Loyle Vernon Washam Jr.
Loyle Vernon Washam Jr.
Loyle Vernon Washam Jr. was born November 4, 1925 at St.
Lukes Hospital, Boise, Idaho to parents, Helen Maus Washam and Loyle V. Washam
Sr. He was the oldest of 2 sons. He passed in the early morning hours of June
17, 2013.
Loyle graduated from Eagle High School in 1947. He joined
the Navy and fought in World War II, mostly at Okinawa Island. When he returned
from the Navy he decided that he didn’t want to be on a ship and re-enlisted in
the Army Reserve. He retired from the Army in 1978 with the rank of Lt.
Colonel. During his time in the Army, he was in the Special Forces and a Green
Beret.
In the summers, between furthering his career in the Armed
Service and Education he was a Smokejumper, beginning in Missoula in 1952 and
then in McCall. In the 1960's he was a member of the Alate Parachute Club.
Loyle made his last jump, number 135, tandem, on April 13
th
of this
year. Loyle and his small family lived on the Thunderbolt Mountain Lookout in
the Payette National Forest, the summer of 1950.
His thirst of knowledge never ceased. He graduated from
Boise Junior College, College of Idaho, University of Southern California,
University of Idaho and Washington State University. When Boise State changed
their name from BJC to Boise College, he attended any classes he could. Loyle
attended again when they became Boise State University. He was an avid reader
and studied the Lewis and Clark Trail, World Was II, anything about airplanes
and let us not forget, our planet. He was the ultimate recycler.
Loyle’s career with the Boise School District began at Cole
Elementary as a 5
th
grade teacher. He then moved to Boise High
School as a Radio and Electronics instructor. Then onto to Hillside Jr High for
a short time as a counselor and then to East Jr High as Vice Principal and
Counselor. Finally he retired as the Records and Director of all Counselors in
the School system. He was very proud
that he was instrumental in implementing the Parent Effective Training classes
in the community. He was chosen as the Idaho Statesman’s Distinguished Citizen
in August 1987.
He was an avid bicyclist and one year had logged over 300
car free days. He worked with Boise City on getting Bike lanes for the City,
worked on the Weiser River Trail project, rode the Lewis and Clark Trail, rode from
Canada to Mexico, and volunteered for the Boise Greenbelt Patrol. Sadly, he was
8 States short of reaching his goal of riding a minimum of 50 miles in every
State of the Union. He was a member of the Boise Touring Club and enjoyed
planning many Century rides for them and others. Loyle logged an average 2,000
miles per year. Before and in his retirement years Loyle fixed many bicycles
for his Children, Grand-children, Great-Grand-children and the Collister
neighborhood. Loyle was a avid skier and
was a member of the Bogus Basin
Ski Patrol for many years
Loyle was proud that throughout his lifetime, he had donated
over 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. He was a passionate member of any
breakfast, lunch, dinner and Probability Seminars (poker) that he could attend.
The annual Golden Eagle Audubon Society banquet, monthly Smokejumper coffee,
Boise Touring Club breakfast, Warhawk Museum Program coffee, The Cousins lunch
and the infamous Probability Seminars (poker). Weekly there was the Greenbelt
Patrol lunches. Let’s not forget ANYONE’S birthday, anniversary or any occasion
he could think of.
Loyle married his neighbor and high-school sweetheart
Dorothy Christensen Hayes Bass on August 29
th
, 1948. They were the
parents of five children. Naomi Friedman (Bob) of Lowman, Idaho, Cheryl Washam, Pati Washam of Valdez, Alaska,
Wayne Washam of Boise, Idaho, and Gail Washam of Boise, Idaho. He is survived
by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy Washam, three daughters and his son, 10
Grand-children, Cori Smith, Clinton Hedges, Curtis Hedges, Cami Hedges of
Idaho, Thorin Washam of Texas, Derek Washam of Alaska, David Segretto of
California, Justin Washam, Melanie Gorman and Morgen Washam of Idaho, 14
Great-Grandchildren and 4 Great-Great-Grandchildren with number 5 due in July.
Two Sister-in Laws, Marie Dilworth (Dee) of Nampa and Norma McIntier (Daren) of
Boise and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents,
his brother Wayne E. Washam and infant daughter Cheryl Lee Washam.
A committal service with Military Honors will be held at
10:00 a.m., Monday, June 24, 2013 at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.
There will be a gathering of friends and family at the
Catalpa Park, next to Collister School, near the Washam residence at 11:00
a.m.. Seating will be limited, please bring your own chairs.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Loyle Vernon Washam Jr., please visit our flower store.
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