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Smith Cemetery ~ Neil Elton Vanderburg ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Vanderburg, Neil Elton
LAST NAME: Vanderburg FIRST NAME: Neil MIDDLE NAME: Elton NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 9 July 1923 DIED: 10 Apr 2014 BURIED:  ~ Smith Cemetery
OCCUPATION:  
BIRTH PLACE:  Baldwin Park, California
DEATH PLACE: Corvallis, Benton Co, Oregon
NOTES: 
1930 CENSUS - Neil E. Vanderburg (6y, b Calif) enumerated with parents Elton D. (34y, b Calif, married at age 22y, occupation school bus chauffeur) and Dorothy L. (30y, b British Columbia, US national, married at age 18y) and 5 siblings, Shirley M. (11y, b Calif), Wilma J. (9y, b Calif), Audrey L. (8y, b Calif), Ruth E. (5y, b Calif) & Wilson E. (5m, b Calif) 1940 CENSUS - Neil Vanderburg (16y, b Calif) enumerated with parents Elton (44y, b Calif, occupation cut off saw operator in saw mill) and Dorothy (40y, b British Columbia, US national) and 3 siblings, Audrey (18y, b Calif), Ruth (15y, b Calif) & Wilson (10y, b Calif); family was living in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co, Calif, in 1935
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OBITUARY: 
Neil Elton Vanderburg, July 9, 1923-April 10, 2014 Neil Elton Vanderburg, 90, of Corvallis, formerly of Independence, died Thursday. He was born to Elton and Dorothy Rose Vanderburg in Baldwin Park, Calif. He enjoyed growing up with his four sisters and brother on ranches in California and Oregon. Neil always liked to have several “irons in the fire,” and at the time of his graduation from Lebanon High School in 1941, he was already farming his own land and working in a shingle mill. Within months, the United States entered World War II and, in preparation for joining the military, Neil completed a mechanics training program. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was stationed in San Diego, where he overhauled F4U fighter planes and sent them back into action. While in San Diego, Neil met Edith Werner, and they were married on June 10, 1945. Togethe they shared 68 years of marriage. They settled in La Mesa, calif, where Neil opened Van’s Collison Repair. Neil returned to Oregon in 1955 and he and Edith moved their family to Corvallis. Neil took a millwright position at Brand S Plywood Mill, and they bought a 40-acre farm on the Willamette River, about 10 miles south of town. Neil found great joy in raising not only his children, but 40 head of cattle and all of the vegetables, fruit and alfalfa needed to satisfy each. He found many ways to have fun, too, with enjoyment of nature being central. His family and friends enjoyed traveling, fishing and camping with him. After retirement in 1975 Neil and Edith spent many winters in Arizona, where they developed a passion for rock hounding and lapidary work. Many people were recipients of his crafted jewelry and belt buckles, and many gardens are now dotted with rocks they hauled home from their travels. Neil and Edith moved in 1989 to Independence, where they enjoyed the support of the community and church. In 2012 they returned to Corvallis. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Jessica Houck and Laurilee Commons, and son-in-law Thomas Commons. Survivors include his wife, Edith; their children, Joyce Commons, Carol (Duane) Bolster, David (Janece) Vanderburg, Mary Stone (Jack), Pauline (Doug) Houck and Dawn Winokur; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services is Saturday at 1 pm at First Baptist Church in Independence. Contributions are suggested to Independence First Baptist Church AWANA children’s program or to Benton Hospice Service. Farnstrom Mortuary of Independence handled arrangements. Itemizer-Observer, Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 6A
INSCRIPTION: 
Neil Elton Vanderburg July 9, 1923-Apr. 10, 2014 [temporary marker - Farnstrom Mortuary]
SOURCES: 
1930 CA CENSUS (Los Angeles Co, Antelope, ED 803, sheet 1A) 1940 OR CENSUS (Benton Co, Plymouth, ED 2-24, sheet 1B) Itemizer-Observer, 16 Apr 2014, 6A
CONTACTS: 
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