John W. Aldridge

John was born on September 5, 1932 in Vinson, Oklahoma to Ernest Aldridge and Julia Haddock. He was raised in Vinson and then moved to Phoenix, AZ with his family and graduated from Phoenix High. Following Graduation John attended the University of Phoenix for two years majoring in Animal Husbandry and also enlisted in the Armed forces where he served in Germany and was honorably discharged for his service. John worked as a meat inspector of the U.S. Dept of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection for 40 years and retired on September 29, 1995.

In June of 1955 he was married to Mable Oskins, had 5 children and was later divorced. He moved his family from Phoenix to Portland in 1958 and spent 25 years with Beverly Becker his long time girlfriend. Some of John’s hobbies included photography, camping, gardening and canning his green beans, as well as watching John Wayne movies.

John is survived by his four children: son John Aldridge of Portland, OR, and three daughters: Brenda Grindheim of Portland, OR, Mary Devaney of Vancouver, WA and Rebecca Bloomquist of Phoenix, AZ. brothers: Gerald Aldridge of Molalla, OR and Jimmy Aldridge of Phoenix, AZ, sister Glenda Walker of Lebanon, MO, as well as 9 grandchildren: Julia Aldridge, Danielle Leonard, Christopher Grindheim, Kevin Aldridge, Crystal Carmichael, Patricia Vittorio, Jessica Carlisle, Cecily Devaney, Kyle Devaney, and 10 great grandchildren: Jacianna, Cason, Chloe, Clinton, Gage, Kinsley, Ashley, Haley, Jacob and Nunzio.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday April 23rd at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, OR at 2 P.M. Private interment will follow on a later date at Willamette National Cemetery. Contributions may be made in the memory of John to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America, 15 South Franklin St. New Ulm, MN 56073 or www.lcfamerica.org. Bateman Carroll funeral home is handling the arrangements.