Eugene Lloyd Porterfield passed away on June 2, 2008, in Vancouver, Wash. He was born to Mart and Nellie Belle Porterfield on July 23, 1922, in Fristo, Mo. He moved to Parkdale, Ore., while a teenager and remained there until 1951 when he moved to Vancouver with his bride, Joyce.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce Porterfield; brothers Leonard (Gertrude) and Scott (Arlene); sister, Hazel Bowe (Chuck deceased); daughter, Sherri MacLardy (Doug); son, Ron Porterfield (Kris); grandchildren Jeff MacLardy (Jacki), Angela Kinsel (Todd), Andrew Porterfield, Sally Kroon (Kurt); and four great-grandchildren, Jaslin and Jaela MacLardy and Alec and Ben Kinsel.

He is preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Joshua Adam Porterfield.

Gene was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend. He was a longtime member of Columbia Presbyterian Church in Vancouver. He loved spending time with his family and playing golf. He worked as a warehouse foreman at E.J. Bartels in Portland until his retirement over 20 years ago.

A memorial service was held at Columbia Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 6. Donations or contributions may be made in Gene’s memory to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital or Southwest Hospice in Vancouver, Wash.

William “Earle” Thompson, age 45, died on May 31, 2008, as a result of an accident on Country Club Road in Hood River, Ore. Earle came to the Gorge in 1991 from Middlebury, Vt., with his dog, Sparky.

He was born in Hartford, Conn., the son of John and Catherine (Riker) Thompson. Earle was a graduate of Middlebury Union High School and Paul Smith’s College in New York.

A natural athlete, Earle loved adventure and spent the last 17 years here in the Columbia River Gorge, pursuing his passions of windsurfing, surfing, snowboarding, skiing and golf. Earle also played hockey. A member of the Hood River Country Club, Earle was an avid golfer and had plans to go to Bandon Dunes this summer.

Earle was among the first windsurfers to become a regular at Cheap Beach during that summer of 1991 and he spread his enthusiasm for the sport to everyone who sailed with him. We will all miss driving up to Cheap Beach and seeing his Subaru parked under the tree and Earle, with a big smile, waving from the guard rail. Earle probably logged more post-windsurfing hours on that bench than anyone.

In the windy days to come, Earle’s spirit will be out there on the water, shredding it up with all of us and we will always save a spot for him on the bench.

Earle also loved to surf; he surfed the Oregon coast, Costa Rica, off the mainland of Mexico and Baja.

Always a pleasure to have in the kitchen, Earle worked as a cook at Bo Bistro’s, Mt. Hood Meadows, and Divots. During the winters of 1994-1995 he worked as a cook at The Lodge Club, Snowbird, Utah. When Earle was out of retirement, he was a stone mason and did concrete work.

He was quick with a smile and filled his life with family and friends, entertaining them with his detailed stories, gourmet cooking, artistic stonework and his abundant enthusiasm for life. He cared deeply for those he loved and had a special tenderness for his nieces and nephews.

Earle is survived by his mother, Catherine Thompson; his sisters, Cathy Field, of Becket, Mass., Heather Hardt, of Salisbury, Vt., and Beth Wimett, of Brandon, Vt.; his brother, John Thompson, of New Haven, Vt., as well as many nieces and nephews. Earle is also survived by his many friends here in the Gorge and Salt Lake City, Utah.

From all of Earle’s friends out west, our hearts go out to his family in New England.

A celebration of Earle’s life will be held at Cheap Beach on Monday, June 9,^{, at 6 p.m.. If it’s windy we’ll see you at the beach earlier. The celebration will continue later at the River City Saloon. There will be a potluck for food and appetizers. Bring your favorite Earle stories and any pictures that you would like to share.}

Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Sports Center, Expansion Project, Box 835, Middlebury, VT 05753.

“Long story short” — Earle will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Eldon V. Bailey, a longtime Hood River, Ore., resident, died June 1, 2008, at his residence. He was 78 years of age.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 2168 Belmont Ave. Pastor Terry Abbott, of the Assembly of God Church, will officiate. Visitation will be Friday, from 2-5 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center.

Eldon was born May 2, 1930, in Carter, S.D., to Ray and Elsie (Kyriss) Bailey. He came to Oregon in 1935 and settled in the Mount Hood area on property still owned by family members. He attended Mt. Hood Grade School and graduated from Parkdale High School in 1948.

Eldon attended Vanport College for two years and then entered the U.S. Army in 1951. He served during the Korean Conflict with the 45th Infantry Division Signal Company. He received two citations, including the Bronze Star Medal for service in several major campaigns. Eldon was discharged from the Army in 1953 with the rank of sergeant and returned to Oregon.

On Dec. 13, 1953, he and Celia Ann Hollis were married in Siletz, Ore. Eldon had worked for the Oregon Lumber Company and Hackett’s Radio and TV Repair before returning to federal service in 1960. He was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an electronics technician specializing in air navigational systems. He served in assignments throughout the western United States, including eight years in Meeker, Colo.

While in Meeker, Eldon served one term as municipal judge as well as overseeing a critical navigational system and radar components for airline flight between Denver, Colo., and Salt Lake City, Utah. His last five years of service were spent at the Portland International Airport, working with control tower systems, installing and maintaining air and ground communications as well as radar and navigational aids.

He retired in 1990 and then worked part-time with the Hood River Transportation Company and also pursued many interests and outdoor hobbies. He had been a licensed ham radio operator since 1949.

Eldon was a lifelong member of the Assembly of God Church and was active in teaching, deacon boards and treasurer roles.

He is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Ann Utesch, and son-in-law, Doug, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his son, Randy Todd Bailey, and daughter-in-law, Maria, of Parkdale, Ore.; grandchildren Shane and Amber Utesch, Rhianna and Brendon Bailey and Tiffany Berquist; brother, Arnold Bailey and sister-in-law, Jadean, of Omak, Wash., and their family, Gary and Scott Bailey and Jennie Hux.

Eldon was known as “PAPA” to his close family members and will always be remembered for his compassion, generosity and quick wit. One of his many joys in life was working on his family farm. He loved every aspect, from laying the pipes for the water line to wheeling and dealing cow sales with his buddies.

Interment with military honors will be at Idlewilde Cemetery.

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