STAYTON
- Willmer Roy Van Vleet Jr., age 86, passed away February 8,
2010 in Astoria, Ore. Willmer Roy Van Vleet Jr. was born to
Willmer Roy Van Vleet Sr. and Eleanor Whitmore, October 2, 1923,
in Bend, Ore. Willmer was raised in Bend, and graduated from
Bend High School. He proudly served his country in World War II
from 1942 to 1945 in the Army Air Force.
Willmer
married Rosanna Agnes Eaton in May of 1948. They started their
life together in Hillsboro and then moved to Stayton in 1955,
where they raised five children. Willmer and Rosanna were
married 53 years until Rosanna's passing in 2001. They
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, May 1998, at the
Stayton United Methodist Church, Stayton, Oregon. Willmer
purchased the Stayton Cleaners on Washington Street shortly
after he and Rosanna moved to Stayton and owned and operated the
business for over 30 years until his retirement in 1986.
Willmer
spent his life serving his family, community and his country. In
addition to his military service, he dedicated over 30 years of
service to the Stayton community, including time on the City
Planning Commission, City Council and two terms as Mayor. His
accomplishments as Mayor were many and included making the dream
of a community pool in Stayton a reality. He was also a member
of the Stayton Lions Club and a Charter Member of the Stayton
JC's. Willmer has left his "print" on Bend, Ore. where
he grew up and his beloved community of Stayton, Ore. He has
gone Home. He enjoyed Community Service, the Oregon Coast, the
Fourth of July, and parades in Oregon, traveling around the
country, gardening, fishing, his family pets and his beloved
family.
Preceding
him in his passing are his wife, Rosanna Van Vleet; and his
sister, Mary Hobbs. Willmer's survivors are his daughters,
Jennifer Brown of Astoria and Melanie Norman of Salem; and sons,
Ben Van Vleet of Beaverton, Nick Van Vleet of Portland and Ron
Van Vleet of Escondido, Calif. He is also survived by 17
Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren (10 in March 2010) and
nieces and nephews in Oregon and around the country.
A
Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, February 12,
2010, at the Stayton United Methodist Church, Stayton, Ore.
Interment will follow the service at the Lone Oak Cemetery,
Stayton, Ore. Viewing and last respects will be from 1 p.m. to 5
p.m., Thursday, February 11, 2010, at Weddle's Funeral Services,
Stayton, Ore. In lieu of flowers the family wishes remembrances
to the Willamette Valley Hospice, the Willamette Valley Humane
Society, or the Stayton United Methodist Church, in memory of
Willmer Van Vleet.
