Obituary: Peter Henyon Killheffer, 87, Hood River

Peter Henyon Killheffer, resident of Hood River, OR died on Friday, October 13, 2023, at the Providence Brookside Memory Care Center. 

Peter Killheffer was born on September 3, 1936, in Woodbury, NJ to Grace Henyon Killheffer and John Wesley Killheffer. He had one older sister, Janet. The first seventeen years of his life were spent in Woodstown, NJ. The family moved to Barrington, RI where Peter spent his Senior year at Barrington High School. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from the University of Rhode Island.  

As a member of Army ROTC, Peter joined the Army as a lieutenant after graduation and served in the Army Corps of Engineers in Munich, Germany for four years. Holding a degree in economics, Peter began his career in the field of finance, working at Banker’s Trust Co. in New York and Geigy Agricultural Chemical Co., where he met Lynne. Instead of moving to NC with Geigy, he accepted a job with Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard, MA., where he worked for thirteen years. Following the move to MA, Peter made New England his home for the next forty-two years, primarily in NH. Peter purchased a franchise of The Maids® in North Hampton, NH, and ran that until retirement in 2017. He received numerous awards and citations over the years, including Franchise of the Year. His franchise was one of the first to offer health insurance and 401K’s, and he also paid his employees one of the highest salaries in the organization. He rightfully earned the admiration and respect of his employees and colleagues.  

On November 30, 1973, Peter and Lynne married in Newburyport, MA, and lived in several towns in the area until settling in Hampstead, NH. With their two daughters, Chrissy and Brooke, the family spent their weekends and vacations downhill skiing and sailing along the coast of Maine. Peter and Lynne also enjoyed playing competitive croquet and traveling widely. Peter was a coach of any sport his daughters were playing and the best cheerleader with the loudest whistle and biggest cowbell. Peter was also the life of any dance floor that he graced. Everyone wanted to be his dance partner. While his memory may have faded in recent years, his light and love never dimmed. He will be missed and forever loved.  

Peter was predeceased by his parents, Grace and Wes, and his older sister Janet. He is survived by his wife Lynne Huntsberger Killheffer of Hood River, OR; daughter Christen Meredith Killheffer Sinclair (Mark) of Seattle, WA; daughter Alison Brooke Killheffer Benchetler (Peter) of Hood River, OR; grandchildren Charlotte and Al Sinclair of Seattle, WA; grandchildren Georgina Grace and Virginia Jane Benchetler of Hood River, OR; cousin Theodore Killheffer of Wilmington, DE; niece Joan Dalonzo of Tucson, AZ; nephew Robert Dalonzo of Rockford, IL; niece Lisa Stapleton of Alexandria, VA; beloved dog Kenzie of Hood River, OR; and friends far and wide who loved him dearly. 

 Peter will be cremated with his remains spread in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans because, as his young nephew once noted, Peter found the sea fulfilling. There will be no service or celebration of life at this time, but there will be a small gathering of friends and family in Maine next summer. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peter’s honor to: the Alzheimer’s Association or Alzheimer’s Disease Research (Andersons Tribute Center C/O 1401 Belmont Ave, Hood River, OR 97031) 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.  

Death Notice: Georgia Nel Opheim, 68, The Dalles

Georgia Nel Opheim, age 68, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 16, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Howard William Fetz III, 83, Maupin

Howard William Fetz III, age 83, a resident of Maupin, OR, passed away on October 9, 2023. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Quinton Ballpark in The Dalles, OR, October 28, 2023 at 11:00 am with a luncheon to follow at Bargeway Pub.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Denise Patton, 63, Hood River

Denise Patton passed away on October 14, 2023 in Hood River, Oregon.  Denise was born January 5, 1960 and was 63 years of age at the time of passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family. 

Death Notice: Dennis Ralph Miles, 88, The Dalles

Dennis Ralph Miles, age 88, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 8, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.  

Death Notice: Marsha Christine Savery, 70, Maupin

Marsha Christine Savery, age 70, a resident of Maupin, OR, passed away on October 18, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Erma LaVelle Test, 88, The Dalles

Erma LaVelle Test passed away October 14th, 2023 at home in The Dalles, Oregon.  Erma was born March 1, 1935 and was 88 years of age at the time of passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family. 

