Verna Deskin
Verna Esme Deskin, a longtime resident of the Hood River Valley, passed away Nov. 27, 2002, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. She was 79 years of age.
Private family services will be held.
Verna was born on Aug. 25, 1923, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was the eldest daughter of five for Gladys and Ingeman E. Andersen. Vee, as she was known to her family and friends, grew up on a rubber tree plantation managed by her parents. This was a time when natural rubber was a highly valued commodity and British colonialism ruled much of this region. Verna and her sisters attended Catholic schools alongside children of the Sultans and dignitaries of Southeast Asia. On occasions they dined with the movie stars and politicians of the era.
When World War II brought Japanese occupation into the region, the family was evacuated to Australia for safety. However, her father stayed behind to join the British and European fighting forces.
While in Australia, Verna married an American merchant sailor, Randolph Deskin, on March 13, 1945. The year following the war’s end, she joined her husband in San Francisco where they resided for 11 years. During that time they were blessed with a daughter and two sons. Due to the many long and difficult months Randolph spent at sea, the family decided to relocate to Hood River in 1957 to be closer to Verna’s parents. One year after their arrival, the last of their four children was born. Throughout the years, Verna and her family lived in several locations within the Hood River Valley. She was proud to raise her children in this wonderful community and was very devoted to them. She had a great love for animals. Dogs, cats and birds were part of her extended family.
Vee was a unique woman whose personality left an impression on everyone she met and will be truly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her sons, Randy Deskin and his wife Kim of White Salmon, Wash.; Larry Deskin and his wife Brenda of Florida and Terry Deskin and his wife Beth of Mosier, Ore.; sisters Dawn Luehr of Beaverton, Ore., and Patricia Halliday of Canada. Eight grandchildren, Adam, Andrea, Kristen and Seana and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Her husband, two sisters, a daughter, Sherry Coats in September 2001, and a grandson, Marcus Deskin in 1985, preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to P.R.O.D. c/o Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont, Hood River, OR 97031.
Lorn Magnusen
Lorn Magnusen, a long-time valley resident, died Dec. 2, 2002, at the Hood River Care Center after a long illness. He was 81 years of age.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Hood River Valley Christian Church.
Lorn was born in Marquette, Iowa, Sept. 28, 1921, but considered Oregon his home. After graduating from Hood River High in 1941, Lorn married Marjorie Wells, his high school sweetheart, in 1942. Four months later he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served as a medic in the European and Asian-Pacific theaters in World War II.
After the war, he became a partner in Walter Wells and Sons until he retired in 1979. He and Margie split their retirement years between Hood River and Palm Desert, Calif.
Lorn was active in the community and was a long-time member of the Valley Christian Church. He had many interests including skiing, fishing, playing cards, music, travel, and was an ardent reader. Golf was his passion, he even played with Tiger Woods!
Lorn is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Marjorie and his three daughters: Vicki Cain, and Dr. Jan Bender of Tualatin, Ore., and Debbie Altenhofen of Beaverton, Ore., and their husbands. He leaves behind five grandchildren, two sisters, many nieces and nephews, as well has his wife’s brother’s families in the Hood River area.
He was a loving husband and father and had great faith in God. He loved to talk, tell jokes and genuinely enjoyed people. He will be greatly missed.
There will be a private interment at the Pine Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Hood River Valley Christian Church, or a favorite charity c/o Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont, Hood River, OR 97031
Charles Kitchel
A memorial service was held Nov. 23, 2002, for Charles C. Kitchel of Eugene, who died Nov. 18, of age-related causes. He was 77.
Kitchel was born Feb. 2, 1925, in Dee to Clifford and Elizabeth Kitchel. He and his wife, Patricia, were married in Portland on July 24, 1964. She died Aug. 20, 2000.
He served in the Air Force from 1943 until 1946. He attended the University of Oregon. He worked in the lumber business.
He enjoyed golfing and Oregon athletics. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Eugene Country Club.
Survivors include two sons, Scott of Eugene and Dirk of Charleston, S.C.; a daughter, Jeness Roth of Memphis, Tenn.; a sister, Iva Orme of Eugene; and seven grandchildren.
Saturday’s service was held at 10 a.m. at the Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene.
Thomas Vinet
Thomas John Vinet, a Cascade Locks, Ore., resident died Dec. 2, 2002, at his residence. He was 49 years of age. Arrangements are pending at Anderson’s Tribute Center, 541-386-1000.
Mecha Inukai
Mecha Miyoko Inukai, of Portland, Ore., died Nov. 27, 2002. She was 84 years of age.
Mecha Miyoko Yamada was born Nov. 22, 1918, in Milwaukie, Ore. She was raised and educated there and graduated from Milwaukie High School. She attended beauty school, and in 1942 married Tom Inukai. During World War II she was interned at Minindoka, Idaho, and Tule Lake, Calif., settlement camps. She also lived in Ontario, Ore., and Hood River County, Ore., prior to returning to Portland in 1951. She worked as a waitress.
Mecha is survived by her husband, Tom Inukai, of Portland; her sons, Richard Inukai of Tigard, Ore., and Marvin Inukai of Milwaukie, Ore.; her daughters, Myra Inukai of Portland, Ore., and Carol Sugimura of Castro Valley, Calif.; her sister, Hattie Yamada, of Portland, Ore.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Lincoln Memorial Park Chapel on Sat., Dec. 14, 2002, at 1 p.m. Arrangements are being made by Riverview Abbey Funeral Home, 503-244-7577. Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell House Hospice Program.
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