Charles Larry Deibert

Major (Ret.) Charles (Larry) Deibert, son of William and Stella was born June 2, 1936 and died March 13, 2024. Larry lived most of his life in the Columbia River Gorge which he deeply loved. His final two years he lived in Spokane, WA. He graduated from Wy’East High School in Odell, OR, and studied at both Hood River Community College and Portland State University.

Larry married Beverly Jean in 1956 who bore three sons, Larry (deceased), Cary, and Kim. After Beverly passed, he married Diane in 1982. After Diane’s passing, he spent the past thirty years with his final wife Suzanne, on their ranch in Corbett, OR.

Also in 1956, Deibert joined the Marine Corps as a radio operator. After the Marine Corps, he joined the Oregon Army National Guard in 1958 serving 15 years, then an additional five years in the Army Reserves before his retirement as Major. He attended Officer Candidate School, flight school, jump school, and jungle survival school before volunteering for Vietnam in 1966. While there, he was a platoon leader in the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company, where he flew a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog. MAJ Deibert flew over 570 missions directly saving hundreds of U.S. troops and earning many awards detailed below making him still today the most decorated Oregon aviator.

MAJ Deibert earned the following military awards: Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross (2), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal (25), Army Commendation with V Device, USAR Achievement Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hour Glass, National Guard Faithful Service Medal (2), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Honor Medal 1st Class, Presidential Unit Citation – U.S. Army, Presidential Unit Citation – USMC, U.S. Army Parachute Badge, U.S. Army Senior Aviator Badge.

After retirement, MAJ Deibert was appointed Civilian Aide to the US Secretary of the Army (2003-2017), serving seven terms as liaison between the Army and the State of Oregon. In 2010, the Oregon Army National Guard Aviation Operations facility in Salem, OR, was named in Deibert’s honor. In 2013, he was inducted into Oregon Hall of Honor at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, OR; and in 2014, into Brig. Gen. James B. Thayer Sr. Oregon Military Museum Hall of Valor at Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, OR.

MAJ Deibert also served as past National Commander and Lifetime Director of the Legion of Valor of the United States of America; Life Member of the following … International Bird Dog Association; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Vietnam Veterans of America; Oregon National Guard; Association of the US Army; Army Aviation Association of America; 82nd Airborne Division Association; 104th Division Association; Khe Sang Veterans Association; 41st Infantry Division Association; and NGAUS

Following Deibert’s successful military career, he was a sales manager with L.M. Berry & Co. Next he developed his own advertising agency, Tel-Ad Advisors. Deibert’s other companies he created and owned include The Hallmark Yellow Pages Selling Group, Inc.; National Management Services; Wild Web Works, Inc.; The Combat Zone; Gorge of the Gods Ranch of Excellence; and Patriot Properties LLC. Joint ownerships included The Sierra Group and The Howard Pierson Group.

Larry enjoyed travel, hunting, fishing, playing and coaching softball with his sons, and serving his community. He was a life member of Elks, honorary member Royal Rosarians, Portland Chamber of Commerce, board member Oregon Heritage Education Park Foundation, and participant on the US President Roundtable (2002). Perhaps his favorite and most recent, was volunteer/director of Helping Hands Food Bank in Corbett, OR. Larry was creative, kind, adventurous, deeply loved and profoundly missed by all who knew him,… a true Gentleman to the end.

He is survived by wife, Suzanne; sister Kaye Clinch (Gary), Longview, WA, brother Jerry Deibert (Sue), Ontario, MT, two children, Cary Deibert (Cindi), and Kim Deibert (Sheryl), Corbett, OR; step children, Tawnya Johnson (Stan), Happy Valley, OR; Tracy McCluskey, Spokane, WA; Greg Farnsworth, Yakima, WA; 10 Grandchildren: Joe, Dusty, Heather, Whitney, Joshua, Hunter, Jordan, Kylie, Connor, Sean, and Josh; and several great grandchildren.

A memorial and committal service will be on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 1:00PM at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086 followed by a reception from 2-4 pm, at the Oregon Military Museum, 15300 SE Minuteman Way, Clackamas, OR.

Direct condolences may be sent to the family at

2929 S Waterford Drive. #479, Spokane, WA 99203.

In honor and memory of Larry, charitable donations may be made to:

The Fisher House Foundation, which provides a home away from home for military families in medical crisis.

123 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852

Or any charitable organization of your choice.