North Powder, Union County, Oregon
Willard William “Bill” Coles, 72, of LaPine, a former North Powder resident, died March 1, 2006, at his home.
His funeral will be at noon Sunday at the LaPine Cemetery. There will be a memorial service at the American Legion, Post 45, 52532 Drafter Road, at LaPine. Baird Memorial Chapel of LaPine is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Coles was born on May 7, 1933, at North Powder to Moody Buster and Ethel Simonis Coles.
He went to school at Union and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1954.
He married Amelia Haefer on Aug. 20, 1954. They had four children: Kathaleen Sue, Darrell Dean, Tony Lee and Randy Ray. Kathaleen and Tony died in infancy.
This marriage ended in divorce. He then married Ruth B. Dickson Heath at Reno, Nev., on Feb. 22, 1968. This union brought five stepchildren and one of their own: David, Lynne, Ted, Larry, Tracy and Lee.
The couple had just celebrated 38 years of marriage.
He was a carpenter and logger by trade. He had completed many projects in and around the LaPine and Mount Angel areas. Mr. Coles had been a member of American Legion, Post 45, for the last 35 years. He helped build the Legion hall at LaPine. He was so much a part of the post that he’ll always be there; he lost his wedding ring during its construction.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Ruth, of LaPine; a brother and sister-in-law, Norvin and Eleanor Coles of Cove; stepsister and brother-in-law, Linda and Ira Lively, of Kennewick, Wash.; children and in-laws, Darrell and Myra Coles of Rockaway Beach, Randy and Regina “Regie” Coles of Las Vegas, Nev., Lee Coles of Eugene, David and Thea Minick of Portland, Lynne Minick of Sublimity, Ted Heath of Naselle, Wash., Larry and Nola Heath of LaPine, Tracy and J.P. Palmer of Sparks, Nev.; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 3, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor