Walter Beebe Williams

Notes:

Walter was born in a mill town in Central California where his dad worked for Hudspeth Pine. Soon after the family was transferred to Prineville, Oregon where his dad ran the Hudspeth mill there until retirement. The family then moved to Bend.
Walter attended kindergarten in Prineville before the move and then school in Bend, where he was active in Concert Band, Pep Band, Marching Band, High Q, Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts. Walter then attended COCC and later Oregon State University. At OSU he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, majored in Chemistry, and was part of the award winning OSU marching band, playing Sousaphone.
Walter always had a passion to see the country up close and took a job as a long haul truck driver based in Idaho, where he delivered refrigerated goods all over the United States. Walter missed being away from family and returned to Oregon and drove tanker truck for Lee and Eastes and then Arrow Transportation in Eugene, Oregon. He worked his way up at Arrow Transportation from tanker driver to dispatcher to eventually Terminal Manager and stayed with the company through many buy-outs and name changes. He was still working in bulk commodities as Dispatch Manager for Gresham Transfer at the time of his death.
Walter enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing and being outdoors in Oregon and explored many areas of Oregon during regular outings. He was an expert marksman and ethical sportsman, who would only take a game animal if it could be done with one shot. He also worked on conservation projects in Central Oregon during his time in Scouting, being invited to attend leadership camp for young men at Crescent Lake, OR.
Walter always put family first and will be remembered for his gentle demeanor, generosity and quick wit. He was very proud to be an Uncle to his brother's step son and always enjoyed his sister-in-law's gourmet cooking - especially her Thanksgiving turkey with Pine Nut/Leek under-the-skin stuffing.

Notes:

Mr. Williams was born in New York and left home at a young age and moved to Oregon, travelling with a childhood friend who stopped and stayed in Colorado. Mr. Williams joined the Navy, but was discharged because of age. He then worked on the Copco Dam Project on the Klamath River in Northern Califonia. He settled in Klamath Falls but was then drafted into the Army for WWI. He was reunited in France with his friend whom he had left in Colorado years earlier, both of them soldiers now.
After the war, Mr. Williams returned to Klamath Falls to continue his career in the lumber industry, becoming a WWPA Certified Lumber Grader. He married Dorothy Miller, daughter of Lumber Camp photographer, Charles Miller and raised Mary, Gene and another son in Klamath Falls during the 1920's & 30's but eventually divorced and moved to John Day to run the mill there for Hudspeth Lumber. There he met Leonie Beebe, his wife for the remainder of his life, with whom he had two more sons. The family was transferred to California and then back to Prineville, Oregon by Hudspeth Lumber, and then Mr. Williams retired and moved the family to Bend.
During retirement, Mr. Williams was employed as Check Grader/Buyer for Oregon Trail Box.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fly fishing, hunting and boating.

Walter married Leonie Banning Beebe. Leonie (daughter of Victor Lloyd Beebe and Kathryn Marie Brewin) was born on 18 Sep 1916 in New London County, Connecticut, USA; died on 16 May 1994 in Bend, Oregon, USA; was buried in Pilot Butte Cemetery, Bend, Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mrs. Williams was born and raised in Connecticut and then attended Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1939.
She worked in Washington, DC during WWII and then travelled by herself first to Colorado and then on to Oregon where she taught High School in John Day. She met her husband there and then moved to California for a short time, during which time her first son was born.
She and her husband then moved back to Prineville, OR for the birth of her second son (husband transferred back) and then the family moved to Bend.
Mrs. Williams returned to teaching in both Bend and Prineville and retired in the late 1960's where she was active in child daycare and Welcome Wagon during her retirement. She was a past member of the NEA and the OEA and held teaching certifications in Health and PE.
Mrs. Williams enjoyed the outdoor beauty of Central Oregon and was an avid bird watcher and photographer. She spent hours observing and photographing birds and animals at the water pond at Lava River Caves, south of Bend. She also enjoyed travelling to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge near Burns and Osprey Point at Crane Prairie Reservoir. She chronicled her outings which included notes on rare species observed including the wolverine and Peregrine falcon. She was a member of the National Audubon Society.

Victor married Kathryn Marie Brewin in 1905. Kathryn was born on 31 Oct 1879 in North Haven, Connecticut, USA; died on 22 Jun 1930 in Lyme, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Laysville Cemetery, Laysville, New London County, Connecticut, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Hannah Moore Banning on 11 Dec 1866. Hannah (daughter of Arba Hanson Banning and Hannah M. Moore) was born on 12 Jul 1845 in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, USA; died on 7 Sep 1916 in Lyme, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Beebe Cemetery, Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]