The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., February 23, 1995, page 9

J. SAMUEL DALLAS

     J. Samuel Dallas, a longtime White Salmon resident, died Feb. 16, 1995, in Hood River, at the age of 94.
     Mr. Dallas, the first child of Eleazer and Mary Etta (Thomas) Dallas, was born at the turn of the century (Dec. 12, 1900) in Ideala, Mo. At the age of 12, his family rode the immigrant train to Portland, settling in Clatskanie, Ore. Because the Dallas family had a contact person, Charlie Estes from "back home," they knew logging jobs were available in the Columbia Gorge. Two years later, in 1914, the entire family arrived by freight boat with their belongings at the boat landing at the foot of Dock Grade.
     Mr. Dallas often worked with his dad in the logging operation, road building (BZ Corners to Trout Lake) and Northwestern Dam and Powerhouse construction. After graduation from Columbia High School in 1921, he bought equipment and established his own tire repair shop and gas pump station.
     When he closed this station in 1941 during World War II, he walked daily across the bridge to Hood River to work in a tire recap shop there. Two years later, he was hired by the City of White Salmon's Water and Street Department, working there until his retirement 20 years later in 1966.
     Mr. Dallas married Edith Collins in 1927, beginning his life of a family man which extended 68 years.
     He helped established the White Salmon volunteer Fire Department, he rode on the truck. After that time, he stayed in the station to man the phone. The active group of Odd Fellows accepted Mr. Dallas into the Fraternal Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1927. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church.
     He collected Eversharp pencils and during World War II the collection changed to ball point pens and wood pencils. Another of his collective hobbies included match books. Both of these took a back seat, however, to his being a rock hound. He built a backyard fireplace to display stones.
     Gifts to his children include polished rock lazy susans, earrings, book ends, necklaces, belt buckles, and bolo ties. Many family members and friends have many of his crafts.
     Mr. Dallas is survived by his wife Edith, White Salmon; daughters Dorothy Gassner, Summit, Ore., Helen Woodings, Palmer Alaska, Patricia Benjamin, Goldendale, and Mary Sayer, Carson; sons Russell Dallas, White Salmon, and Norman Dallas, Oregon City, Ore.; sister, Wanda Scheer, Underwood; 25 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, and 6 great great
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Ray Dallas, and one daughter, Joanne Chiccino.
     Services for Mr. Dallas were held Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1995, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, with Rev. Willem Romeijn officiating. Vault interment was at the White Salmon Cemetery.
     Contributions may be given to the White Salmon Volunteer Fire Department.
     Arrangements were handled by Gardner Funeral Home.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer