Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Harold E. Rolen (Gene), 95, passed away at The Dalles Adventist Hospital on March 9, 2024. Gene was born on Feb. 17, 1929, in Parks, Neb., to Vera (Knepper) Rolen and Robert DeLee Rolen. Gene spent his early childhood in Parks, then moved multiple times with the family, as his father sought better work opportunities. In their pre-teen summers, Gene and his older brother, Bob, usually worked alongside their father earning up to 10 cents a day. During these years they also honed their hunting and fishing skills. In 1940 the family arrived in Oregon, first settling in Bend, then moving to Vanport, where all four members of the family worked as welders in the shipyards.
In 1946, Gene graduated from Jefferson High School, Portland, Ore. After graduation, he worked on the Hanford Atomic plant and McNary dam. In October 1950, Gene was drafted into the Army. After basic training at Camp Polk, La., he finished training in Japan and then was sent to Korea, where he was a corporal in the 45th Division, 180th Regiment, Company F. His superior officer noticed Gene’s skill with guns, assigning him to the armory as a stock clerk, where he took care of the weapons for the whole company. On Sept. 4, 1952, Gene was discharged from the Army. He returned to Oregon and carpenter work on the dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Falling in love with Etta and Melinda, Gene married Etta M. Hopkins on March 4, 1954, adopting Melinda in November of the same year. They moved to Klamath Falls, Ore., where Gene used the GI bill to attend the Oregon Technical Institute, attaining a gunsmith certificate. Their sons, Richard and Roger, were born in Klamath Falls. Returning to the work on the dams, they lived in Pasco and Sunnyside, Wash. In 1960, the family moved to The Dalles. When his sons reached Little League age, Gene volunteered as their baseball coach. He attended every football game, wrestling match and baseball game, in addition to teaching all three kids to hunt and fish.
In the 1early 1980s, Gene went to Saudi Arabia to build desalinization plants, and then to Venezuela for work on the Onaoco dam project. Upon his return home, Gene purchased property with Don Anderson, on the Kenai Peninsula and took yearly trips to Alaska to fish for salmon and halibut. His last elk hunt was just last November.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.