Death Notice: Dorothy Burnham, 90, The Dalles

Dorothy Burnham, passed away on October 16, 2023 in The Dalles Oregon. Dorothy was born July  27, 1933, and was 90 years of age at the time of passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family. 

Death Notice: Steve Stevens, 79, Hillsboro

Steve Stevens passed away on October 14th, 2023 at Providence St. Vincent in Hillsboro, Oregon.  Steve was born July 21st, 1944, and was 79 years of age at the time of passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family. 

Dale Scott Buchert, 69, Dufur

 Dale Scott Buchert, age 69, a resident of Dufur, OR, passed away on October 6, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Alan Bradshaw, 87, Wamic

Alan Bradshaw, age 87, a resident of Wamic, OR, passed away on October 14, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.  

Death Notice: Keith Douglas Smith, 61, The Dalles

Keith Douglas Smith, age 61, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 16, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: John Addington Langfeldt, 87, The Dalles

John Addington Langfeldt, age 87, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 16, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.  

Death Notice: James Byron Bartz, 68, The Dalles

James Byron Bartz, age 68, a resident of Wishram, WA, passed away on October 15, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Darlene Ann Golden, 58, Hood River

Darlene Ann Golden passed away on October 7th, 2023 at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Oregon.  Darlene was born December 9th, 1964, and was 58 years of age at the time of passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.  

Death Notice: Paul Stolhand, 101, The Dalles

Paul Stolhand passed away on October 10, 2023, at Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles, Oregon.  Paul was born November 17, 1921, and was 101 years of age at the time of passing.

  Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family. 

Death Notice: Alice Marie Penman, 91, The Dalles

Alice Marie Penman, age 91, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 6th, 2023.

A Burial will be held in Oakesdale Cemetery in Washington, on October 23rd, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Robert Joseph Sproule, 82, The Dalles

Robert Joseph Sproule, age 82, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 9, 2023.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Nicholas Allan Wheeler, 90, Portland

Nicholas Allan Wheeler

The Dalles, OR. October 10, 2023 - Nicholas Allan Wheeler (May 24, 1933 – October 7, 2023) had a seven-decade-long relationship with Reed College, first as a student beginning in 1951, and as a Professor of Physics between 1963 and his retirement in 2010. Born in The Dalles, Oregon, Nick showed an early interest in science. He decided at age 14 that he wanted to become a Professor of Physics. During high school, he taught himself calculus and was selected as a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search for a Wilson cloud chamber that he constructed. He traveled by train to Washington D.C., where he met President Truman and many distinguished scientists.

Nicholas Wheeler and J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American theoretical physicist and director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II.

He was the valedictorian of The Dalles High School Class of 1951. He attended Reed on the Schenck scholarship, only available to students from The Dalles. After graduating from Reed in 1955, he did graduate work at Cornell University for a year, then at Brandeis University, where he earned a PhD in 1960 – the first awarded there in any field. He then worked as a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the Theoretical Division of the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva, where he also studied cello at the Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve. He met his first wife, Karin, in Geneva. Nick played cello in the Portland Opera for ten years.

Nicholas was a mathematical theoretical physicist. He taught and wrote extensively about Special Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Classical Mechanics, Statistical Methods, Thermodynamics, Classical and Gauge Field Theory, and Mathematical Methods of Physics. 26 volumes of his lecture notes written out in his clear calligraphic script and can be found here: https://rdc.reed.edu/c/wheeler/home/. 

After his retirement, he served as the A.A. Knowlton Professor Emeritus of Physics at Reed, giving lectures and continuing his research. A scholarship at Reed was created in his name in 2014. Further information about Nick´s career can be found here: https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/articles/2014/prof.-nicholas-wheeler-physics.html.

Nick had many passions in addition to science. Among these were hiking, fine woodworking, classical music, and playing the stand-up bass, cello, piano, and harpsichord. He devoted over 25 years to meticulously building a harpsichord, which was completed in 2011.

Nick died on October 7, 2023, by Death with Dignity as a result of terminal bladder cancer. He was 90. He is survived by his wife Oya, his sisters Monica, Susan, and Cara, his children Tanja and Colin, his step-children Idil and Ty, his first wife Karin, and his grandchildren Wren, Talya, and Mila.

A Celebration of Life memorial will be held at a later date.

Death Notice: Barbara A. Pashek, 83, The Dalles

Barbara A Pashek, age 83, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on October 8th, 2023.

A private family graveside will be held at St. Peter's Cemetery. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.