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Frank Joe Slama
Oct. 10, 1909 — May 19, 1999
PHILOMATH — Frank Joe Slama, 89, of Philomath died Wednesday at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis.
He was born in Wahpeton, N.D., the oldest of six children of Frank Joe Sr. and Mary (Havlecheck) Slama. He grew up in the Montana mountains.
After finishing high school, he worked for a railroad and trapped with his brothers along a 300-mile line. He moved to Portland and worked at a chipper foundry.
Mr. Slama was a mortar gunner and served in France and Germany during the final year of World War II. Cartoons he drew of the 104th Division he served with were published in Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for troops.
After his discharge, Mr. Slama had a career as an auto mechanic. He moved to Corvallis and worked for Hartsock and Tharp and for Del Fulmer. He retired in November of 1977.
Mr. Slama’s first wife was Naomi “Becky” Beck. His second wife was Hollis Pauline Cole, whom he married
July 24, 1976.
Mr. Slama was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Corvallis. He also belonged to the railroad and machinists unions.
He was an avid outdoorsman who liked hunting and gardening and especially fly fishing in Montana.
Surviving are wife Hollis; sons Larry Cole of Kings Valley and Dennis Cole of Harrisburg; daughter Ruth Moser of Philomath; sister Jeannine Slama of Gresham; 11 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Brothers Albert, Louie and Will and sister Rose Admiral died earlier.
A memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Corvallis Kingdom Hall, with Jim Plunkett officiating.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Corvallis Kingdom Hall or the American Heart Association. They may be sent in care of DeMoss-Durdan Garden Chapel, 815 N.W. Buchanan Ave., Corvallis, Ore. 97330.
W. ‘Frank’ Stellmacher
Sept. 17, 1902 — May 23, 1999
William Franklin “Frank” Stellmacher, 96, of Albany died Sunday at the Mennonite Home.
He was born in Albany to William Conrad and Emma Marie (Meinert) Stellmacher. He was married
on Sept. 1, 1929, in Corvallis, and he and his wife Eldred Catherine lived many years in the Riverside area of Albany. Mrs. Stellmacher died Oct. 14, 1993.
Mr. Stellmacher farmed most of his life and retired in 1964. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his early years and gardening in his later years. Except for the last two years, he lived all his life in the home where he was born.
He belonged to the Albany Elks Lodge and Riverside Grange. He had served as president of Riverside Telephone Service and was a past Riverside School Board member and past 4-H club leader.
Surviving are son William “Bill” of Albany and daughters Lucretia Postlewaite of Seattle, Betty Milton of Albany, Janet Zweygardt of Prairie City, and Joan Swink of Tigard.
Brother Leslie and sister Lena Schoel died earlier.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the United Presbyterian Church with Pastors Barbara Campbell and Glenn Edwards officiating. Private burial will be at Willamette Memorial Park. Fisher Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Contributions in Mr. Stellmacher’s memory may be made to the Albany Boys and Girls Club.
Westley Gillenwater
Nov. 1, 1921 — May 24, 1999
LEBANON — Westley M. Gillenwater, 77, of Lebanon died Monday at home.
He was born in Eugene, the son of Glenn and Ethel (Olson) Gillenwater. He moved from Eugene to Lebanon as a teen-ager and completed his schooling in Lebanon.
Mr. Gillenwater served in the Army during World War II. He married
Helen Miles on Jan. 11, 1946, and they later divorced.
After the war, Mr. Gillenwater, his father and brother owned and operated Lebanon Feed and Seed. He worked for Morse Bros. for several years and was a Linn County sheriff’s deputy for many years. He retired for health reasons in 1973.
Mr. Gillenwater enjoyed traveling to the coast and to Reno. He also liked riding horses and riding his Harley.
Surviving are daughter Dawn Ross of Sweet Home; grandchildren Kimberly Goss and David Crowe; and a great-granddaughter.
Brother Donald Gillenwater died Dec. 4, 1978.
Viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Huston-Jost Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Lebanon IOOF cemetery with Pastor Bard Marshall officiating.
Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association Oregon Affiliate Inc., 1425 N.E. Irving St., Suite 100, Portland, Ore. 97232-4201.
Barbara Charlotte Parker
August 1, 2007
Barbara Charlotte Parker, age 70, of Sweet Home, passed away at her home August 1, 2007.
Barbara was born in Lebanon, but lived her whole life in Sweet Home. Her family homesteaded in Sweet Home.
Barbara worked as a beautician, a police reserve officer in the 80s, a mill worker at Duraflake in Albany, and for White's Electronics for many years. She was a hard worker wherever she worked. Barbara provided well for her family.
Barbara was an artist and photographer. She loved the ocean, deep sea fishing, and beach combing. Also, in her younger years she was a member of the American Veteran's Auxiliary and the Sweet Home Elks Club.
Barbara is survived by one daughter, Deborah Angel Green of Bullhead, Arizona' two grandchildren, Dennis Parker and Richard Parker of Sweet Home; two sisters, Beverly Schafer of Portland, Oregon and Virginia Strickler of Sweet Home; four great-grandchildren; and many family members and generations everywhere.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.
Mary Ellen Gragg
Oct. 24, 1906 — May 23, 1999
Mary Ellen Gragg, 92, of Albany died Sunday at Timberview Care Center.
She was born on a small farm near King City, Calif., the daughter of Peter and Ann Kathleen (McManus) Rudolph. She grew up in Bear Valley, Calif., and attended San Jose schools.
She was married
to Jack Carl Gragg, and he died in 1974.
Mrs. Gragg helped build ships for the Navy during World War II and returned to San Jose after the war. She lived in Longview, Wash., before moving to Oregon in 1979.
She later moved to Rohnert Park., Calif., and in 1994 to Timberview Care Center.
Mrs. Gragg belonged to the Catholic Church.
Surviving are son Michael of Rohnert Park, Calif.; daughter Susan Figone of Albany; stepdaughter Jackie Thurman of Mill Creek, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Brother Carl Rudolph and sisters Gertrude, Lillian, Katherine and Ruth died earlier.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose.
Contributions in Mrs. Gragg’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association, in care of Fisher Funeral Home, P.O. Box 156, Albany, Ore. 97321.
Lois M. Higgs
Feb. 7, 1907 — May 22, 1999
Lois M. (Shelton) Higgs, 92, died Saturday at the Albany home of daughter Judith Young.
She was born in Brown, Kan., the daughter of Franklin M. and Minnie (Oldridge) Shelton. She had lived in Salem.
Mrs. Higgs is survived by son Richard of Mulvane, Kan.; daughters Judith Young of Albany, Norma Shoemaker of Apex, N.C., and Theresa DiRosario of Las Vegas, Nev.; 20 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Daughters Marilyn and Benita, two granddaughters and a grandson died earlier.
A celebration of Mrs. Higgs’ life will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 6, at the home of daughter Judith Young.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Salvation Army or to Benton County Hospice.
Frank Neill
Aug. 10, 1914 — May 17, 1999
CORVALLIS — Frank Neill, 84, of Corvallis died Monday at Corvallis Manor.
He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, the son of Harry and Mary (Renick) Clough. He grew up in Montana and married
Donna Sheldon on May 6, 1936, in Butte, Mont. Mrs. Neill died in 1989.
Mr. Neill owned a motel in Montana and in 1963 moved his family to Las Vegas, where he was manager of Great Western Hotels until 1977, when he retired.
He moved to Corvallis in 1980.
Surviving are daughter Sharon Klouchek of Albany; sons Harry Clough of Henderson, Nev., and Frank and Robb Clough, both of Las Vegas; sister Phoebe Fisher of Zurich, Mont.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
At Mr. Neill’s request, there will be no services. Heritage Society of Portland is handling arrangements.
