Virgil V. Van Alstine, 101, died on June 10.

He was born in Yulesses, Kan., on Aug. 17, 1907.

Van Alstine moved to Vernonia in 1923 from Fredonia, Kan. The trip took 28 days in a Model T Ford sedan. He went to school in Vernonia and Rainier.

Van Alstine served in the United States Army Tank Corp. He spent nine months in Juno, Alaska, building military warehouses and barracks.

Van Alstine was a millwright worker and helped build mills in Rockport, Calif., Alturas, Calif., Longview, Wash., Vernonia, and Hines. He settled in Burns and married Helen Jones in 1927. They raised two children, Arthur and Novella.

Van Alstine re-married in 1945 to Alberta Rose. She died in 1981. He re-married in 1983 to Ann Cimino. She died in 1999.

He worked as a ranch hand on the Alvord, Whitehorse and Izee ranches and also worked a short time with the Bureau of Land Management. Van Alstine followed the mill industry to Prineville and Winston. After retiring, he returned to Prineville, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, dancing and his grandchildren. He loved horses and the outdoors.

In 2003, Van Alstine moved to his son’s home in Oregon City, where he lived until he died. He was a member of the St. Paul Episcopal Church, Beavercreek Lions Club and Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union.

He is survived by his son, Arthur Van Alstine and wife, Jan of Oregon City; daughter, Novella Hammock and husband, Willard of Prineville; step-daughter-in-law, Donna Rose of Vancouver, Wash.; and 15 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and 38 great-great grandchildren.

Van Alstine wanted his ashes spread over Steens Mountain. His family will be carrying out his wishes on July 18. A memorial service will be held  on June 27 at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oregon City, 822 Washington St.,at 2 p.m. A reception at the church will follow. A memorial will also be held on Aug. 15 at the Van Alstine Family Reunion in Oregon City, at 4 p.m. at 20435 S. Leland Road. Donations in Van Alstine’s memory may be made to Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation or The William Temple House.