La Grande, Oregon
Howard Harpole, 82, of Albany and formerly of La Grande, died June 15 at Samaritan Albany General Hospital with his family at his side. Memorial services will begin at 10 a.m. June 28, at the First Christian Church in Albany.
Howard was born in 1926 to Marvon and Rosetta (Marsh) Harpole in Elmira. He was raised in the Cottage Grove area, where he lived until enlisting in the Army. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and was in the 341st Infantry, 86th Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star. After the war he attended Oregon State University, where he was a member and president of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He graduated in June 1950 with a business degree.
Howard married Janet Gebhardt in June 1950 in Corvallis. They had met at Oregon State University. The couple lived in La Grande from 1962 to 1969, where Howard worked in the insurance business.
Howard was a councilman on the Albany City Council, a board member of Albany Boys and Girls Club, a member of Rotary Club of Albany and a deacon at First Christian Church.
He worked as a logger, in insurance sales and in car sales at Hudson Dealership & Garage. He founded Forest Industries Insurance Exchange in 1970, was instrumental in starting Oregon Loggers Association, co-founded Greater Pacific Bank, co-founded Freedom Federal Savings and Loan and co-founded The Oregon Fishing Club.
Howard was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish, hunt, golf and garden. He was an avid OSU supporter. Spending time with his family was one of his favorite pastimes. He traveled the world with family and friends visiting more than 47 countries.
Howard is survived by his wife, Janet Harpole of Albany; children and their spouses, Jenine and Jody Williamson of Enterprise, Marlene and Patrick O’Rourke of La Grande, Teresa and Todd Fletcher of Tucson, Ariz., Bruce and Connie Harpole of Albany, and Lisa and Bob McIntyre of Portland; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Eileen Burkeen of Cottage Grove; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund or the Helping Hands Homeless Shelter, in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington, Albany 97321.
La Grande Observer – June 19, 2008