Robert Wesley Maxwell, 85, of Weiser, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died at his home March 18, 2002.
His funeral was at 2 p.m. March 21 at Thomason Funeral Chapel in Weiser. Inurnment was at Hillcrest Cemetery at Weiser.
He was born to Robert John and Marguerite Pringle Maxwell on Jan. 15, 1917, at Weiser. He attended Hale School and was a 1935 graduate of Weiser High School. He was a member of the Horse Cavalry for two years.
After high school, he attended the Intermountain Institute, Lewiston Normal School and the University of Idaho at Moscow.
He married Pauline Harryett Dent on July 2, 1938, and they both taught in one-room schoolhouses in rural parts of Idaho for three years. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in England and was the nose-gunner in a B-17 for 27 missions over Germany.
In December 1945, he was discharged from active duty and moved to Baker City to raise a family of three children with his wife, Pauline.
Between 1949 and 1977, he was a member of the Air Force Reserve and the Army National Guard. He worked for more than 30 years as a clerk for the Union Pacific Railroad. He enjoyed fishing, backpacking and was an enthusiastic fan of the Oregon State Beavers for many years.
He belonged to the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, a past master of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Shriners. After his retirement, he also volunteered at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Baker City.
In 1969, he married Dorothy Yockey of Weiser. In 1993, he moved to Ontario. While there he was an active member of the First Christian Church. He loved his family and was very proud of the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Maxwell; the mother of his children, Pauline Maxwell; his three children, Robert H. Maxwell, and his wife, Carol, of Fruitland, Idaho, Patricia Steiger and her husband, Jerry, of Corvallis, and Michael D. Maxwell of Altadena, Calif.; his grandchildren, Robert J. Maxwell, Jennifer Freeman, Charisse Maxwell, David Maxwell, Michael E. Maxwell, Tammie Andrews and Christina Steiger; his great-grandchild, Skyler Andrews; stepdaughter and her husband, Jane and Frank Rast; stepgrandchildren, Greg and Scott Rast; brother, William Bill, and his wife, Louise Maxwell; and sister, Doris, and her husband, George Lafferty.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Friends of the Hospital for Home Health, 645 E. Fifth St., Weiser, ID 83672 or the Shriners Childrens Hospital, 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97220.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 5, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
