Frederick "Earl" DeCamp

Frederick "Earl" DeCamp passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, one month shy of his 96th birthday.  Earl was born November 28, 1917, on the DeCamp homestead eight miles north of Nespelem, Wash., to Earl DeCamp and Florence Knowles DeCamp.  He graduated from Nespelem High School in 1935, joined a union and began working on Grand Coulee Dam.  He was a member of Operating Engineers Unions in Washington, Idaho, California and Oregon, and worked on several projects and dams.  He was also a Mason for over 50 years. 

Earl lived in McKinley Park and Fairbanks, Alaska, at the beginning of WWII working for the War Dept. Corps of Engineers before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps.  He served in the Air Transport Command as a crew chief, an engine specialist, and finally as air flight engineer aboard C-54 transports.  He served in Hawaii, Okinawa, and Japan and was honorably discharged in February, 1946. 

He married Virginia McShane June 21, 1947, and they shared their lives for over 45 wonderful years.  Together they raised Virginia's four children.  Earl's occupations were diverse ranging from diesel mechanic to welder.  He and Virginia also operated a motel in Okanogan.  Five years after the loss of Virginia, Earl married once more to Melva Guinn, a lady from Oklahoma he had not seen since she worked at the Agency hospital 60 years earlier.  They were married for five lovely years.

 Earl was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia, and his second wife, Melva, and his sisters Barbara DeCamp McClure, Rachel DeCamp Martin, and Grace DeCamp Chance and by three children, Monty Hugh Stout, Virginia Jones, and Leaton Guinn Jr.  He is survived by four children: Sherry Weaver, Stephanie Marr, Dianna Guinn Bentley and Peggy Guinn Faulkener.  He is also survived by Mike DeCamp and numerous grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

 Please come together to celebrate Earl's life at Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee Friday, October 25, at 2 p.m.  The online register book may be accessed at stratefuneralhome.com.  Contributions may be made in Earl's name to the Salvation Army, the Humane Society or the Coulee Medical Center.