Charles E. Defries

Charles E. DeFries passed away at his home in Kennewick, WA on August 6, 2013. He was born November 22, 1924 in La Grande, OR., to John and Peggy DeFries. His father worked for The Union Pacific Railroad and his mother was a housewife. They raised 17 children.

In 1945 Charles received his high school diploma from La Grande High. He served in the United States Navy as a Signalman Second Class. He received his honorable discharge April 29, 1946 with three medals: Asiatic
Pacific Area Campaign Medal, American Area Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He was in Hiroshima, Japan the day after it was bombed. Charles was a member of the ‘Order of the Golden Dragon.'

Charles worked for Mount Emily Lumber Company, the State of Oregon Road Department and The Union Pacific Railroad as a Brakeman, working out of Hermiston and La Grande, OR. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and The National Rifle Association. Two of his grandsons, Chris and Nick DeFries are following their forefathers by currently working for The Union Pacific Railroad in La Grande, OR.

Charles married Barbara Daniels on June 22, 1947 in La Grande, OR. They were blessed with three children Bill, Jim and Nancy.
A few years after he retired from The Union Pacific Railroad, Charles moved from La Grande, OR to Kennewick, WA to be near his son Jim (Connie) DeFries. In 2004 Charles sold his Kennewick home and moved into the apartment Jim and Connie built, onto their home, just for him. He was there for nine great years!
Charles was a committed husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather and brother. He enjoyed family, especially the little ones.

Charles was preceded in death by; his wife Barbara on August 14, 1983, daughter Nancy on September 18, 1961, brothers: John DeFries, San Diego, CA and Delbert
DeFries, Walla Walla, WA, sisters: Wanda Allison, Umatilla, OR, Julia Gilbert, Elma, ID and Nadine Wood, Phoenix, AZ.

Charles is survived by his two sons; Bill DeFries, Sena, NM and Jim (Connie) DeFries, Kennewick, WA, Seven grandchildren: Katherine DeFries, Sena, NM, Chris (Candice) DeFries, Union, OR, Jeff DeFries, Union, OR, Nick DeFries, Union, OR, Dawn (Mark) Aby, Weston, OR, Monica Brutscher, Richland, WA, Chad (Amanda) Brutscher,
Kalispell, MT, Great Grandchildren: Treyton DeFries, Union, OR, Owen DeFries, Union, OR, Aftin DeFries, Union, OR, JR DeFries, Union, OR Caitlin DeFries, Union, OR, Jordan DeFries, Union, OR, Tyler DeFries, Union, OR, Jake Brutscher, Milton-Freewater, OR, Jared Brutscher, Richland, WA, Samantha Keeney, Weston, OR, Matison Keeney, Weston, OR, Brittney Brutscher, Kalispell, MT. Eleven sisters: Helen Kenneda, Nampa, ID, Lois Henderson, La Grande, OR, Pat (Sam) Sansburn, Eugene, OR, Donna (Don) Weber, Eugene, OR, Mertle Halley, Pleasant Valley, MO, Reba (George) Moore, Athena, OR, Frieda (Chuck) Beach, Hermiston, OR, Roxa (Dave) Isitt, Hayden, ID, Joyce (Mike) Walker, Selah, WA, Marcheta (Walt) Crook, Orting, WA, Barbara (Leonard) Ackerman, Hermiston, OR.

Graveside services will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande, OR at 11:00 AM, Monday, Aug. 12th. After the service, a potluck picnic will be held at Riverside Park in La Grande.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a children's charity of your choice like Charles always did.

.