January 13, 1932 - November 22, 2011

KEIZER - Robert A. Park, son of Ransom and Nina Park, was born January 13, 1932, in Yakima, Washington. He attended elementary school in Monmouth, and was the last senior class to graduate from Monmouth High School in 1950. Bob served in the U.S. Army from August 1951 to March 1954. He was an expert marksman and could hit a fifty cent piece at a l00 yards 9 out of 10 times. He served in Korea. His company was the 3rd Sq. 27th Wolfhound, 25th Infantry Division. He was submitted to atomic testing series in which his company was ordered to watch an atomic blast in the Nevada desert. The operation was called "Desert Rock V" (Thanks Uncle Sam). He was awarded the combat infantry badge, the Korean Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars, the UN Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. 

He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1957 and a Master's degree in 1966, both from OCE. He taught at Cloverdale, the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Minto, Alaska, and Nenana, Alaska. Returning to Oregon he taught at the Kinzua, a logging camp school, then to Hebo, where he was a principal at the grade school. He also taught at Crowfoot Elementary School in Lebanon, and was principal at Griggs Grade School. Later he went to work with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) in Schwabisch Gmund, Germany, at Patch Elementary School in Stuttgart, where he was awarded the Administrator of the year 1988-1989. He was assistant principal at the grade school in Schweinfurt, before going to Okinawa, where he was the vice principal at Bechtel Elementary School. He was principal at the Guantanamo Bay Grade School at the Navel Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He married Nancy Cross on August 5, 1954, and they had two children, John Edward, and Anna Marie. They were divorced in l957. His second marriage was to Martha Lancaster on November 9, 1959 and three sons were born, Russell, Willie, and Doug. Martha preceded him in death in 2003. On June 18, 2005, he married Ethel Burns. He is also survived by two sisters, Doreen Kilen and Nina Meyers. There are six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His son, John Edward, and a brother William Park preceded him in death. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesmanjournal/obituary.aspx?n=robert-park&pid=154747484#sthash.k7Ed2M58.dpuf