Theodore Earl (Ted) Gump

Theodore Earl (Ted) Gump March 19, 1923 – March 18, 2018 Theodore Earl (Ted) Gump was born on March 19, 1923. He was the second son and the third child of Franklin Thomas Gump and Myrtle Belle (Carns) He was born in Portland, Oregon, where his father was serving as a patrolman for the Portland Police Department. Ted grew up in the Portland area graduating from Lincoln High School in Lake Oswego. Ted was a Boy Scout and became an Eagle Scout. Ted was drafted in the Army in 1943 and served in WWII. After his service in WWII he was called up again and served in the Korean War. In 1952 First Lieutenant Gump was awarded a Bronze Star with a Valor for heroism in ground combat. Ted graduated from Oregon State College – now Oregon State University- in 1950 with a degree in logging engineering. He attended college on the GI Bill. During his college summer breaks, Ted worked as a fire lookout for the US Forest Service. After graduating from College, Ted took a job with the US Forest Services and worked there in various locations throughout the State of Oregon, ending his career in the 1981 at the Siuslaw National Forest in Corvallis as an Engineering Economist. While working at the Forest Service in Corvallis, Ted attended classes at Oregon State University where he received a second degree in Economics in 1980. Meanwhile Ted continued serving in the Army Reserves where he ultimately attained the rank of Colonel. In the early 1950’s while working at the Forest Service, Ted met LaRea McMannis. After a 5 year courtship, she agreed to marry him on October 6, 1956. Ten years later, Ted and LaRea’s only child, a daughter LeAnn, joined the family. Ted had a wide variety of hobbies. He restored from piles of rust a 1923 Willys Knight and a 1923 Harley Davidson motorcycle with a 1925 side car. Ted loved cars and motorcycles. He also worked for many years—alongside LaRea—on his genealogy. He and LaRea purchased a motor home after Ted retired from the Forest Service and the Army Reserves, and spent about 25 years travelling the world. Ted also had interests in US history and had a pilot’s license. Ted was predeceased by his mother, his father, his siblings; Irene, Guy, and Verl, and in 2007 by his wife of over 50 years, LaRea. Ted is survived by his daughter LeAnn and her family, including his 5 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephew, Ron Gump of Gresham, the eldest son of Ted’s elder brother, Guy, as well as three niece, Cathie Doyle, Leslie Baron, and Angie Thomas daughters of Ted’s younger brother Verl. Ted passed on March 18, 2018 one day prior to his 95th birthday. Ted was buried with full military honors on March 27, 2018. He was interred next to his beloved wife, LeRea at Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Corvallis. Theodore E. Gump, 94, died on Sunday, March 18, in Corvallis. A funeral service will be held at McHenry Funeral Home, 206 NW 5th St. Corvallis, on Tuesday, March 27th at 2:00 pm.

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Theodore Earl (Ted) Gump

March 19, 1923 - March 18, 2018