the hardware manager at Washington Hardware.
In the early 1960s, he worked as an
insurance agent for American Hardware Mutual. From the 1970s
until he retired as an Associate Broker at the age of 80, he
worked in residential and commercial real estate. He was active
in community service in the Tri-Cities. For a number of years he
was a member of Kiwanis and served on the Kennewick City
Council.
Clif was loved and highly esteemed by
family, colleagues and friends. He loved golfing, fishing and
hunting with sons-in-law, friends, nephews and brother and
vacationing with family on camping trips. He and Opal enjoyed
playing bridge and were longtime members of a local bridge club.
In late 2008, Clif moved to Hood River, Ore., near daughter
Janet’s home.
Clif is survived by daughters and
sons-in-law Janet and Jim Hamer, of Hood River, Ore., Dorothy
and Rick Lyle, of Keizer, Ore., and Carol and Lynn Carlson, of
Naches, Wash.; grandchildren: Kathleen (Mansfield) and Dale
Wolfley, Jennifer (Mansfield) Garber, Mary Ann (Carlson) and
Robert Elizondo, Caroline Mansfield, Jim Mansfield, Bjorn and
Alina Carlson, Jamie and Amanda Hamer, Patrice and Dan Luneski
and Kristen and Jack Reakoff.
He is also survived by
great-grandchildren Lyla Carlson, Beth Elizondo, RJ Elizondo,
Douglas Rogers, Delaney Rogers, Taylor Ann Garber, Stone Wolfley,
Maverick Wolfley, Carly Mansfield, Wyatt Egeland, Jaden Wolfley,
Talley Wolfley, Emilio Elizondo, Abi Hamer, Livvy Hamer, Zoe
Egeland and Kyle Garber; and great-great-grandson, Austin
Elizondo.
Also surviving are his sister, Doris
Graber; brother and wife Grant and Ruth Graber; nephews and
wives Gary and Peggy Graber and Guy and Trish Graber; and
great-nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his wife,
Opal Olga Norgard Graber, in 2006, and by his parents, Gertrude
and James Graber; and nephew Jimmy Graber.
A private family gathering has been
held. A small inurnment ceremony was held on Monday, June 8, at
the Desert Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Kennewick.
The family gives heartfelt thanks to
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Oregon Veterans Home,
mid-Columbia Medical Center, Parkhurst House and Heart of
Hospice.
Marguerite M. Todd
“Marg” Todd, an enthusiastic Hood River
resident from 1959 to 1973, passed away June 3, 2009, in Boise,
Idaho, of lung disease.
Marguerite Marion McOwan was the
youngest of Kenneth and Ruth McOwan’s three children, born Oct.
7, 1926, in Joliet, Ill. At Joliet High she met the love of her
life, William “Bill” Todd.
Marg enrolled in the University of
Missouri while Bill served in the Army in Japan. Upon his
return, the couple married on Dec. 28, 1947. She worked in the
English department of the university while Bill attended
classes.
Upon graduation in 1953, they borrowed
$100 from her mother and headed “out West” to start their new
lives. They had three children while living in their first home
in Longview, Wash. They moved to Sweet Home, Ore., in 1957, then
to Hood River in 1959 to raise their family.
Marg worked in the local Sears catalog
store, as a school secretary and eventually as office and
bookkeeping manager for the county public works department. She
and her family were very active in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Marg was a popular Cub Scout, Brownies
and 4-H leader. She loved golfing, gardening and playing bridge
with three other “best friend” couples, and the annual
“clam-digging expedition” to Long Beach.
Better job prospects moved the Todds to
Portland, Ore., in 1973, where Marguerite worked for the water
bureau and formally retired after serving as the chief’s
secretary in the Portland Police Bureau.
Marg was well-known for sharing her
substantial gifts of humor and frankness with her family,
friends and co-workers. After gallivanting about for many years
in their motor home and on cruises and travel tours, she and
Bill moved to Eagle, Idaho, to be near their daughter Carol’s
care in their “later” years.
Marg designed and grew a stunning
backyard garden retreat in their new home. She was supervising
the installation of a new irrigation system when she was
overwhelmed by a cold virus and passed away a few days later.
Marguerite is survived by her husband,
William; her children, Michael (and Laura) Todd on the Oregon
Coast, Martha Todd in Portland and Carol and Steve Hoke in
Eagle; her grandchildren: Kelly Todd (and fiancé Brady Andrews),
Kevin Todd, Katlin Hoke and Conner Hoke; and her constant feline
companions, Buster and Missy.
At her request, a celebration of her
spirit and spunk will be held this summer to scatter her ashes
on the Oregon Coast.
Marguerite asked that in lieu of flowers
that memorials be made to Simply Cats, a very special cat
shelter that she held close to her heart: 208-343-7177 or
www.simplycats.org.
Robert Wollam
Robert Lee Wollam died at the age of 73,
of health complications that came on rather suddenly. He died
June 10, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. at the Providence Portland Hospital
with his family by his side.
A service is planned for 1 p.m. Monday,
June 15, at the Hood River Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (18th and May streets). Bishop Gary Hornbeck will conduct
the service. Graveside rites will follow at Idlewilde Cemetery.
Bob was born on Aug. 28, 1935, to Alfred
Byron and Lillian Bernice (East) Wollam in Hood River, Ore. He
attended schools in Hood River after which he joined the U.S.
Army. He was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash. He did not serve
away from the United States.
He met his true love, Kathryn Halley,
while in school. They were married June 21, 1958, in Stevenson,
Wash. They built their home on Belmont Drive in Hood River.
Bob had a very good work ethic. He
farmed as well as worked for the Bingen Plywood Factory. He
retired from that job after 35-plus years. After he retired, he
continued his love of working with wood as he made cabinets and
furniture in his well-stocked shop. He always worked fast. He
earned the nickname of “General” with the family, as he could
work circles around them all.
Bob also loved to fish in his earlier
years. He loved to work in his yard and kept it immaculate. He
liked to walk and did so with a neighbor faithfully each day.
His favorite TV show was “Dancing with the Stars.”
The Wollams had a second home in Pine
Hollow, Ore., where many fun weekends were enjoyed by the whole
family.
Bob and Kathy both joined the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 18, 2004. This changed
their lives. They remained strong members and served in several
positions.
Bob was predeceased by his parents,
Alfred and Lillian Wollam, an infant daughter, Joni Lee Wollam,
and his wife, Kathy, just this past February.
He is survived by his daughter, Jeannie
(Jeff) Abbe, of Portland, Ore.; a son, Jeff Wollam, of
Vancouver, Wash.; a sister, Velma (Jesse) Villafana, of Hood
River, Ore.; a brother-in-law, Dick Minard, of Kent, Wash.; a
granddaughter, Joni Ball, of Portland, Ore.; and a grandson,
Shawn Ball, of Portland, Ore. He also leaves a beloved dog,
Ziggy, now living in Portland.
Contributions can be made in the name of
Robert Wollam to Heart of Hospice and sent care of Anderson’s
Tribute Center.
Arrangements are under the direction of
Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please
visit
www.andersonstributecenter.com to sign the family
guest book.
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