Rev. Irwin "Dean" Addington

The Rev. Dean Addington, age 70, of La Grande, Ore., died Wednesday, March 20, 1996, at the Grande Ronde Hospital.

A celebration of his life was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church with Rev. M. Chotard Doll officiating. Private interment will take place in Belen, N.M. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels Chapel of the Valley of La-Grande.

Rev. Addington was born on October 12, 1925 in Winner, S.D., to Lorenzo D. and Grace (Irwin) Addington. After graduating from Winner High School, he entered the U.S. Navy and served during WWII. On August 13, 1945, he was married to Janell "Johnnie" Harsha at Alameda, Calif. Rev. Addington earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming and later attended Texas Christian University and seminary in Minnesota and Texas. He was ordained a Deacon at St. Matthews Cathedral in Laramie, Wyo., and later was ordained a Priest at St. Barnabas Church in Saratoga, Wyo. He served Dalhart and Dumas, Texas; St. George's Episcopal Church in Lusk; and St. Luke's in Buffalo before moving to Belen, N.M., where he served St. Phillips Episcopal Church. After his retirement he moved to Hermiston, Ore., and later to La Grande, where he was an active member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Early in his career, he also worked as a high school history teacher and a football coach. Rev. Addington was an Eagle Scout. He was a member of the Buffalo, Wyo.Lodge of Ancient and Accepted Freemasons, both York and Scottish Rites of Freemasonry and the Ballut Abyad Temple of the Shrine in Albuquerque, N.M. He also belonged to Disabled American Veterans. He was an avid leather craftsman but his main enjoyment was his friends and his church work.

Dean retired from the active ministry in 1990, but he never quit sharing his faith in Jesus Christ. Even in death he prayed and cared for others. God took one of his own home. We will miss him.

Survivors include his wife, Janell "Johnnie" La Grande; children -Gordon and his wife, Louise, of Mtn.Home, Ark.; Faye Noffsinger and her husband, Kent, of McPherson, Kan.; Carl and his wife, Jill, of Fairbanks, Ala.; grandchildren, Christa of Denver; Casey of Mtn.Home, Ark.; Katy, Jesse and David, all of Kansas; several nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gerald "Jerry" Addington, and a grandson, Devin Addington.

Contributions in memory of Dean Addington may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Ore. 97201, or a local children's charity. The family requests any other memorials be made to one's favorite charity.

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