08/20/1925- 06/01/2024
Byron was born at St. Peter’s hospital in Olympia, WA
He was one of 3 boys and he had a sister. Byron was the second born.
His dad was Benjamin DeHart and his mom was Gertrude (Cone) DeHart. Besides Gertrude, Byron was the only Christian in his family.
His father worked in the plywood mill and ran a resort on St. Claire Lake.
Byron went to Lacy grade school. He would tell of swimming in lake as a boy with Indian friends.
Byron went to Olympia High School where he boxed and played baseball.
He graduated after getting out of the Navy, class of 1943.
He aged himself so he could join the Navy at age 17.
He joined the Navy December 16, 1942. He served as a radioman on the aircraft carrier the USS Enterprise. He was very good at taking code and sending code.
All of his service was in the South Pacific. The Enterprise was struck several times by Kamikaze war planes and one caused a radio to fall off an upper shelf and struck and killed the radioman next to him. He would also recollect when the fleet admiral stood over his shoulder as he took code that a battleship had been sunk.
After the war, Byron, aboard the Enterprise returned from the west coast via the Panama canal to Bayonne, New Jersey, where he helped in the ships decommissioning.
He was discharged May 9, 1946.
His first job after the Navy was in the license department for the state of WA.
Then he got a job on a tug boat that would pull oil barges around the Puget Sound. He would often recall the time the first mate, who was at the wheel, fell asleep and they ran aground.
He also lived aboard a 46 foot boat for more than a year, at what is now called Olympia Yacht Club. He always loved boats and would often walk the piers in Olympia to look at boats.
He then got a job for Puget Power and light as a meter reader. He was the only reader in all of Thurston County. He considered this a very good job
He was also on the line crew. He recounted the time when a crossarm fell off the pole and smashed his big toe. He never saw a doctor and continued at the job by digging a hole by hand for the pole to be placed in.
He met the Lord in 1950, the week before Christmas.
He entered Seattle Pacific University in 1952. He majored in philosophy.
He married Marion Cowin in May of 1953.
They spent summers doing mission work on Vancouver Island.
He graduated in 1958. He attended Pittsburg Zenia Seminary from 1958-1959.
He was a student pastor for one year at Quilcene Presbyterian Church.
In 1964, Byron and family joined Esperance Baptist Church in Edmonds. There he taught Sunday School classes and volunteered at the Servicemen’s Center in Seattle.
In 1968, Byron entered Western Baptist Seminary in Portand, OR. He was involved in ministry at the Portland City jail. He also served as Christian Education Directory at University Park Baptist church in addition to his studies at the seminary.
While still attending the seminary, Byron served as pastor at Cherry Grove Baptist Church, which is outside of Forest Grove, OR. He graduated from seminary in 1972.
Byron was then called to pastor McCall Baptist Church in Idaho from 1972-1974.
He then returned to Olympia and took on several jobs and drove school bus for the Olympia School district for 13 and a half years. He retired on December 1, 1989.
He still participated in various ministries. He pastored Matlock Community Church in 1983 with American Missionary Fellowship. In 1989 he did pulpit supply for both Mt. Rainier and Roy Churches. In 1990 he started a weekly Bible study and led worship services at Olympics West.
He did pulpit supply for 6 months at West Side Community Church in 2002. He also led a home Bible study for many years where they lived in Friendly Village.'
Besides reading, Byron became captivated by golf. Starting at about 62 years of age, Byron would daily golf (rain or shine) with his best friend Joe Anderson. He was spurred on by his son, David DeHart, who also loved to golf. Byron golfed until the age of 90. He used to say that he didn’t hit them very far but he could hit them straight.
After the passing of his beloved wife, Marion, in 2019, and several assisted care facilities, he went to live in Mount Vernon with his son and wife. Here they would go on many rides, listen to many ball games and golf matches. He used to love to go out and eat his favorite meal, fish and chips. He used to love a chocolate frosty from Wendy’s. He even had a chance to take a couple of short boat rides in Roger’s boat. Here he developed a friendship with another Joe (Nichols). Joe would come twice a week. They would read Scripture together, listen to ball games, and make jokes about the commercials.
Byron is survived his son Roger, his wife Pam, and their 3 children and their spouses, Heather Renihan (Micah), Bryce DeHart (Amber), and Ciera Todd (Nate). Byron has 5 great grandchildren on the Roger DeHart side. Byron is also survived by his Daughter-in-law, Michelle, who was married to his son David. They had 3 girls, Samantha, LeAnn (Tom), Holly (Andrew). There are 5 great grandchildren on David’s side.
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