Irwin’s early years were spent in La Center and Fruit Valley and his adult life in Hazel Dell, overlooking Vancouver Lake. He was blessed with wonderful education from these area schools: La Center Elementary, Shumway Junior High, Vancouver High School, Reed College, Washington State University, and the University of Oregon Law School. With the onset of WWII, Irwin enlisted in the US Army Air Corp (Air Force) and served as a 1st Lieutenant at Prestwick Air Base in Scotland. When the war was over, he finished his undergraduate degree and then went to law school at the U of O, where he met his future wife, Dovy, a fellow law student. They were married in 1951 and moved back to Vancouver, where Irwin was an attorney for over 50 years, at what is now known as Landerholm Law Firm.
Irwin and Dovy raised four children, Carl, Jeannie, Kay, and Kent. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was also a committed Christian, which shaped his whole life. Irwin often said how blessed he was to be a part of First United Methodist Church-Vancouver. He once wrote: “I have tried my best to follow Jesus’s teachings: to love and serve others. My church family is of fundamental importance.” From Irwin’s commitment to serve, he led and participated in many ministries, including teaching adult Sunday School classes for decades, and helping to start the Vancouver Methodist Foundation with Dovy. Since its beginning in 1968, the Foundation has given more than $2.5 million to help people with a variety of needs, including scholarships for young people to attend college and seminary.
Irwin’s commitment to care for people impacted many in our community. He not only served his own clients with integrity, he served many others through volunteer work. As a lifelong Rotarian, he helped initiate the club’s involvement at Washington Elementary and beyond, sponsoring the lunch buddy and tutoring programs. He himself volunteered as a reading buddy for years at Washington and Fruit Valley Schools. Among other efforts, Irwin also helped form the Vancouver Counseling Center, was a member of the board of the Southwest Washington Community Foundation, and was chair of the library board when they built Fort Vancouver Regional Library. He spent many hours working on our mayor’s Citizen Steering Committee, with a major effort to bring a four year university to Vancouver.
In addition to serving people, a lot of other things brought Irwin great joy: his friends old and new, writing in his daily diary, and playing tennis. The beauty of the earth was very important to him; he enjoyed working in his yard, bird watching, camping, fishing, and hiking. Irwin also really enjoyed reading and learning new things; he loved history and was fortunate to travel and explore many interesting places around the world. And, as his family and friends know, Irwin loved poetry, and loved reciting poetry. Finally, there wasn’t a day without singing old folk songs, hymns, and a bit of whistling.
Irwin is survived by Dovy, his loving wife of 62 years, his children Carl, with wife Karen, Jeannie Garth and husband Gary, Kay Lansverk and husband Marvin, Kent, with his wife Laurie, and also thirteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. He was so GRATEFUL to God for his faith, for his family and for his friends.
A celebration of Irwin’s life will be held on Saturday, June 29, at 11:00am, at First United Methodist Church, 33rd & Main St, Vancouver. In honor of his commitment to others, memorial gifts may be made to the Vancouver Methodist Foundation, 401 E 33rd St. Vancouver, WA. 98663.
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