Walter "Walt" Leo Obendorf

Walter "Walt" Leo Obendorf, 89, of La Grande, died June 18 at a local care center in La Grande with family by his side.

A public viewing will run from 6 to 8 tonight at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Grandview Cemetery in La Grande. Following his graveside service there will be a celebration of life at 11:30 a.m. at Cove United Methodist Church. Pastor Mike Lamb will conduct the services.

Walt was born Aug. 17, 1920, to Walter Lewis and Leonora Leischner Obendorf in Roswell, Idaho. He was raised on the farm his father homesteaded, on the Wilder Bench near Roswell. He graduated from Roswell High School in 1939 and finished primary and secondary flight training at the College of Idaho. He received an honorable discharge from the Air Force Enlisted Reserve Corps, CPT in 1943. He held a private pilot's license and completed coursework and received certification for diesel mechanic.

On Jan. 26, 1946, Walt married Verna Ruth Findling at the United Methodist Church in Nyssa. Walt worked on the family farm until 1949, when he and Verna purchased their farm in Lower Cove. After 44 years of farming they sold the farm in 1993 and moved to La Grande.

Walt was a welder, known for his strong mechanical abilities and creative innovations. He enjoyed building his own machinery, shop tools and lawn ornaments with scrap metal and other usable items from his "parts repository." He designed labor-saving devices in his shop and around the home.

Walt was a member and trustee of the Cove United Methodist Church, South Forty Club, Union County 4-H Leaders Association and 4-H Tractor Club Leader for 20 years.

Friends and family remember Walt as a fun-loving man who was quick to joke and tease. They say he was a devoted and loving family man whose greatest enjoyment was the time spent with his family.

Walt is survived by his wife, Verna of La Grande; son, Jerry and his wife, Marnee Obendorf, of Olympia, Wash.; daughter, Connie Ingerson of La Grande; several grandchildren; two great-grandchildren with one on the way; siblings, Arleen Goodson of Cove and Arthur and his wife, Lela Obendorf, of Salem; three nephews; one niece; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Cove United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or Grande Ronde Hospice.

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