Harold Edgar Wakefield

Published 11:42 pm Friday, July 24, 2015

Harold Edgar Wakefield (Ed) passed away peacefully on June 12, 2015 surrounded by his family. Ed was born in Monroe, Washington on Dec. 5, 1923 to Eva (Miller) Wakefield and Harold Wakefield. Ed was one of three brothers Wally Wakefield and Charlie Wakefield. . Ed’s family moved to Yakima, Washington when he was 3 years old. Ed grew up in Yakima until he went into the Navy at the age of 18. On leave he met Dorothy (Dot) Johnson at the skating rink, he could’t skate so Dot and her girl friend held him up. Ed served at Iwogema, Normandy, Okenawa, was in the Atlantic invasion and in Southern France. After returning to Yakima he started a apprenticeship with Lucas & Wolf Painting Company and painting would be his life occupation. Dot and Ed were married March 29, 1947 and lived in Yakima where their first daughter Linda Marie Snyder was born in 1948. In 1956 Ed moved his family to Moses Lake, Washington where his second daughter Mary Estelle Nye was born in 1957. In 1961 Ed moved his family to Oregon and worked for JC Pennys Company remodeling and repainting their stores, after that he worked for Phil Potter painting until his retirement in 1980. In 1970 Ed moved Mary and Dot to Brinnon, Washington and lived on the Duckabush River in The Lazy C and old dude ranch split up into separate lots. In 2004 Ed agreed to move to Bend , Oregon to live with his daughter Mary and her husband Bill Nye. When Ed got to Bend he joined the Bank of Brothers of Central Oregon Chapter and would go to the breakfast on Mondays at Jakes’ Diner. He loved to talk about the military and what they did and saw. Dot and Ed had been going to reunions for the USS Nevada Battle ship for Years as they got older Lind, Mary and Bill would take them until it was dissolved just before their 60th reunion due to lack of members. Ed enjoyed helping anyone do just about anything, he helped remodel and repaint their home in Bend until he could no longer get up and down on the ladders then he just sat back and supervised to make sure Bill and the grandkids were doing it correctly. He would putter in the garage making fire starters out of old candles and pine cones. In 2014 Ed was told he was one of the WWII vets chosen along with 50 other to go back to DC to see their memorial. The Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon was taking them. Ed had asked his son-in-law Bill Nye if he would be his chaperone, Bill was honored to. Sept 2014 they took off on their adventure on Wed from Portland, Oregon. After arriving in DC., Ed ended up in the hospital for two days. Bill very disappointed that Ed had missed so much reserved a car and wheel chair and Saturday when Ed was released from the hospital Bill picked him up and off they went to see as much as they could in one day. They meet up with their group at Arlington Cemetery for the Changing of the Guards where they were able to talk to visitors and congressmen. He loved that strip and was so proud that he was able to go. Ed loved to sit outside and visit with anyone who would stop by. He always made sure that he never missed “Tottie Time” . He always said water wasn’t worth drinking if it didn’t have whisky in it. Ed is survived by his wife Dorothy Mae (Johnson) Wakefield, daughters Linda Marie Snyder , husband Walt VanHooser, Mary Nye husband Bill Nye, 7 Grandchildren, Andrea Wending, Mike Nye, wife Anna, Rick Nye, wife Kelli, Dave Nye, wife Jamie, Holly Lane, husband Bian. Walter VanHooser and Heather VanHooser. 14 great grandchildren who he loved to see. He will be greatly missed. In lew of flowers you may make a donation in his name to TheEasternOregonHonorflight.org. A celebration of life will be held on July 25th at his home in Bend at 3 pm. There will also be a military service in Yakima, Washington at the Tahoma Cemetery on Sept 26th 2015 at 11:30 am and a gathering at the VFW hall after. Anyone interested in either one of these please contact Mary Nye, email mnye@commpowder.com