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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2015)
6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 10, 2015 Polk County News OBITUARIES Charles ‘Chuck’ Henry Fitch May 20, 1915 – June 4, 2015 Charles “Chuck” Henry Fitch, 100, of Dallas, died Thursday in Dallas. He was born in San Fran- cisco. His mother died when he was 4 years old, and he went to live with his elderly grandmother in the Napa Valley, Calif. When he was 12, he went to live with his aunt Nan Fitch Crary and u n c l e William H. Crary in Echo. They were Mom and Dad Crary to him. He celebrated his 12th birthday on May 20, 1927, on the train from Oakland to Portland, and it was the same day that Charles Lind- bergh flew the Atlantic. That event so impressed Chuck that it shaped his future of having a career in airlines. Chuck graduated from Echo High School in 1933 with honors. He was active in school sports including tennis, basketball and track. During school and after graduation he worked oper- ating printing presses and linotype in Will Crary’s weekly newspaper, the Echo News. Chuck was fascinated by radio communication, and he studied for and ob- tained a ham radio license and also an FCC commercial radio operator license. He met and dated Betty Hawkins from Dallas, a Willamette University grad- uate, who was an English t e a c h e r a t E c h o Hi g h School. They were married in 1937 in Dallas, just after he was hired by United Air- lines as a station agent in Pendleton. In 1939, Chuck was trans- ferred by United to Salt Lake City as a ground radio oper- ator. In 1942, he was pro- moted to chief radio opera- tor and assigned to San Francisco to work with Unit- ed’s domestic operations and their Pacific Military Air Transport Command. Fol- lowing the end of World War II, he was transferred to United’s headquarters in Denver as director of system air ground communications. In 1948, the airlines ceased operating their own air-to- ground radio stations and contracted with Aeronauti- cal Radio Inc. (ARINC). Chuck transferred from United to ARINC as station manager at San Francisco. In 1950, he was transferred to their headquarters in Washington, D.C., as direc- tor-operations. In 1968, he was promoted to vice presi- dent-operations and ARINC headquarters was moved to Annapolis, Md. He retired from this position in Sep- tember 1977, when his wife Betty died of cancer. After a consulting con- tract with the United Na- tions, he returned to Oregon in 1979 and settled in Dallas. In 1980, he married Veryl Bratager, of Albany, original- ly from Madison, S.D. Chuck and Veryl moved to the Dal- las Retirement Village in 2011. Veryl died in 2013. Survivors include his sons, David (Linda) of Reno, Nev., Michael (Jackie) of Clearville, Pa., and Richard (Lin) of Cape May, N.J.; stepdaughter, Ali- son Warmann of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; stepsons, Brian Bratager and Mack Bratager, both of Seattle; seven grand- children; 14 great-grandchil- dren; and three great-great- grandchildren. Jerry Lee Blackwell July 14, 1941 – May 17, 2015 Jerry Lee Blackwell, 73, of Reno, Nev., formerly of Dal- las died May 17. He was born in Lewis, Colo., to John Henry and Lois Blackwell. In 1951, he and his family moved to Falls City and then to Valsetz where he grew up. He later Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 moved to Dallas. Jerry served in the Army from 1960-1964 and was sta- tioned in Germany from 1960-1963. While liv- ing in Dal- las, he was sworn in as a member of the Dal- las City Po- lice Re- serves on Se p t . 1 4 , 1967, and also served as a Polk County Sheriff Reser ve Officer through the late 1970s. He had worked for Carl May at the Texaco Station in Dallas as a mechanic, and later owned his own service stations in Monmouth and Independence. Jerry moved to Reno in 1978. He was preceded in death by his brother, Patrick Leon Blackwell. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Doris (Chancel- lor) Blackwell of Reno; son, John R. Blackwell of Reno; daughter, Deborah Gillett of Dallas; and two grandsons and one great-grandson. At his request there will be no formal service. Interment will be at the Lower Falls City Cemetery. James Arthur Lyons Jr. July 15, 1928 – May 31, 2015 James Arthur Lyons Jr., 86, of Dallas died May 31. He was born in Chicago to Madalin and James Lyons. Jim grew up in the Chica- go area and spent his sum- mers in Minocqua, Wis. At the age of 18, he and three friends traveled to Alaska to explore w i t h renowned adventurer S l i m Wi l l i a m s. After he graduated from Col- o r a d o A&M (Col- orado State University), he served in the Army as a first lieutenant in the Korean War and was awarded a Bronze Star. Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $495 Simple Direct Burial $550 Traditional Funeral $1,975 Introducing BrainHearing ™ technology. Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Give your brain exactly what it needs to hear. Call now for your Free Trial. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. Joyful Sound Hearing www.ANewTradition.com 312 Main Street 503-623-0290 I N D A L L A S After his return from the service, he met and married Carol Schuldt. They lived in Hinsdale, Ill., where Jim worked as a manager at Vaughn’s Seed Company. They moved to Dewey, Ariz., in 1963, where they raised Dav- enport Arabian horses, cattle and sheep. Jim served on the school board as well. They moved to Barnett, Mo., in 1977, and to Oregon in 1989, settling in Dallas in 1999. Jim was interested in or- ganic farming and soil con- servation. He was a talented wood carver for many years. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Sarah, and his wife of 49 years, Carol. Survivors include his son, James (Sherrie) Lyons; daughter, Diane (Ed) Lyons; sister, Jean (Richard) Tyska; two grandsons; and extend- ed family. Service was Saturday at Dal- las Retirement Village Chapel. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online condolence: www.dallastrib- ute.com. Anita Janell Crafton April 29, 1928 – May 25, 2015 Anita Janell (Horton) Crafton, 87, of Sheridan died May 25. She was born in Eugene to Dale and Vineta Horton. The family moved to Tole- do, where she grew up and graduated from Toledo High School. She then attended dental school in California for a year. She married Kelvin Crafton in McMinnville on June 28, 1952, and t h e y moved to Vancouver, Wash., in 1953. Anita worked as a health nursing assistant at St. Joseph Hospital in Vancou- ver for 15 years. Her interests included cooking, knitting and cro- cheting. Anita had cro- cheted more than 100 afghans. She was preceded in death by her siblings, George Horton in 2012, and Larry Horton in 2003. Survivors include her hus- band, Kelvin Crafton of Sheridan; children, Janell (Crafton) Morris (Brian) of Dallas, Doug Crafton (Beth) of Spokane, Wash., Kenyon Crafton of Scappoose and Randy Crafton (Joann) of Camas, Wash.; siblings, Dal- ton Horton of McMinnville, twin brother Arlin Horton of Pensacola, Fla., and Mahlon Horton and Danny Horton, both of Montana; 11 grand- children; and seven great- grandchildren. At her request, there will be no service. Interment will be in McMinnville. Marlene Alice Rose Aug. 18, 1932 – June 4, 2015 Marlene Alice (Rein) Rose, 82, of Dallas died Thursday in Dallas. Marlene was born in Salt Lake City to George Franz Karl Rein Jr. and Alice Mar- guerite Plewe. She spent her childhood in Oakland, Calif. Her family later returned to Salt Lake City, where she graduated from South High School. The family moved to Boise, Idaho, where she attended Boise Junior College (now Boise State). There, Marlene fell in love with Judd, who was set to join the Air Force. Judd and Marlene were sealed in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City Temple on March 20, 1952. They lived in Boise for eight years, then moved to Livermore, Calif. Marlene’s life was altered by tragedy on July 4, 1966, when she lost her husband, father, sister and brother-in- law in an airplane accident. She raised four children on her own, supporting her family by providing beauti- ful flowers for over 100 wed- dings a year. She also did daycare in her home. After her children married, Mar- lene moved to Dallas in 1988, and worked for vari- ous departments for the state of Oregon. Marlene loved to keep up with each child and grand- child. She had a passion for travel and history. She was a faithful member of the LDS Church, serving in many ca- pacities. Marlene sang, acted, and wrote original scores and scripts, but was most at home in the direc- tor’s chair. She was preceded in death by her husband, Judson Har- vey Rose Jr., and sister and brother-in-law, Yvonne and Richard Hardisty. Survivors include her children, Michael (Connie) Rose of Plumas Lake, Calif., Rebecca (Craig) Kiser of McMinnville, Tracy (Karen) Rose of Richland, Wash., and Celeste (David) Lewis of Alpine, Utah; sister, Kathleen (Karl) Koenig, of Costa Mesa, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; 24 great- grandchildren; and extend- ed family. Open house and memori- al was Sunday at her home. Interment is Saturday at 11 a.m. at El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, Calif. