Virgil Donald Minor, 92, of Bandon, Ore., died Oct. 22, 2009 in Bandon.

He was born Dec. 18, 1916 to Virgil Minor Sr. and Theo Simpson Minor in St. Maries, Idaho. The youngest of three children, he grew up in Idaho, Washington and Oregon before his family settled down in Colton. He and his mother hand-split and peeled all of the logs used to build their family log home in Colton.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was stationed on the Navy fuel ship USS Kanawha when enemy planes sank the ship. He was then transferred to the battleship USS Colorado, where he served as a radioman for the remainder of World War II. He had the privilege of being aboard the USS Missouri, the “Mighty Mo,” when the Japanese signed the Instrument of Surrender. He was proud to be a Navy man and loved to tell stories of his many adventures.

After he was honorably discharged, he moved to Portland, where he met Joanne M. Davis. The two were married June 17, 1956 in Monmouth and later had two daughters.

After his time in the Navy, he worked as a railroad engineer, switching trains and cars in the Portland Switch Yards for many years. After he retired from the railroad industry, the family moved to Yachats in 1980. He and Joanne lived in Yachats for almost 30 years.

He always had a love for dogs and had many beloved companion dogs throughout his life. A shortstop on his high school baseball team, he continued to enjoy watching the World Series for many years. His other hobbies included being a ham radio operator, vegetable gardening and writing about his time in the Navy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Theo Minor, and sisters, Theresa V. Ferguson and Evelyn M. Mann.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joanne Minor of Coos Bay; daughters, Trudi M. Rouske of Coos Bay and Jodie (Ian) Brown of Pittsburgh; granddaughter Brandy Roberts of Coos Bay; and nieces, Jan (Paul) Parret of Riddle and Teresa (David) Reed of Myrtle Creek.

A graveside service with military honors, with the Rev. Mike Hale officiating, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Yachats Memorial Park Cemetery, 1550 Hwy 101 in Yachats.

Coos Bay Chapel in Coos Bay is handling arrangements.



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