Obituary: Slichter, Vernon
Age 96
Slichter in Grangeville, Idaho on September 23, 1917.
He passed away on December 18, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Spokane Valley.
Upon graduation from Grangeville High School in 1935 he attended Washington State (then) College for two years and the University of Idaho for two years.
Interested in aviation he then went to aviation mechanics school in Glendale, CA., before America was drawn Into WWII.
He was drafted into the army in California in March, 1941.
In 1942 he married Marge McCargar, formerly of Spokane, in the Episcopal Church in Grangeville.
Following a series of promotions he then achieved the rank of Warrant Officer and was attached to the 531st Anti-Aircraft Battalion which later became a part of the 30th Infantry Division known as “Old Hickory”.
He was sent to the battlefields in Europe, landing first at Omaha Beach on D-Day plus 9.
He was ultimately awarded the Bronze Star for “his efficiency and devotion to duty” during the Battle of the Bulge and in the allied liberation of France, Belgium and Holland.
Months after the end of the war in Europe Vernon received his discharge and returned to his family in Grangeville where he opened the Men’s Clothing Store.
In 1954 he and his family moved to Los Angeles so he could attend an electronics engineering school.
The following year they moved to Opportunity, WA., where he opened Valley TV Sales and Service in 1955 and served the valley for 30 years.
After his retirement Vernon and Marge took several trips to Europe and into Russia.
Throughout his life he was an ardent WSU Cougar fan with season football tickets for many years and attended many of WSU’s bowl games with his family.
Always the inquisitive mind he was as informed about current events as he was curious about outer space.
His interest in outer space lead to many nights of stargazing through his telescope and he was a member of the Spokane Astronomical Society.
Other hobbies included being a ham radio operator and searching for agates on the Oregon Coast.
He was active in local politics and served on the Incorporation Steering Committee for the campaign that ultimately lead to the creation of the City of Spokane Valley.
Vernon is survived by his wife Marge of 71 years of Spokane Valley; daughters, Sandra of Kirkland, WA., Susan Button (Rick) of Woodinville, WA; grandson, Chris Bartell (Lindy); and great grandsons, Josiah and Michael of Portland, OR; grandson, Ben Bartell (Jenna); and granddaughters, Kaila and Alexis of Bellevue, WA; nieces Kathleen Vopat (Jim) of Grangeville, Karen Homewood (Robert) of Brookeville, MD., Jerrine Schilling of Braedenton, FL; many nephews and special family friends Gayle and Jim Williams of Spokane Valley.
A military service was held December 23rd, 2013 in the Blackmer Funeral Home chapel followed by internment in Grangeville.
The family is especially grateful to Vernon’s compassionate care givers at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Spokane Valley.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane, 1015 West 5th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204.