Obituary of Harold Wainwright

Homer Harold Wainwright

Born: March 5, 1930

Passed: September 10, 2023

Age: 93 years 6 months 5 days

Homer who went by his middle name “Harold” was the son of Hollis Homer Wainwright and Ruth Strain.

He was born in Nodaway, Iowa and was one of 13 children. Harold began his work life as a nine-year-old boy working in the coal mine owned by his father, After school and weekends were filled with chores and work.

During World War Two the family picked up and moved to Battleground Washington. His father worked in the Vancouver Washington Shipyard. His father eventually bought a farm up in the hills behind Deer Island, Oregon. Harold worked on the farm and was also a logger during his early years in Oregon.

He met his wife Betty Lou Bare just down the road from their farm. They married on December 26, 1950. They had a son, Larry Gene Wainwright born January 13, 1952, and later a daughter, Gayle Roxanne Wainwright on June 28, 1953.

The Korean Conflict was starting to ramp up and Harold received his draft notice. He served his country as a US Army demolition man in infantry. He achieved the rank of Sargent in the 2^nd Battalion, 9^th Infantry Regiment. He served from October 17, 1951, to September 29, 1953. His daughter Gayle was born while he was serving his country and was about 3 months old when they met for the first time. His family was very blessed to have Harold return to them. He served during some of the worst battles of the Korean War.

Harold and Betty lived for a time in St. Helens, Oregon, but eventually moved to the Oregon coast. They lived in Tillamook County for many years. Harold worked milking cows early every morning and then again in the evening plus he had a day job making Tillamook Cheese at the factory in town. Harold worked for years as a logger and yarder engineer in Tillamook.

All his hard work paid off when he was able to purchase his own logging company and Wainwright Logging came into existence. The company was a contractor logging company harvesting trees for Boise Cascade Corporation. The company operated in the 1980s.

 Eventually Harold sold the company. Harold kept on logging for other companies until he retired in 1995. In his later years he lived in Molalla, Oregon with his daughter and her husband.

Harold became a widower on July 15, 1989, when his wife Betty passed away. Harold also lost his son Larry Gene Wainwright on August 30, 2010. Harold is survived by his daughter Gayle Roxanne Wainwright and son in law, David Allen Battaglia. He outlived all his brothers and sisters and is the last of his generation to depart this earth.

Harold lived a very long life and did many things. Way too much to mention here! He was loved by many and regarded highly particularly by his caregivers at Emerald Gardens Senior Living located in Woodburn. Harold will always be remembered as a good soldier and a good man. He is missed very much by his family.

A short military honors ceremony will be held on Wednesday, October 11^th, 2:00 pm at Willamette National Cemetery located in Clackamas. Stop by the administrative office located at the entrance to the cemetery for location of the ceremony.

Donations to any Alzheimer/Dementia research organization in Harold’s name would be appreciated.

 

 

 

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