Harry was 99 years old when he passed on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Parkside Family Home in Vancouver, Wash. His family would like to thank the Parkside staff for their excellent care and compassion.
Harry was born to Albert Meade and Buena Vista Van Devender on Nov. 20, 1924, near Weippe. For Harry, every day was an opportunity to begin a new adventure, take a chance and experience life to the fullest.
In his younger years, he daydreamed about flying airplanes through the canyons near his home on the breaks of Lolo Creek near Fraser. After leaving home on traveling adventures, he obtained a job working in the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver. There, he received his draft notice in early 1943.
Later in basic training, he saw an offer on the bulletin board to enter pilot training. Harry was accepted for the program and began to fulfill his boyhood dreams. He started officer candidate school in Albion, Mich., where he met the love of this life, Freda Anna Radtke. It seems that there was a shortage of transportation in Albion and at one of their social functions, Freda was twirling a set of car keys that caught Harry’s eye. They continued their relationship throughout his flight training and were married Sept. 2, 1944, in Independence, Kan.
In early 1945, Harry was in B-24 Bomber flight training and was sent to Germany shortly after World War II. There, he was placed in charge of communications for three airbases near Munich, Germany. In 1947, the newly created U.S. Air Force was established, and he took the opportunity as a captain to transfer from the Army Air Corps.
He later participated in the “Berlin Airlift”, flying food and supplies to isolated Berlin.
When the Korean War broke out, he was sent to South Korea where he served until his honorable discharge in 1953. Upon returning to the United States, he and Freda purchased a summer resort in Buhl, Idaho, which they ran for four years together.
Harry was an entrepreneur and later took on several businesses including stud logging, manufacturing cedar shakes, running a gas station and investing in common stock and mutual funds.
He is survived by his only son, Jim (Janet) Van Devender, of Malaga, Wash.; four grandchildren, Tama (Bob) Naden, of Orofino, April (Jeff) Patton, of Warren, Ore., Bryce (Rachel) Van Devender, of Norman, Okla. and Robin (Erik) Olsen of Warren. Harry also has eight great-grandchildren: Robert Naden III, of Juliaetta, Samuel Naden, of Lewiston, Wyatt Patton, of Scappoose, Ore., Brooke Van Devender, of New Castle, Okla., Ethan Van Devender, of Norman, Marcus Van Devender, of Norman, Chase Olsen, Centralia, Wash. and Trever Olsen, of Scappoose.
Harry was a man of many talents and interests, he enjoyed playing several instruments, playing the fiddle with an old-time fiddler’s band, dancing, traveling, flying his plane and also lending a hand when someone needed their car fixed. He will always be remembered for his strength, courage, self-determination and zest for life. He was truly a member of the Greatest Generation. We will always miss our Grandpa Harry, God bless you.
To sign the online guestbook or to send condolences to the family visit tualatinvalleyfa.com.
