Eldon "Hank" Harper Obituary (1924

Eldon Charles "Hank" Harper, 85, of Belfair, died at Fir Lane Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shelton on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. Hank was born on April 9, 1924 to Charles Albert and Florence Dee (Love) Harper in Pasco, Washington and grew up in Connell (Franklin County), Washington graduating from Connell High School in 1943. He served in the US Navy during World War II as a guard on the David C Shanks transporting troops to the Pacific war area and returning injured troops home. After discharge from the Navy he attended trade school in Spokane to become a diesel mechanic. In 1950 he became a welder at PSNS where he continued working until receiving a medical retirement in 1971. He met Dorothy Newkirk at the Belfair Barn Dance when they were introduced by a mutual friend. Nine weeks later on February 24, 1952 they were married. They lived in "beautiful downtown Belfair" for 27 years before moving two miles away to their current home. Hank loved to garden and had vegetable and flower gardens at both locations. In later years he focused on raising dahlias and thoughtfully shared the bright blossoms with friends and neighbors. Hank was a member of Twanoh Grange #1118 for more than 50 years and was the Grange Master for 23 years. He helped with the construction of the original Grange Hall which was maliciously destroyed in 1966 and the rebuilt Hall which was destroyed by weather in 1998. He also served as Master of Mason County Pomona Grange #20 for two years. For many years he enjoyed participating in the Mason County Fair by building the Grange display and often helping with the Mason County Grange display at the Puyallup Fair. Attending the yearly conventions in June and visiting with Grange friends from all over the state was an activity that he especially enjoyed. He was a member of the Belfair Community Baptist Church and the American Legion (Jeff Colley Post 195) Connell, WA. Hank enjoyed fishing (saltwater and fresh water) and hunting. The annual family fishing trip for the opening of fishing season was an eagerly anticipated event. He was preceded in death by his brother Cleo and sisters Ramona and Arley Harper. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, of the family home; daughter Rona Louise Schroeder and son-in-law David of Belfair; granddaughter Sarah (Schroeder) Morgan and husband James of Silverdale, WA; and granddaughter Emily Schroeder of Belfair. He is also survived by brothers Norval "Noz" (Gloria) Harper of Connell; Dick Harper of Salem, OR; Sam Harper of Puyallup, WA; and Larry Harper of Connell and sisters Ermil "Pat" (Floyd) Gleich of Kennewick, WA; Shirlene "Rose" (John) Mason, and Nancy (Roger) Lewis of Connell. A memorial service to celebrate Hank's life will be held Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Belfair Community Baptist Church. The family requests that remembrances be made to Belfair Community Baptist Church, PO Box 160, Belfair, WA 98528.