Raymond Allen Town Jr., 68, of Portland, owner of the Sunridge Inn, Marilyn’s and Sonny’s Bar and Grill in Baker City, died Oct. 19, 2001, at Lake Powell, Ariz.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Agnes Flanagan Chapel at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. There will be a reception afterward at the Columbia Aviation Association at Aurora Airport.
Mr. Town was born on Nov. 13, 1932, at Portland. He was the only son of Bertha Fern and Raymond Allen Town Sr. He was a lifelong Oregonian.
His family, childhood friends and peers knew him as “Sonny.” He was educated at Beach Grammar School, Jefferson High School and West Linn High School. He lettered in baseball, basketball and football. After graduating from high school in 1950, he went on to attend Vanport College. He then served in the U.S. Air Force.
Mr. Town felt work was very honorable and began working at the young age of 8 selling butter. This began his business career.
He started Town Concrete Pipe in 1962 and since then has been president or partner in numerous businesses in the Portland area: Western International Investors and Developers, The Mountain Shop, C.C. Meisel Inc., Kizer Excavating, Campbell Crane and Rigging, VIPCO, Baker Readi-Mix, Bluerock Concrete Products, Town Concrete Pipe of Washington, By-Town Pipe, D.P. Nicoli Inc., Town Investments, The Cipple Group, The Town Group, Best Western Sunridge Inn, Marilyn’s and Sonny’s Bar and Grill.
Mr. Town served on the boards of the American Concrete Pipe Association and the Oregon Concrete Pipe Association. Additionally, he was a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club, Mountain Park Racquet Club, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Seaplane Pilots Association and the Masonic Lodge of Mount Hood, No. 157.
Flying and family were foremost in Mr. Town’s life. An accomplished pilot for more than 40 years, he was licensed for single-engine airplanes, land and sea, multi-engine land, and instrument. He completed pilot training at Flight Safety for the Aero Commander, Cessna 421 and Learjet.
His love of flying led him to Columbia Aviation Association where he was an active board member and Member of the Year in 1994. He also was instrumental in founding and building a new facility at the Aurora State Airport.
While business was Mr. Town’s passion, his family and friends were most important in his life. His memory and legacy will forever be treasured by his loving wife of 30 years, Marilyn; daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberly and Andrew Schroeder, Kristin and Greg Parsons and Patricia and Peter Carlson; sons and daughters-in-law, Lloyd Allen and Linda Town, Michael Raymond Allen and Kristen Town and Carl Allen and Sheila Town; and 12 grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Angel Flight West, 3237 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, Calif. 90405; 310/390-2958.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 26, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor