Lloyd Vernon Sturm's Obituary
Lloyd Vernon Sturm
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 13 at Eagle Point National Cemetery in Eagle Point, Ore. Lloyd passed away in Scappoose, Oregon. He was 85.
Lloyd was born on a farm in Valley View, near Polson, Mont., in January 1925. He passed away Aug. 6, 2010.
Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1943 and was gunners mate second class on the USS Schley during WWII.
His regular assignment included performing maintenance, repair and operation of all guns aboard ship, including 3 50 caliber dual purpose guns; 20mm, 30mm, 40mm and 50mm caliber anti-aircraft; 306 rifles; Thompson sub-machine and pistols; K-depth charge guns; and depth charge release racks.
He performed two years continuous active duty aboard ship, including engaging in battles with the enemy in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged in December 1946.
While serving in N.D. Headquarters, reporting to the Chief of Special Services in Kodiak, Alaska, he met, courted and married Luella Mead in November 1946.
In 1947, Lloyd and his wife moved to Portland, and he worked within the recreation department of local VA hospitals at various duties, including serving as a motion-picture projectionist and supervisor of volunteers, maintaining and running motion picture programs.
While continuing in this capacity, he enrolled as a full-time student at Lewis and Clark College in September 1950 and graduated in January 1953 with a B.S. degree in liberal arts, physical education, geography and cartography.
Memberships and honors included: life member, Blue Key national honor fraternity president, Acacia fraternity; and member, Future Teachers of America.
Later, he continued his education and in 1959 he enrolled at Washington State University. He successfully completed accounting courses for an additional year.
In 1953, Lloyd took the position as chief, recreation service at the VA hospital in Portland, and began what was to become a long and successful career in progressively bigger leadership roles within the Veterans Administration.
Accepting increased responsibilities meant relocation for Lloyd and his family which had grown to include two children, moving to Spokane, Wash.; Washington, D.C.; Kansas City, Mo.; Ft. Howard, Md.; Tomah, Wisc.; New York City; Boston; and ending his illustrious 30-year career as hospital director in The Bronx, N.Y.
In 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, medical service, and maintained his continuous reserve responsibilities until retiring as major in 1976.
Lloyd had never forgotten his roots and longed for the natural beauty of Oregon. In the summer of 1983 he and his wife found the perfect retirement home in Grants Pass.
There, Lloyd immersed himself in vigorous activity carpentry, gardening and landscaping, golfing and bowling, fishing and hunting, and even fitting in time to travel with his wife to South America.
He celebrated the continuing growth of his extended family, adding a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and four granddaughters.
He added an entire second floor to his home in Grants Pass that included a huge wraparound porch and deck overlooking the Rogue River.
In addition, he was a creative artist, using all mediums, including oils, watercolors and charcoal, creating many paintings of scenery from his surrounding countryside.
In 1998, Lloyd began suffering minor strokes affecting his short-term memory and speech.
In 2000, he suffered a massive stroke while sleeping. This left him paralyzed on his entire right side, as well as with the loss of his ability to speak. This debilitating condition forced him to live in an assisted living home in Grants Pass.
Then, after 56 years of marriage, his wife Luella passed away from Alzheimers disease in February 2002. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Terrace View Home adult care in Scappoose.
With his son and family living only 10 minutes away, he could be assured of weekly family visits. In a loving family setting at Terrace View Home, Lloyd received the nurturing and tender care that sustained him for an additional eight years. He never recovered his speaking abilities, or any mobility on his right side.
He lost his battle with the after-effects of his stroke on Aug. 6, 2010.
Lloyd is survived by his children, Linda Barnett and Loren Sturm; his daughter-in-law Jackie and son-in-law Steve; his grandchildren Suzi, Sally, Katie and Melissa; and his great-grandchildren Arron and Lilyan.
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