Lester "Tuffy" W. Prince

Lester W. "Tuffy" Prince, 91, of La Grande, died May 22. A celebration of life will begin at 10 a.m. June 1 at Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Lester was born Nov. 2, 1918, one of 14 children born to Phillip and Sarah Reed Prince. His parents moved from West Virginia and homesteaded in the Powatke Ridge area in Wallowa County where "Tuff" was born.

During WWII, Tuff enlisted in the Army and was sent to Omaha Beach. After the war, he returned to Wallowa County to work in the lumber industry. He later retired from Boise Cascade.

He loved fishing, hunting and the beauty of the outdoors in Eastern Oregon, where he always had a garden to harvest. Those who knew him say they will remember him for his card playing and quick-witted humor.

He married Ruby Lyman in 1947 and they were together until Ruby's death in 1985. He is survived by his three children; four grandchildren; and his sister, Eva Dern.

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