Richard Elsworth Eagle

Richard Elsworth Eagle was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did.

Richard was the son of Opher and Bertha Eagle. Raised in Wadsworth, Ohio and Scappoose, Oregon, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life. Richard was raised with five siblings. He had four older sisters, Naomi, Leona, Marge and Lorna, and one older brother, Opher, Jr. (Happy).

Richard enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Richard was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Richard was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He attended Scappoose High School.

Most folks would say that Richard was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Richard was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Richard best trusted those people that he truly knew. The friends that he made, Richard kept. While growing up, one of his best friends was Jimmy Bottger. Later in life, he became friends with Doug and Jerry Peace.

If you gave Richard a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Richard was always on task. Without hesitation, he could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was building trucks. He was employed for over 20 years at Freightliner. Richard was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Richard had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems.

Richard was a Navy veteran. He seemed to thrive on the routines offered up by the military. Being a literal thinker with a calm exterior helped him handle the rigors of the military. He was in the Pacific on a landing ship, and saw action for a few years during WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of First Class Petty Officer.

Due to his excellent organizational skills, Richard was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which he belonged. Richard was an active member of the American Legion, Post 42 in Saint Helens and VFW, Post 4362 in Scappoose.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to Richard. His compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in his personal beliefs. He was not a member of a specific church, but truly loved the Lord.

Richard was as loyal to his pets as they were to him. He had a cat, named Cat that was a close friend for many years.

When Richard's retirement finally arrived in the mid 1980's, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely.

Richard passed away on January 2, 2013 at his home in Scappoose, Oregon. Richard fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his nieces, Arlene, Diane, Lorna and Kimberly; nephew, Jud; great-nephew, Keith; and great-nieces, Troy, Leslie and Julie. Richard will be laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Richard was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. He was thorough and practical. Richard Eagle was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with him. He will be missed.