Wes Bauer

Wes Bauer, 91, of Woodburn, Ore., died Jan. 10.

He was born on a prairie homestead in Ritzville to second generation Americans William Fredrick Bauer and Marie M. (Schafer), whose parents were Vogel Germans.

Wes graduated from Ritzville High School in 1941 where he was active in sports and music. In 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis (Haight), while in the US Marines. He served in the South Pacific and survived the Iwo Jima campaign.

Wes graduated from the University of Washington in business administration and received a Lieutenants Commission in the US Air Force Reserves. He received degrees with honors from the Pacific Coast Banking School at Stanford University and met the request for his banking school thesis from Robert Morris Business Library in Philadelphia.

Wes worked in commercial banking for 28 years before retiring as a Vice President in Branch Banking Administration. He established a financial and management consulting corporation near his home in Innis Arden in Seattle.

He and Phyllis then retired to The Estates Golf & Country Club in Woodburn. Wes and Phyllis traveled throughout Europe, the Soviet Union, China, and the United States. They spent their 50th anniversary living on the shores of Galilee and Jerusalem following the steps of Jesus. A trip around the horn and down the Colorado Canyon, were also highlights away from careers’ in the bank and as a children’s librarian.

Their daughter, Gail, arrived in 1954 and was educated at schools in Santa Barbara, Seattle, and at Whitworth College in Spokane.

Wes was a member of church choirs, Rotary, Kiwanas, Washington Athletic Club, University of Washington Athletic Club, University of Washington Alumni, and the Elks. He held various board positions and elderships in Presbyterian churches in Auburn, Wis., Montecino, Calif, and Woodburn.

His grandsons are Ryan and Andrew, who live in Eugene.

Full military honor services to be held graveside on Jan. 16 at 12:30 p.m. at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.