Darrell George VandeHey

Male 1934 - 2014  (80 years)


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  • Name Darrell George VandeHey 
    Born 20 Aug 1934  Roy, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 17 Oct 2014  Beaverton, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Visitation Cemetery, Verboort, Forest Grove, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I70926  Little Chute Genealogy
    Last Modified 2 Nov 2019 

    Father Leo John VandeHey,   b. 29 May 1897, Greenville, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Aug 1947, Cornelius, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years) 
    Mother Ida Mae Westcott,   b. 28 Apr 1909, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 06 Apr 1982, Washington County, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
    Married 29 May 1928  Forest Grove, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F27576  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Janet VanGrunsven 
    Married 05 Aug 1961  Hillsboro, Washington Co, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Tod Alan Vandehey,   b. 28 Oct 1965,   d. 02 Sep 1971, Marion County, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 5 years)
    Last Modified 21 Jul 2022 
    Family ID F27580  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Darrell George Vandehey, 80, a resident of the Beaverton community, passed away Friday morning, October 17, 2014, at his home.

      Darrell was born on August 20, 1934 to Leo and Ida Mae (Wescott) Vandehey in Roy, Oregon, one of six children. He was raised in Cornelius and went to high school at Hilhi, graduating in the Class of 1953.

      He enlisted into the US Army and served his country as head cook and kitchen supervisor for two years. He was honorably discharged in 1956 and then began higher education at Portland State College. Darrell then attended Oregon State University and received a Bachelors Degree in Food Technology with a minor in Chemistry, graduating in 1960.

      Darrell met his future wife, Janet VanGrunsven, through mutual friends while he was in college. They were married on August 5, 1961, in Hillsboro, Oregon. Following their marriage, they raised their family in the Aloha/Beaverton area.

      While getting his degree, Darrell started to work for Mrs. Reser’s Salads in Cornelius, where the mother of his best friend Al Reser started a small company making potato salad. As the company grew under Al’s leadership, Darrell helped build the now Reser’s Fine Foods into a major food production company and eventually became the VP of Operations, working for Reser’s for more than 60 years.
      Darrell continued working for Reser’s until he passed away, always going in to the plant for a few hours each day. But he also followed his passions and hobbies.

      Darrell was an avid and accomplished clockmaker, specializing in clock repair, collecting, and acquisition. His collection numbered in the hundreds, and he built a reputation for his collection of fine clocks and watches. For 45 years, a highlight of his week was meeting with a group of fellow clock collectors every Saturday morning.

      Darrell was also a skilled handyman, and he refurbished and collected antique cars, which always found their way into local parades. He liked going out to eat, talking finance and current events. He enjoyed fishing and was a history enthusiast. And Darrell loved seeing the world, traveling extensively in Europe, with trips to the South Pacific, Africa, and South America, including his favorite adventure, a river trip down the Amazon.

      He is preceded in death by his son Tod Vandehey, his parents, and three siblings.

      Survivors include his wife of 53 years, three children, and their spouses five grandchildren, two great granddaughters, and two siblings.