Wilfred Miller

Bill Miller, longtime resident of Hood River, Ore., passed away peacefully on May 12, 2008, at 8 p.m. at the age of 97.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Phil, and now they are together again. He is survived by his sister, Eva Sabo, from Roseville, Calif., sisters-in-law Valerie Tribou and Matilda Dorland, of The Dalles, Ore., nieces Lynn Flathmann and Carol Koehler and nephews Don Miller and Ray Sabo Jr.

Bill, known to his family as Grandpa Uncle Bill (GUB) will be missed and always remembered.

Bill was born June 23, 1910, in Blackburn, England. His family sailed to America when he was 2 and later crossed the U.S. in a Model T Ford, settling in Northern California.

Bill grew up on the streets of San Francisco and, as a youth, worked as a messenger delivering messages by bicycle for 1 cent each, holding onto the cable car to maneuver the steep hills of San Francisco.

Bill spent 41 years with the Bank of America in Northern California before retiring with his wife to Hood River

Bill was active in the Hood River community as a 23-year member of the Hood River Elks Lodge 1507, and he enjoyed great fellowship with his many friends. He was also a member of the American Legion.

Bill was an avid golfer and bowler up until the last couple of years. He was very proud of having scored five holes in one over his lifetime.

Bill’s amazingly positive attitude, love of his many friends and family, active lifestyle and his incredible sense of humor surely were some of the secrets to his longevity.

Anyone desiring to make a donation in his honor is requested to make them to the Hood River Elks Scholarship Fund, Hood River Elks Lodge 1507, P.O. Box 26, Hood River, OR 97031.

Robert Kirkwood

Robert H. Kirkwood, a longtime resident of Hood River, Ore., went home to be with the Lord on May 12, 2008, at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore., with family by his side. Robert was born Aug. 8, 1934, at Omaha, Neb., and was 73 years of age.

A service to celebrate his life is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at the First Baptist Church, 1889 Belmont Drive, Hood River. Oscar Stenberg III will officiate. Private graveside rites will precede Saturday’s service at the Idlewilde Cemetery.

Robert, or more commonly known to family and friends “Bob,” was born in Nebraska but moved with his parents, Robert H. and Alberta (Carson) Kirkwood, to Hood River, Ore., in the 1940s. He attended schools in Hood River, graduating in 1954, and went on to a year at the University of Oregon. Bob enjoyed sports while in high school and spent his summers in Dufur working on a farm.

His high school sweetheart was Judith Rae Casteel and they wed on Feb. 6, 1955. To this union were blessed three daughters. Bob served his country in the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

The family continued to live in Hood River through the years and Bob worked for the Central Sales and Northwest Natural Gas Company (where he achieved salesman of the month several times and salesman of the year). He also worked for the Forest Service, Hood River Distillers and, most recently, for Rosauers.

Bob enjoyed his family; his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. He also enjoyed the great outdoors: fishing, hunting, photography or traveling. He will be fondly remembered doing all of these events in his shorts and long tube socks.

He was active in the First Baptist Church of Hood River and an active member since he and Judy wed there some 53 years ago. Bob also served his community as a volunteer firefighter and as one of the first Hood River volunteer EMTs. He served our city as a councilman for four years in the mid 1980s.

Bob is survived by his wife, Judy, at their home in Hood River; three daughters, Sally and her husband, Ralph Duddles, of Petersburg, Alaska, Karen and her husband, Randy Wood, of Hermiston, Ore., and Deborah and her husband, Michael Halliday, of Parkdale, Ore.; seven grandchildren: Matthew Duddles, of Petersburg, Alaska, Jeremy Duddles, of Avian, AFB, Italy, Elizabeth and her husband, Jeremy Anderson, of The Dalles, Ore., Bob and his wife, Jessie Wood, of The Dalles, Ore., Michelle Halliday, of Bend, Ore., Andrew Halliday, of Parkdale, Ore., and Scottie Halliday, of Parkdale, Ore.; eight great-grandchildren: Andrew Taylor Duddles, Dillon Matthew Duddles, Alayna Adele Duddles, Calean Anderson, Ian Anderson, Ellie Anderson, Alex Wood and Luke Wood; brother, Joseph Kirkwood; sister, Joyce Hyde; and numerous other family and many, many friends that he has collected over the years. He was preceded in death by only his parents.

Memorials may be made in memory of Bob to the Horizon Christian School in care of Anderson’s.

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 view and print Bob’s obituary and sign the guest book for family.

June Gerking

June Melvina (Paasch) Gerking, age 90, died May 14, 2008, at the Hood River Care Center in Hood River, Ore. Services will be held on Monday, May 19, at 11 a.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center. A reception will follow.

June was born Oct. 10, 1917, in Hood River, Ore., to William and Kirsten (Ostergard) Paasch. She was raised and educated in Hood River, attending Pine Grove Grade School and graduating from Hood River High School in 1936. Following high school, she clerked at the Paris Fair, Cobbs Variety, Sprouse Reitz, Hood River Laundry and then for the Hood River School District as a baker at the high school for nine years, retiring in 1980. She also packed fruit in the valley at private packing houses, Apple Growers Association, Pooley’s, Stadleman’s, Duckwall’s and Diamond Fruit.

On Aug. 2, 1945, she and Samuel Gerking were married in Vancouver, Wash.

June enjoyed quilting, baking cakes and decorating, quilting, embroidery and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel, in 1981 and two brothers, Allen and John Paasch.

June is survived by her daughter, Beverly Lamont, of Pendleton, Ore., and son, Frank Gerking, of Barrow, Alaska; a brother, Willian Paasch, and sister, Betty Hutson, both of Hood River, Ore. Six grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Vault interment will be at Idlewilde Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000; www.andersonstributecenter.com.

JoAnn Simons

JoAnn Ellen Simons passed away on Thursday, May 15, 2008, at her home in Hood River, Ore.

She was born Aug. 16, 1932, at Bear River, Minn., the seventh child of Thomas and Mabel Coyne. She grew up there on a farm until her mother died and the family moved to the Northwest. In 1950, she graduated from Sweet Home High School.

On Aug. 11, 1956, she married Daniel Charles Simons in Stevenson, Wash. They raised their three children in Albany, Grants Pass and Corvallis. In 1999 they moved to Hood River to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.

JoAnn worked in medical records at Albany General Hospital. She also earned her real estate license and was a tax preparer. JoAnn spent many winters in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where she found relief from the rheumatoid arthritis that had afflicted her since early adulthood.

In Lake Havasu she enjoyed singing with the community choir. In her younger years, she also was active in an artists group and enjoyed oil painting.

JoAnn loved politics and science. Always curious and interested in many things, she delighted her grandchildren with science experiments they would do together. One of her favorite Christmas gifts was a solar panel to power small appliances.

JoAnn is survived and will be greatly missed by her husband, Dan, of Hood River; her daughter, Mylene Walden, and her husband, Greg, of Hood River; her daughter, Marta Simons, of Hood River; and her son, Mark Simons, and his wife, Debi, of Salem, Ore.; and five grandchildren.

A private service for JoAnn will be held Monday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Hood River.