The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon
Friday, December 10, 2021
Kenneth Robert 'Bob' Myers, Jr.
July 11, 1928 - Nov. 27, 2021
Born in LaGrande, Ore., July 11, 1928, Kenneth was the son of Kenneth Robert Sr. and Rebecca M. Provost Myers. Bob, as he was called most of his life, grew up traveling extensively with his family as they followed several 'New Deal' construction projects dedicated to the monumental tasks of building the Bonneville, Grand Cooley and Hoover Dams.
In 1943, two years after the United States entered World War II, Bob enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15 with permission from his father and mother. He served with valor in the South Pacific until the end of the war. As Seaman First Class, 20mm anti-aircraft gunner and deck gun loader, he was involved in combat against enemy aircraft four times in the South Pacific aboard an armed Liberty Ship SS Alexander Woollcott, and at the Battle of Okinawa aboard armed Victory ship SS Berry Victory, against enemy planes which were attacking our Marines on the beach. His citations include: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and WWII Victory Medal. For his service, he received a thank you letter from President Truman.
After his discharge, Bob returned to Oregon to the City of Vanport, where he and most of his family lived. They survived one of the worst floods in Oregon history by virtue of good advice from a family member, specializing in engineering, to move before it happened. Shortly thereafter he would meet Ruth Elaine Rowland. They married in 1948 and spent the next 70 years building a family and legacy.
For a short time through the late 40s and early 50s, Bob worked at two or three different jobs, including Pacific Northwest Bell as a telephone installer, a shipfitter for Northwest Marine Iron Works, and for Blitz Weinhard Brewery, jokingly claiming to be a journeyman taste tester.
Finally finding his niche, he hired on at Freightliner Corporation as machinist helper in 1953. Through Freightliner he finished his education. For the next 35 years, Bob dedicated his energies toward this little-known startup company, manufacturing class B over the highway trucks exclusively for Consolidated Freightways. However, after retiring and ending his career in 1991 as Quality Assurance Manager for the Portland truck manufacturing plant, Freightliner Corporation had now become the largest manufacturer of heavy duty highway trucks and fleet vehicles in North America.
Lastly, if there were a definition in Webster's Dictionary for the "World's best son, brother, husband, role model and Dad" his name and picture would be forever next to it.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; his sister, Sue; and his sons, Mark and John. Survivors include his brother, John (Kathy) Myers; sister, Kristine Crawford; and children, Sandra (Gary) Brannan, Michael (Deborah) Myers, Penny (Mark) Myers; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors at a later date.
Portland, Oregon
Friday, December 10, 2021
Kenneth Robert 'Bob' Myers, Jr.
July 11, 1928 - Nov. 27, 2021
Born in LaGrande, Ore., July 11, 1928, Kenneth was the son of Kenneth Robert Sr. and Rebecca M. Provost Myers. Bob, as he was called most of his life, grew up traveling extensively with his family as they followed several 'New Deal' construction projects dedicated to the monumental tasks of building the Bonneville, Grand Cooley and Hoover Dams.
In 1943, two years after the United States entered World War II, Bob enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15 with permission from his father and mother. He served with valor in the South Pacific until the end of the war. As Seaman First Class, 20mm anti-aircraft gunner and deck gun loader, he was involved in combat against enemy aircraft four times in the South Pacific aboard an armed Liberty Ship SS Alexander Woollcott, and at the Battle of Okinawa aboard armed Victory ship SS Berry Victory, against enemy planes which were attacking our Marines on the beach. His citations include: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and WWII Victory Medal. For his service, he received a thank you letter from President Truman.
After his discharge, Bob returned to Oregon to the City of Vanport, where he and most of his family lived. They survived one of the worst floods in Oregon history by virtue of good advice from a family member, specializing in engineering, to move before it happened. Shortly thereafter he would meet Ruth Elaine Rowland. They married in 1948 and spent the next 70 years building a family and legacy.
For a short time through the late 40s and early 50s, Bob worked at two or three different jobs, including Pacific Northwest Bell as a telephone installer, a shipfitter for Northwest Marine Iron Works, and for Blitz Weinhard Brewery, jokingly claiming to be a journeyman taste tester.
Finally finding his niche, he hired on at Freightliner Corporation as machinist helper in 1953. Through Freightliner he finished his education. For the next 35 years, Bob dedicated his energies toward this little-known startup company, manufacturing class B over the highway trucks exclusively for Consolidated Freightways. However, after retiring and ending his career in 1991 as Quality Assurance Manager for the Portland truck manufacturing plant, Freightliner Corporation had now become the largest manufacturer of heavy duty highway trucks and fleet vehicles in North America.
Lastly, if there were a definition in Webster's Dictionary for the "World's best son, brother, husband, role model and Dad" his name and picture would be forever next to it.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; his sister, Sue; and his sons, Mark and John. Survivors include his brother, John (Kathy) Myers; sister, Kristine Crawford; and children, Sandra (Gary) Brannan, Michael (Deborah) Myers, Penny (Mark) Myers; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors at a later date.
