Ralph Roland Crosiar

R. Roland Crosiar September 12, 1914 - January 9, 2006 SUBLIMITY - R. Roland Crosiar of Sublimity, Oregon died January 9, 2006 at Marian Estates; he was 91 years old. Roland Crosiar, born near Star, Idaho, moved to Moscow when he was about five years old. He attended Pine Grove School through the eighth grade. In 1928, the family moved to the Newberg area. Then, besides doing farm work for family members and neighbors, Roland also attended two semesters of Bible school in Portland, but had to give up on becoming a missionary when he couldn't afford to continue. In 1935, the family moved to a farm at Five Rivers on the Alsea River. Three years later, they moved to Yachats; then in 1941, the family settled on acreage at Maple Creek, near Siltcoos Lake on the Oregon coast. Roland enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on January 9, 1942. He qualified as a sharpshooter on pistol and rifle, and then spent two years in the Pacific, taking part in the Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan campaigns. Wounded during the first day's landing at Saipan, he received the Purple Heart. Roland was honorably discharged on January 12, 1946. While on leave, Roland visited his cousin, Bernice in Los Angeles and met her co-worker, Laura Melisse Lockyer. Their friendship blossomed, and they were married on June 26, 1945, at Porterville, California. After Roland was discharged, they lived briefly near Siltcoos Lake, but then they returned to Porterville where they resided for nearly 20 years. Sons, John and then George were born there, and Roland held several jobs, including city police officer and parking meter monitor, night watchman at the Porterville State Hospital, and finally retail sales clerk at Daybell Nursery. In 1955, Roland and his family moved into a new home they themselves had built on five acres east of town. Ten years later, Roland and his family moved to Polk County where they had purchased land they named Oakshire Farm, south of Monmouth. He and his family raised sheep there for about 15 years before retiring on the farm and leasing the fields to a neighbor for grass seed production. He and Laura sold Oakshire Farm in 1996 and moved to a home at Marian Estates in Sublimity. After Laura died on February 9, 2002, Roland moved to the McKillop Assisted Living Residence; in June 2005, he relocated to Marian Hall at Marian Estates. Always an exemplary example to his sons and other young people, Roland was deeply involved in the Porterville schools, becoming a PTA life member. He also served for many years as a 4-H leader in Porterville and Monmouth, and he was a hunter safety instructor in Oregon, too. Roland was elected vice president and then served two years as president of the Polk County Livestock Association. He chaired the Western Oregon Livestock Association's Animal Health Committee for six years before Gov. Bob Straub named him to a three-year term on the State Animal Disease Advisory Board, which he chaired one year. In 1986, Roland was one of four older men who spearheaded construction of the Monmouth Senior Center's current home. The Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce honored the quartet for their efforts and, in 1987, Roland and his co-workers received the Governor's Civic Volunteer Award. The Monmouth City Council further acknowledged the quartet's contributions with an official citation in February 2005. Long a member of the Tulare County Historical Society in California, Roland and Laura joined the Polk County Historical Society soon after moving to Oregon. Roland chaired the Brunk House Restoration Committee, and both were among the tireless Brunk House volunteers. Roland served two terms as PCHS president, and both became life members. Roland was a life member of the American Philatelic Society. An amateur genealogist, he also enjoyed working on his family tree and on writing stories about his life. He published several books and reports, including Our Crosiar Family 1988 and 'Neither Snow Nor Rain...' A Postal History of Polk County, Oregon, 1850-1993 1993. Roland especially treasured spending time with his three grandchildren-Isaac, born in 1980; Todd, in 1981; and Bethany, in 1982-and their parents. He relished the chance to participate in their lives, to see them complete their schooling and to provide encouragement as they began adulthood. Roland liked to tease all those around him, and the days and hours he spent with his many nieces and nephews and their children were precious to him. Roland was a member of First Congregational Church, Porterville, California. He is survived by son, and daughter-in-law, John Roland Crosiar and Donna Davis Crosiar of Springfield; grandson, Todd Roland Crosiar of McMinnville; son and daughter-in-law, George Allan Crosiar and Lucretia Knieling Crosiar of Marion; grandson, Isaac Clark Crosiar of Stayton; grandson's fiancee, Melissa Chapman of Stayton; granddaughter, Bethany Rochelle Crosiar of Newberg; and sister, Luella Faye Pulse of Cottage Grove. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Melisse Lockyer Crosiar; his parents, Ruthford Domingo Crosiar and Mary Ethel Bingman Crosiar; his sisters, Effie Mae Crosiar Meliza, Ruth Marie Crosiar Kinney and Elsie Roberta Crosiar Willis; his brothers, Drew Edward Crosiar, Philip Alfred Crosiar and Carl Joseph Crosiar; and various aunts, uncles and cousins. Interment was held on Jan. 13, 2006, at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sat., Jan. 21, at Monmouth Senior Community Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth, presided by Paul Almquist, senior pastor of the West Chehalem Friends Church, Newberg. Contributions may be made to the Polk County Historical Society, P.O. Box 67, Monmouth, OR 97361; the Monmouth Senior Community Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth, OR 97361; or the charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements Entrusted to Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, 503 838-1414. On-Line Memorial at www.farnstroms.com .