Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2008 12:00 am
May 5, 1919 - July 9, 2008
John Charles Eagleson died on Wednesday, July 9, at home in Corvallis. He was 89.
John was born May 5, 1919, at the home of his grandmother in North Howell. He was raised on a farm in the Eddyville area and left home in 1937 to attend Oregon State College. Majoring in forestry, he continued his education until he thought war was imminent. He left school to join the U.S. Army on Dec. 4, 1941, a few days before Pearl Harbor. Attending officer candidate school in Fort Knox, Ky., he was commissioned in the cavalry on Aug. 22, 1942. He joined the Fourth Armored Division at Pine Camp, N.Y., and moved and trained with them throughout the United States until their deployment to England in December 1943. Prepared to land on D-Day, the division went ashore on July 12, 1944, at Utah Beach. On July 27, 1944, John led the breakout of Normandy. The Fourth Armored was the vanguard for the Third Army. As a combat engineer company commander serving as the reconnaissance officer, John literally led the advance across Europe. He fought in such notable battles as the Lorraine and the Ardennes and served with such notable individuals as Creighton Abrams and Bruce Clark, both of whom achieved the rank of four-star general. By the end of the war, John ended up in Czechoslovakia, where he was to make contact with the Russians who failed to show.
After separation from the U.S. Army in 1946, John began his lifelong career as a logger. He was considered by many as the best "cat skinner" in the area. Many of the roads in Western Benton County and Eastern Lincoln County were built by him in the course of logging operations. He enjoyed working with wood, keeping up his yard and going to the casinos on the Oregon Coast.
Preceded in death by his brother Robert Eagleson in 1933, John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Erla Mae, of Corvallis; son, Charles Wesley of Corvallis; daughter, Laurie Elaine Eagleson of Tucson, Ariz.; brothers, Boyd Eagleson and Ralph Eagleson of Eddyville; sister, Harriet Nordyke of Corvallis; grandson, Robert William Eagleson of Portland; granddaughters Christine Ann Eagleson of Anchorage, Alaska, and Natali Glotter of Corvallis; great-granddaughter, Daniela Glotter of Corvallis; and great-grandson, Jayden Glotter of Corvallis.
Visitation is from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, July 14, at McHenry Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors are at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, in the Eddyville Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to either the Heartland Humane Society or Evergreen Hospice in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330. For online condolences, see mchenryfuneralhome.com.