BURT WESLEY ALFORD
AAFA #0498
1923 WA – 2007 OR
Burt and Pat at the 1997 AAFA Meeting in Pleasanton, CA
THE OREGONIAN
Portland, Multnomah Co., OR—Thursday, 4 October 2007
Burt Wesley Alford
Our beloved husband, dad, papa, friend, held close in God’s hand, left us Sept. 27, 2007. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends. Burt was 84 years old.
He was born in Snohomish, Wash., and moved to Vancouver as a small child. He moved to Carlton, and attended high school there.
Burt joined the Navy right after Pearl Harbor day and was in six major battles in the South Pacific. During one of these battles, Burt saved the lives of 10 men for which he received the Navy Commendation Medal. Burt was a warm, loving and caring person who loved fishing, hunting and camping with his family. Being with children was a great joy to Burt. He loved them and they loved him. At home, Burt was always working in his garden which was large enough to share with friends and family. He will always be remembered for saying, “Come on over and have some fruit or vegetables.” Burt’s greatest love was the love of God who was with him throughout the many years of his illness with C.O.P.D.
Burt is survived by his wife, Pat, whom he married in 1956. Burt and Pat have one daughter, Debbie. Debbie and Jeff have two daughters, Brittney and Bridget. Burt is also survived by two sons, Allan and Delana and their three children, Zan, Justin and Allana; Tom and Jeri and their two sons, TJ and Wes. Burt has seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 5650 S.W. Hall Blvd., Beaverton....
Photo from Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co., OR—www.findagrave.com
Permission granted by the photographer, Brianna Doddroe
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records show that Burt Wesley Alford (SS# issued in WA) was born 16 Feb 1923, last residence Portland, Washington Co., OR.
Burt was the son of Brown Alford and his third wife, Aletta Isabelle Manary.
Burt and his wife, Patricia Mae Lingle, were at the meeting in Pleasanton, CA. They are among those who visited Gil at “AAFA Central.”
His lineage: Burt Wesley 1923 WA1, Brown 1888 SD2, James Tennyson 1847 IN3, Jonathan C. 1815 NC4, John 1786 PA5.
Burt’s wife Pat sent this photo and note:
Burt and his Navy Commendation Medal
Burt and I were married in 1956 and he often talked of his war years. He told me that he had been awarded a medal during the battle at Okinawa when he was on the USS. Leutz.
In about 1992, our daughter-in-law found the Letter of Commendation he had received in an old chest in Burt’s first wife’s basement. Much to our surprise, it was a temporary citation! We decided to go after the real thing, and after about a year and with the help of our two senators from Oregon and with help from the Navy office here in Portland, Burt was awarded the Medal of Commendation in a Navy ceremony.
Burt is still a sailor at heart and is still a bit of a hell raiser! He is also a terrific husband, father and grandfather. We have lived in Tigard for over 40 years, and Burt is well known for his gigantic gardens and his willingness to share his fruits and vegetables with anyone who stops by.