Aletha S. Nelson
Jan. 19, 1895 — May 24, 1999
Aletha (Stewart) Nelson, 104, of Albany died Monday.
Born in Rayville, La., she was the daughter of Harvey and Harriet A. (Horn) Stewart. She was a third generation member of a Louisiana pioneer family and was a cousin of Claire Chennault, leader of the Flying Tigers in World War II.
She married
John S. Nelson on June 12, 1915, in El Reno, Okla., and he died Dec. 17, 1977.
Mrs. Nelson spent most of her life in Placerville, Calif., and moved to Albany in 1991.
In Placerville she belonged to the Baptist Church, Fallen Leaf Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Women’s Federated Club and the Shakespeare Club. She was an organizer and twice president of the Golden Land Home & Garden Club of Placerville.
In Albany she belonged to Whitespires Berean Fundamental Church and the Barzillai Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Surviving are sister Frances Stewart Witt of Edmond, Okla.; and nieces Elizabeth Eddy of Cupertino, Calif., and Charlotte Evangel of Placerville, Calif.; and nephew Stewart McBrayer of Hayward, Calif.
Three infant sisters and sister Marcella McBrayer died earlier.
There will be no local services. A graveside service will be at West Wood Hills Memorial Park in Placerville, Calif.
William W. Ritter
Jan. 14, 1917 — May 23, 1999
William W. Ritter, 82, of Albany died Sunday at the Mennonite Home.
He was born in Wichita, Kan., and was raised by his stepfather and mother, John and Orva (Sites) Harrington. He graduated from Wichita North High School in 1934 and from Wichita Business College.
Mr. Ritter worked for the IRS in Topeka, Kan., and Washington, D.C. He served in the Army during World War II and moved to Oregon in the late 1940s.
He worked in Salem before taking a job as an accountant in the comptroller’s office at Oregon State University. He retired in 1981 to enjoy life on his acreage near Scio. He moved to the Mennonite Village in 1998.
Surviving are cousins Mary Bell of Albany, George Eberstein of Eugene, Geoffrey Carlisle of Shoreline, Wash., and William Ayers and Gordon Sites, both of Wichita, Kan.
His stepfather died in 1964, and his mother died this year in Albany at age 102.
At Mr. Ritter’s request, there will be no services. Contributions in his name may be made to Evergreen Hospice, in care of Fisher Funeral Home, P.O. Box 156, Albany, Ore. 97321.
Margaret Gillespie
April 18, 1915 — May 22, 1999
CORVALLIS — Margaret “Bobbie” Gillespie, 84, of Corvallis died Saturday at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was the widow of General Frank Gillespie, Camp Adair’s last general.
Born in Scanlon, La., she was the daughter of Paul and Gertrude Jeffers. She grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., and married
Frank W. Gillespie, a West Point graduate, in 1937.
They were posted in the Panama Canal Zone, and other foreign locations, including Australia and Germany. Their postings in the United States included Florida, Minnesota and Washington. In 1964 they moved to Corvallis and her husband took charge of Camp Adair.
Mrs. Gillespie was active in the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, organizing a successful annual fund raising and development project. She volunteered for the Red Cross and the Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary.
She was a charter member of the Corvallis Assistance League and a member of the Corvallis Country Club and the Retired Officers Association. She was an honorary member of the Oregon State University chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Surviving are son Michael of Corvallis; grandson Frank III of San Antonio, Texas; granddaughter Shannon Altenhofen of Las Vegas; and great-granddaughter Emma Altenhofen of Las Vegas.
Husband Frank and sons Frank Jr. and James died earlier.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 N.W. 35th, Corvallis. A brief reception in the parish hall will follow the service.
Contributions in Mr. Gillespie’s name may be made to the Benton County Foundation, P.O. Box 911, Corvallis, Ore. 97339, where a trust in the names of General Frank and Bobbie Gillespie has been established to benefit Air Force ROTC candidates.
