uqrres

Donald Martin DeVries. 80. cofounder of Thunderbolt Wood Treating, Riverbank, Ca., died June 29 in Modesto, Ca.

Mr. DeVries co-founded Thunderbolt in September 1977 with Leonard Lovalvo and Ted Seybold. He worked there full time until he sold his onethird interest in the company on Jan. l, 2002 to Lovalvo. He then served as a consultant from 2002 until the time of his death.

Mr. DeVries also co-founded GeoAnalytical Lab, Modesto, and was an analytical chemist for Shell Development Co., Modesto, for 27 years.

He served as a tail-gunner in the Army Air Corp during World War II.

David Shepard, 69, owner of Shepard Lumber, Cypress, Ca., died June 22 in Cypress.

Before operating Shepard Lumber, Mr. Shepard worked for Sandor & Plywood Lumber Cos., Los Angeles, Ca.

He was invloved with the hardwood industry in Los Angeles for 46 years, and was a member of the Los Angeles Hardwood Lumber Club.

Ray L. Oakley, 83, owner and founder of Oakley's Lumber Mill & Moulding, Inc. (now Meyer Moulding), Gardena, Ca., died June 6 in Canyon Lake, Ca.

In 1940, Mr. Oakley joined his twin brother, Raymond, in California where they worked in the wood moulding industry. He worked as a rip saw operator and foreman at a number of plants, including Acme Moulding, Los Angeles; Roan Lumber, Los Angeles;

Shasta Pacific, Inglewood, Ca., and Proctor-Delaney, Inglewood.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the l12th Infantry, 28th Division fighting throughout France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and in the Battle of the Bulge.

After returning from the war he worked at California Millwork, Inglewood, before starting Oakley's Lumber with his brother in 1953. He sold the mill in 1990, to his daughter Kim and son-in-law Jeff Meyer.

Lila Margaret Walsh, 94, former v.p. of Walsh-Anderson Lumber Co., Great Falls, Mt., died July 9 in Great Falls.

Mrs. Walsh and her husband, Roger, formed their company in 1943 with Roy Anderson. She served as v.p. until the firm was sold in 1971 She was also a registered nurse.

Ollie Wheaton, 83, long-time lumberman, died after a brief illness July 14 in Visalia, Ca.

Mr. Wheaton worked in the lumber industry since 1947. Since 1966, he worked for Visalia Lumber Co., Visalia. Ca.. working his way to general manager. Before joining Visalia Lumber, he worked for Spaulding, United and Copeland Lumber yards, Susanville. Ca.

He was stationed in the Philippines and Japan while he served in the U.S. Army during World War IL

Edward B. Gowan. 76. former yard foreman for American Lumber Co., Modesto, Ca., died July 2l in Modesto.

Mr. Gowan worked for American Lumber for 25 years. He was a veteran of the Air Force, serving in the Korean War.

Robert William Rehfeld. 86. former v.p. and c.f.o., Southwest Forest Industries, Phoenix, Az., died June 30 in Scottsdale, Az.

A certified CPA, Mr. Rehfeld first joined Southwest in 1951 as treasurer, before becoming v.p. and c.f.o. During his time at Southwest, he helped the company grow to Fortune 500 status.

He served during World War II as a lieutenant aboard a destroyer.

James M. Cirac, 69, former manager of Copeland Lumber, Lovelock, Nv., died July 1 in Las Vegas, Nv.

During his career, Mr. Cirac also worked for Waller Lumber Co., Las Vegas and Sparks, Nv., and A.C. Houston Lumber Co., Las Vegas. He retired in February 2001 after more than 30 years in the lumber business.

Prudencio Dimas, 82, 3O-year employee of Gallup Lumber Co., Gallup, N.M., died luly 24 in Gallup.

He served in the U.S. Navy during WW il as Airman Second Class.

Roy Gordon, 89, former owner of Gordon's Hardware, San Clemente, Ca., died July 9 in San Clemente.

Mr. Gordon bought the hardware store in 1946, selling it 22 years later to begin a second career in real estate. He also chaired local presidential campaigns for Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon and gubernatorial campaigns for Ronald Reagan.

He served as an Army major during World War IL He was the commanding officer of Company B, l4lth Engineer Combat Battalion, leading his men to take the Dog White section of Omaha Beach during the Normandy D-Day invasion. For his efforts, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Croix de Guerre with Etoile Vermille.