Dorothy Menard

Dorothy Grace Menard, a longtime resident of Hood River, died May 12, 2008, in Newport, Ore. She was 87.

Dorothy was born on Sept. 19, 1920, to Clarence and Aileen Brown, the oldest of five children, in Bisbee, Ariz.

In 1938 she graduated as the valedictorian of her class at Bisbee High School, with a scholarship to the University of Arizona, but had to withdraw because of financial pressures. She then became secretary to the commander of fort Huachuca, where she met the camp architect, Archille J. Menard. They were married in 1943.

During World War II they moved to Central Oregon for field training, near Bend. After the war they returned to Eugene to take classes at the University of Oregon.

With the birth of their son, Jean, they moved to El Cerrito, Calif., and then to Los Gatos. Dorothy was an active donor to the American Red Cross, eventually a multi-gallon donor. She was also eventually president of the League of Women Voters, the president of the Friends of Montaivo, and a member of the planning commission of Los Gatos.

There she helped write a tree ordinance and a sign ordinance which recognized McDonald’s Golden Arches as a sign and made them illegal within the town limits. McDonald’s eventually came up with a new design, where they sold lots of burgers.

In 1971 they returned to Oregon, first to Bend and then to Hood River. There Dorothy enjoyed many years’ work as a realtor with Hershner and Bell Realtors. She lived on Eugene Street in Hood River from 1976 to 1998 and enjoyed it very much.

In 1998 she moved to a small house in Agate Beach, with a view of the ocean through the trees that she always loved.

Dorothy is survived by her son, Jean Menard, of Newport, Ore.

Duane Duff

R. Duane “Mr. Travel” Duff, 79, died peacefully on May 15, 2008, surrounded by his family. Duane was born May 11, 1929, in Dallas, S.D., to Orland Duff and Neva Munt, both now deceased. He graduated from Hood River High School in 1947 and attended Willamette University in Salem, Ore. He then enliste4d in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Duane was a ticket agent for Scandinavian Airlines prior to becoming a travel agent for Key Travel in Los Angeles and the Houston, Texas. He moved to Brenham, Texas, and worked for Brazos Country Travel until his retirement in 2003.

Duane is survived by his sister, June Schwarting; niece, Bonnie Joslin, and her husband, Pat, and great-nephew, Devin Joslin. He was preceded in death by his longtime friend, Maxey Aaron.

At Duane’s request no services will be held. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the Parkinson’s Center of Oregon, Oregon Health and Science University, 1121 S.W. Salmon St., Portland, OR 97205-2021. Any words of encouragement you would like to share with the family may be sent to Duane’s sister, 390 Church St. S.E., Sublimity, OR 97385.

Duane’s final arrangements are under the care of Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service, Salem, OR 97301; (503) 364-2257.

Melvin Kenworthy

Melvin Willard Kenworthy, son of A.D. and Eva Kenworthy, was born April 18, 1919, in Portland, Ore., and went to be with his Lord May 16, 2008, in Hood River, Ore.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Hood River.

When a young boy, Melvin accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and was a member of Reedwood Friends Church (formerly First Friends) in Portland, where he later served as recording clerk. During World War II from 1942 to 1946 Melvin registered as a conscientious objector in alternate service working out of Cascade Locks and Elkton, Ore., and then in Glendora, Calif. He worked for many years as a receiving clerk at Montgomery Ward.

Melvin always enjoyed writing and composing poetry as well as constructing crossword puzzles. In fact, while in high school, he prepared crossword puzzles in Spanish for the Spanish Club. He constructed crossword puzzles for The Oregonian for 19 years and The New York Times for five years.

In June 1960, he married June Dinkeldein and they had 42-two happy years of marriage prior to June's death in July 2002.

Another favorite hobby has always been hiking. After doing some hiking he decided in 19487 to keep track of his mileage and last July he completed 17,000 miles including the Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to California.

Because of his love for hiking in the Mount Hood area, he and June moved to Hood River in 1990, where he made many friends and had been active in the Asbury Methodist Church, sometimes preparing the opening prayer for the worship service. His friends there have been a vital part of his life.

Melvin published two books, “Footprints in High Places,” about hiking experiences, and “Eastward in Eden,” composed of some of his favorite poems and articles.

Melvin had volunteered at Lost Lake and the Vista House. He was a member of Willamette Writers and the Portland Christian Writers Association.

In addition to his friends, he will be greatly missed by his sister, Eilene, and Keith Williams; nephew, Darrell, and Elizabeth Nordyke, of Anaheim, Calif.; nieces Nancy (and Charles) Mylander, of Brea, Calif., and Joyce (and Mel) Wonderly, of Salem, Ore. Six great-nieces and nephews and 10 great-great-nieces and nephews also survive.

An appropriate closing would be one of Mel’s favorite poems by Edgar Guest to us:

GOD BLESS YOU

I know no word more fitting to address you —

No song, no poem I've ever heard

Is sweeter than just "God Bless You!"

In these three little words may you find

All the joy the whole, wide world possesses;

For there can truly by no joy

Unless indeed, God Blesses.

I might wish you wealth or wish you health,

Or that good fortune might caress you.

But wealth might bring sorrow,

Or even health fail tomorrow;

So I simply say, “God Bless You.”

Mel

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000; www.andersonstributecenter.com.

John W. Schlosser

John W. Schlosser, age 90, passed away May 15, 2008, at Parkhurst House in Hood River, Ore.

Rosary was held on Monday, May 19, at Anderson’s Tribute Center with Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, May 20, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

John was born April 28, 1918, in Mandan, N.D., to Jacob and Julia (Paul) Schlosser. He was raised on the family wheat farm and as a young man worked the farm with his father.

When they weren’t farming John and his father worked the coal mines digging coal by hand. He was quite proud of the fact that they dug several tons of coal a day.

In the early 1940s he struck out on his own, heading west to Oregon. One of his first jobs in Oregon was to help build the silos at the Umatilla Army Depot. From there he moved to Portland, where he learned to be a machinist and welder while attending a trade school at Benson High.

His first job after trade school was with Commercial Iron Works and then with Northwest Marine Iron Works. He often boasted that he machined the shafts for the lift span motors of the 1-5 Interstate Bridge. Each trip to the Washington Park Zoo brought stories of how he machined the axles of the first Portland Zoo train.

In 1942, John met Frances Stilwell, the love of his life. They were married June 29, 1946, and while living in Portland had four children: David, Julie, John and Nancy.

John and Frances heard about a machine shop in Hood River that was for sale and in 1960 they purchased what was at that time Huotte’s Machine Shop, later renaming it Schlosser Machine.

John’s family and business thrived and in 1961 a fifth child, Vincent, was born.

John is survived by his loving wife, Frances; children David (Jane) Schlosser, of Anchorage, Alaska, Julie (Phil) Fehrenbacher, of Salem, Ore., and John (Jan) Schlosser, Nancy (Mike) Blanchette, and Vincent (Jennifer) Schlosser, all of Hood River. He also leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

John is also survived by two brothers and three sisters, and was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.

John was a devout member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Hood River Elks.

Vault interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery.