Obituary: Volland, George Harold

VOLLAND, George Harold April 19, 1917 - June 25, 2015 George Harold Volland, 98, passed away June 25th in Spokane Valley, Washington to join his wife, Rita, to whom he was married for 50 years.

He was born at home in 1917 in Finley, Washington near the Tri-Cities to Frank and Johanna Volland.

After graduating from Riverview High School in 1935, George went into the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) for two years, attended Kinman Business College in Spokane, and then went to work for the Hecla Mining Co. in Wallace, Idaho.

In 1940 George started a career with the Great Northern Railroad in Spokane and worked in the telegraph department as a clerk and then in the passenger department as a ticket agent for the railroad in its office at the Davenport Hotel.

Later, he became a traveling passenger representative for the railroad.

In 1973 George briefly went on leave to work for Amtrak, the national passenger service, before returning to the Burlington Northern Railway in 1974 from which he retired in 1977.

He was a past member of the Brotherhood of Friends and the Lions Club.

George met and married Rita J. Gerstenberger in 1947 in Spokane.

This is where they lived and raised a family.

They had 50 years together before Rita passed away on October 26, 1997.

Before getting married, George liked to bowl and play golf, two activities that he returned to after he retired and continued to be active in for as long as he could.

George spent the remainder of his senior years at the Sullivan Park Assisted Living facility in the Spokane Valley.

George was preceded in death by his sister, Eunice Ayers and nephews, Larry and Jack Bockstruck.

George is survived by his sons, Larry (Barbara) of Tacoma, Eugene (Saundra) of the Spokane Valley and daughters, Carol Stewart (Wayne) of Otis Orchards, and Linda Underwood (Steve) of Newman Lake; seven grandchildren: Stephen Volland, Marc Volland (Samantha), David Volland (Jenny), Kevin Volland (Laci), Renee Warrick (Jim), Carly Christen (Kyle), and Jamie Stewart; six great-grandchildren: Elijah and Lexi Volland, Logan and Allison Warwick, Landon and Lily Christen; nephew Ron (Robin) Bockstruck of Bayview, Idaho; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be Wednesday, July 1st, from 5-8pm, and a funeral service will be held Thursday, July 2nd at 10am at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Road, with burial following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 17825 E. Trent Ave. in the Spokane Valley.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Union Gospel Mission, 1224 E. Trent Ave., Spokane, WA 99202 or Spokane Valley Meals On Wheels, 12101 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99206.