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled the local arrange- ments. To send an online condolence: www.dallastrib- ute.com. Phillip Drexler Sperling March 24, 1918 – June 3, 2015 ~ Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes ~ Phillip Sperling, 97, of In- dependence died June 3. He was born in Salem to Herman and Odelia (Drexler) Sperling. Phillip attended Parker School until he went to In- dependence High School, graduating in 1936. Phillip had been the oldest gradu- ate to attend the Independ- ence all-classes reunions each year. Phillip married Delia Moreland on Nov. 1, 1941, in Independence. At that time, he was a teller at the bank in Independence. In 1944, they moved out to their farm south of Independence. They had been married for more than 64 years. Phillip was a farmer most of his life. He also was a mechanic who worked on Ford Edsels, diesel trucks and tractors. Besides farming, he also did some logging and electrical work. Phillip and Delia had a habit of buying Ford Edsel cars. He said it had been a pleasurable addition, a poor man’s hobby and a barrel of fun to belong to the Edsel Club. He had more than 60 Edsels on his Edsel Farm be- hind the farm house. He was a founding member of the O re g o n C h a p t e r E d s e l Owner Club and a member of the Farmers Union and Mary’s River Grange. He had served as rural fire chief of Polk County. He was preceded in death by his wife, Delia Sperling in 2006, and daughter, Kay Ann Vre l l i n 2007. Survivors include his daughters, Marjorie Ga r n e r ( Ve s ) o f Va l e a n d Marilyn Boyer-Kern (Dennis) of Al- bany; sons, Frank Sperling (Anna) of Madras and Wen- dell Sperling (Sherry) of In- dependence; 10 grandchil- dren; 21 great-grandchil- dren; and five great-great- grandchildren. Celebration of life is Sun- day at 2 p.m. at the Inde- pendence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St.; entrance is in the back. Phillip wanted a casual celebration of life with everyone wearing over- alls or jeans and enjoying food and visiting. Contributions are sug- gested to Independence Gleaners, attention: Angie Amos, 307 I St., Independ- ence, OR 97351. Farnstrom Mortuary in In- dependence handled arrangements. To send an on- line condolence: www.Farn- stromMortuary.com. Robert C. Patterson Jr. Nov. 8, 1948 – June 6, 2015 The life of Robert C. Pat- terson Jr., 66, of Independ- ence will be celebrated at a gathering at a later date. Farnstrom Mortuary in In- dependence handled arrange- ments. To share an online con- dolence: www.FarnstromMor- tuary.com. June Marie Smith July 19, 1927 – June 6, 2015 June Marie Smith, 87, of Sheridan died Saturday in McMinnville. She was born in Colorado Springs, Colo. Viewing is Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Graveside service is June 17 at 10 a.m. at Salt Creek Cemetery in Dallas. To send an online condolence: www.dallastrib- ute.com. Judy Jo Wood July 26, 1946 – June 4, 2015 Judy Jo Wood, 68, of Dal- las died Thursday. She was born in Lakeview to Albert and Ona Burgess. Judy married Turney Wood on April 12, 1986, in Dallas. Judy was a homemaker, and was known for baby sit- ting and cooking the best meals in town for her family. She loved church and God. Her pas- sions were g a r a g e sales and spending time with her grand- kids. Al- w a y s happy, always loving, she had a beautiful smile and a good sense of humor. She was preceded in death by her brother, Calvin Burgess. Survivors include her hus- band, Turney; children, Leslie, Sheila, Ray, Shannon and Tim; brother, Ardyth; twin brother, John; sister, June; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. G ra v e s i d e s e r v i c e i s Wednesday (today) at 2 p.m. at Dallas Cemetery. Farnstrom Mortuary in In- dependence handled arrangements. To send an on- line condolence: www.Farn- stromMortuary.com.
