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Lester Martin Obituary

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Lester Martin

Hood River, OR

April 15, 1919 - January 24, 2012

Lester Martin Obituary

Lester J. Martin, passed away January 24th, 2012 in Parkdale with family by his side. Lester was born April 15, 1919 and was 92 at the time of his passing. Lester was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to Lester E. Martin and Evelyn Ann Vockroth. He grew up in Beaver Dam where he enjoyed participating in sports, track and football. He graduated from Wayland Academy and continued his education at the University of Wisconsin studying Chemical Engineering. In October of 1942 Lester married his long time sweet heart Janis Johnson in Buffalo, New York. Lester served our country during World War II as a chemical engineer with the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos New Mexico. Lester and Janis moved to Los Angeles, where they lived for many years and he worked for Hughes Aircraft and worked as a consultant for various space aeronautics programs. They moved to Santa Ana, CA where they raised their four children. They had a hobby of collecting Antiques, so they opened their Antique Store in Tustin CA and operated for 8 years. Yearning to return to country living they moved to Parkdale, Oregon in 1968. Lester was said to have retired at the age of 49 and went back to work at 51. Lester continued chemical engineering but in a different field of study. He was the originator and vintner of Mt. Hood Winery for 17 years. It turned out to be a family hobby, all fruit wines produced from locally grown produce sold out of their home on Woodworth Road. Lester and Janis loved to travel. They travelled the world with friends then drove across the US in their motor home and met lots of new friends along the way. Lester enjoyed staying active in real estate and worked for Don Nunamaker Real Estate for several years. He was active in the Lions Clubs in Parkdale and Charbonneau, was a member of Gideons International and Wayland Academy Alumni. Janis passed away October 12, 1992. Lester moved to Charbonneau, Oregon where he lived until this last month when he moved back to Parkdale. Lester is survived and will be dearly missed by his four children, David Martin of Parkdale, Gregory Martin of Parkdale, Paul Martin of College Place, Washington and Victoria Wohllaib of Parkdale; 11 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; other distant family and a host of friends that he has collected over the years. Memorials can be made in Lester’s memory to: Heart of Hospice A funeral service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 31st at the Parkdale Community Church (4910 Baseline Drive). Viewing is scheduled for Monday, January 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Please visit our website to leave a note of condolence for family www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.

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Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Lester Martin.