The Oregonian
Portland, Oregon
Friday, December 10, 2021
Kenneth Robert 'Bob' Myers, Jr.
July 11, 1928 - Nov. 27, 2021
Born in LaGrande, Ore., July 11, 1928, Kenneth was the son of Kenneth Robert Sr. and Rebecca M. Provost Myers. Bob, as he was called most of his life, grew up traveling extensively with his family as they followed several 'New Deal' construction projects dedicated to the monumental tasks of building the Bonneville, Grand Cooley and Hoover Dams.
In 1943, two years after the United States entered World War II, Bob enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15 with permission from his father and mother. He served with valor in the South Pacific until the end of the war. As Seaman First Class, 20mm anti-aircraft gunner and deck gun loader, he was involved in combat against enemy aircraft four times in the South Pacific aboard an armed Liberty Ship SS Alexander Woollcott, and at the Battle of Okinawa aboard armed Victory ship SS Berry Victory, against enemy planes which were attacking our Marines on the beach. His citations include: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and WWII Victory Medal. For his service, he received a thank you letter from President Truman.
After his discharge, Bob returned to Oregon to the City of Vanport, where he and most of his family lived. They survived one of the worst floods in Oregon history by virtue of good advice from a family member, specializing in engineering, to move before it happened. Shortly thereafter he would meet Ruth Elaine Rowland. They married in 1948 and spent the next 70 years building a family and legacy.
For a short time through the late 40s and early 50s, Bob worked at two or three different jobs, including Pacific Northwest Bell as a telephone installer, a shipfitter for Northwest Marine Iron Works, and for Blitz Weinhard Brewery, jokingly claiming to be a journeyman taste tester.
Finally finding his niche, he hired on at Freightliner Corporation as machinist helper in 1953. Through Freightliner he finished his education. For the next 35 years, Bob dedicated his energies toward this little-known startup company, manufacturing class B over the highway trucks exclusively for Consolidated Freightways. However, after retiring and ending his career in 1991 as Quality Assurance Manager for the Portland truck manufacturing plant, Freightliner Corporation had now become the largest manufacturer of heavy duty highway trucks and fleet vehicles in North America.
Lastly, if there were a definition in Webster's Dictionary for the "World's best son, brother, husband, role model and Dad" his name and picture would be forever next to it.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; his sister, Sue; and his sons, Mark and John. Survivors include his brother, John (Kathy) Myers; sister, Kristine Crawford; and children, Sandra (Gary) Brannan, Michael (Deborah) Myers, Penny (Mark) Myers; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors at a later date.
Portland, Oregon
Friday, December 10, 2021
Kenneth Robert 'Bob' Myers, Jr.
July 11, 1928 - Nov. 27, 2021
Born in LaGrande, Ore., July 11, 1928, Kenneth was the son of Kenneth Robert Sr. and Rebecca M. Provost Myers. Bob, as he was called most of his life, grew up traveling extensively with his family as they followed several 'New Deal' construction projects dedicated to the monumental tasks of building the Bonneville, Grand Cooley and Hoover Dams.
In 1943, two years after the United States entered World War II, Bob enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15 with permission from his father and mother. He served with valor in the South Pacific until the end of the war. As Seaman First Class, 20mm anti-aircraft gunner and deck gun loader, he was involved in combat against enemy aircraft four times in the South Pacific aboard an armed Liberty Ship SS Alexander Woollcott, and at the Battle of Okinawa aboard armed Victory ship SS Berry Victory, against enemy planes which were attacking our Marines on the beach. His citations include: Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and WWII Victory Medal. For his service, he received a thank you letter from President Truman.
After his discharge, Bob returned to Oregon to the City of Vanport, where he and most of his family lived. They survived one of the worst floods in Oregon history by virtue of good advice from a family member, specializing in engineering, to move before it happened. Shortly thereafter he would meet Ruth Elaine Rowland. They married in 1948 and spent the next 70 years building a family and legacy.
For a short time through the late 40s and early 50s, Bob worked at two or three different jobs, including Pacific Northwest Bell as a telephone installer, a shipfitter for Northwest Marine Iron Works, and for Blitz Weinhard Brewery, jokingly claiming to be a journeyman taste tester.
Finally finding his niche, he hired on at Freightliner Corporation as machinist helper in 1953. Through Freightliner he finished his education. For the next 35 years, Bob dedicated his energies toward this little-known startup company, manufacturing class B over the highway trucks exclusively for Consolidated Freightways. However, after retiring and ending his career in 1991 as Quality Assurance Manager for the Portland truck manufacturing plant, Freightliner Corporation had now become the largest manufacturer of heavy duty highway trucks and fleet vehicles in North America.
Lastly, if there were a definition in Webster's Dictionary for the "World's best son, brother, husband, role model and Dad" his name and picture would be forever next to it.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; his sister, Sue; and his sons, Mark and John. Survivors include his brother, John (Kathy) Myers; sister, Kristine Crawford; and children, Sandra (Gary) Brannan, Michael (Deborah) Myers, Penny (Mark) Myers; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors at a later date.
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