Paul N. Vance's Obituary
Paul N. Vance was born on February 18, 1915 in Harbon, China to Mr. & Mrs. Nikita Vashenko.
He died at a St. Helens care center on November 8, 2007 at the age of 92.
They moved to the U.S. when Paul was 8 years old. They had Russian friends in Seattle, WA. so that is where they decided to live. He enrolled in Cascade grade school and learned English very quickly and skipped 2 grades 4th & 7th. After grade school he attended Broadway High School and was on the honor 3 times. After graduating from High School he enrolled in the University of Washington, majoring in Forestry, he graduated in 1938.
He married Frances Saunders on February 10, 1940 in Seattle, WA. they were married for 67 years. Thye moved to St. Helens where Paul worked in the lab of the old Fir Tex Mill.
In 1942 he entered the service where he became a Lt. Colonel with the 10th Mountain division of Army Engineers. He came home after WWII ended spending 38 months in Europe. He joined the Reserves, retiring after 20 years, becoming a retired reserve officer.
He joined the American Legion where he was commander for several years, then took a position of finance officer.
He was an Eagle Scout, and assistant scout master, and later had two troops of his own.
He worked for Timber Lands, manager for Kaiser Gypson, retiring after 65 years in 1980. He did alot of traveling during his career, he was selected as one of the two foresters from Oregon to attend Yale Forestry School for 3 months. He traveled to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii twice.
He and his wife fished together for 64 years, those fishing days were his best memories.
Survivors include: Wife-Frances Vance of St. Helens; Niece: Nina Gustoferson of Virginia.
Cryptside Committal & Entombment: Columbia Memorial Gardens Mausoleum-Scappoose. Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 2:00 PM
on-line condolences may be sent to the family at [email protected]
Columbia Funeral Home-Directors
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