B. Joe Minyard

B. Joe Minyard, 77, died April 15 at Hospice Care Center in Longview, Wash.

He was born April 10, 1929, in Quinton, Okla., to Victor C. and Elzana (Stone) Minyard. He attended schools in Featherstone, Tipton Ridge and Quinton, Okla.

He joined the U.S. Navy and lived in Bremerton, on Bainbridge Island and in Kelso, Wash. He was a resident of Ryderwood since 1991.

He owned and operated the barber shop on Bainbridge Island for 26 years before moving to Kelso. He assisted several barber shops in the Longview-Kelso area.

He worked at Reynolds Metals as a maintenance millwright and retired in 1991.

He was an active volunteer in Ryderwood community activities.

He served as Ryderwood park manager for many years and held membership in Ryderwood Men’s Club, VFW Post No. 7010 and the Ryderwood Community Church.

He was a member and a past master of the Kelso Masonic Lodge No. 94, Scottish Rite in Kelso and Maple No. 218 Order of the Eastern Star and was past patron several times.

He was grand representative to the Oklahoma in Eastern Star. He was also past commander of the American Legion on Bainbridge Island.

He also volunteered many hours for his church and community neighbors.

He loved fishing, playing his fiddle, “making sawdust” in his shop, gardening, travel and his grandchildren, family and many friends.

He is survived by his wife, Loralee; sons Dick Minyard of Bainbridge Island and Tim C. Minyard of Sumner; daughter Janine Alborn of Bellevue; sister Cledia Burke of McAlester, Okla.; three granddaughters and two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 1 p.m. April 22 at Ryderwood Community Church, with Pastor Gordon Bowman officiating, assisted by Kelso Masonic Lodge and the Ryderwood VFW. Arrangements are by Cattermole Funeral Home in Winlock.

Remembrances in his name may be made to the Community Health Hospice, P.O. Box 2067, Longview, WA 98632 or to Habitat for Humanity in Cowlitz County.