Arvol Zschomler Obituary


ARVOL "BABE" EUGENE ZSCHOMLER
June 4,1932 ~ January 22, 2017

Arvol Eugene "Babe" Zschomler, passed from his earthly sojourn, Sunday January 22, 2017, at the age of 84. A child of the Great Depression, he was born in Los Angeles, CA to Henry and Cecil Zschomler, on June 4, 1932. During his childhood, his family moved to Yakima, WA and then to Stevenson, WA where he graduated high school in 1951. He was an all star athlete, lettering in every sport but tennis. He was inducted into the Stevenson High School Hall of Fame in 2009. Following high school, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as an aviation mechanic aboard the Essex carrier in the Pacific. He married Dolores W. Alway, also of Stevenson, September 12, 1954. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, he played baseball while attending Clark College. Arvol and Dolores were married nearly 40 years and raised their family in Vancouver, WA where he worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital. After retiring, as a heating plant engineer for the VA in 1987 at the age of 55, he worked with his nephew in Yakima, but soon relocated back to his beloved Skamania County.
Arvol remarried in 1998, taking Vina "Pug" Zschomler, his brother's widow, as his wife. They were together nearly 21 years. Vina passed away, at the age of 90, January 10, 2017, just twelve days prior to Arvol. He was also preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Dolores; brother, Darwin of Yakima; sisters, Ardis (Jim) Johnson of Carson and Wilda (Ernie) Nordwell of Port Angeles; and step-sons, Kenny and Ronnie Zschomler.
He is survived by his sister, Alberta (Dick) Hurley of Vancouver; son, Gregory (Ruth) of Aberdeen; daughters, Janis (Dan) Frasier of Ridgefield and Suzanne (Dan) Goedert of Yacolt; step-son, Rick (Betty) Zschomler and step-daughter, Donna (Gene) Parkinson, both living in Arizona. By his natural children, there are twelve grandchildren, (plus three partners) and seven great-grandchildren. He was cherished by a close circle of nieces and nephews. Arvol spent his retirement years hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and improving his Stabler property outside of Carson, WA.
When he came to Christ late in life, he and Pug became members of Stabler's Little Church in the Valley. He served the church as he could while fearlessly fighting a ten-year battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis, the result of working with asbestos during his careers.
Ever the athlete, he enjoyed the challenge of hiking, running, cycling and swimming. He swam across the Columbia River in 2007, the year of his diagnosis, and four years before his death hiked a thirteen mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail with his three children, son-in-law and niece, each carrying oxygen for his needs. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed fishing and hunting with family and friends as often as he could. He is remembered as kind and was happily making friends to the very end. One of his last acts of generosity was to donate his body to the University of Washington, School of Medicine, Willed Body Program. He was our hero. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." ~II Timothy 4:7, 8
An outdoor potluck Celebration of Life for Arvol and Vina will be held at their church Sunday, April 9th at 1p.m., 41 Trout Creek Rd., Carson, WA 98610. No flowers please. Remembrances in their names can be mailed to Little Church in the Valley, PO Box 598, Carson, WA 98610.
Please sign Arvol's Guest Book at www.columbian.com/obits.

Published by The Columbian on Mar. 19, 2017.
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5 Entries

Very sorry to hear of your loss. God promises to "bring death to nothing."1 Corinthians 15 :26.May this promise bring you solace at this time of sadness.

March 23, 2017

What a great guy he was. I so enjoyed walking with him in some of the runs. My thoughts are with you Jan and all your family.

Claudia Holman

March 21, 2017

Grandpa,
for once I am having a hard time finding words, I have yet to talk to anyone about your passing and have been trying not to think about it. The reasons being, I wish I could have spent more time with you, I wish I could have had more conversations with you, I wish I could have been there by your side in the last few days of your amazing life, and when I think about those things I get emotional, your a man you know how it is were not suppose to show our emotional side lol. But grandpa I want you to know I love you. I know you are up above watching over me and I will see you again one day. I will strive to be more like you each and every day, rest in peace with my beloved grandma pug ♥

Josiah Zschomler

March 20, 2017

Sending my dear cousins, Jan, Greg and Suzie lots of love!

Debbie Smith

March 20, 2017

Janis, Greg and Suzie- sorry to learn of your Dad's passing. You have wonderful memories to carry you through. Peace to you and your families.

Pam Linn

March 20, 2017

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