Marwin Richard Despain passed away August 28, 2012, at home from complication from a fall at the river on his birthday.
Marwin was born August 4, 1935, in Phoenix, Ariz. to Elzie Winston Despain and Anna Margaret Eckel Despain. They lived in Prescott, Ariz. until the World War II years, when they moved to Lynnwood, Calif. and both parents worked in the aircraft factories.
In 1944 they moved to Medford, Ore., where they lived out their lives. Marwin went to schools in Medford and graduated from Medford High School. He attended one year of college at Brigham Young University, then married Eloise Mielke in 1956 in the Salt Lake City Temple. That same year he went to work for the Bureau of Land Management surveying for the Talent water pen stock, tunnel and canals. They worked on land surveys for Emigrant Lake, Howard Prairie, etc. He later worked for other surveyors. He worked on the Elk Creek Dam for Obioshi, on the Lost Creek Dam and first surveying, and then as a carpenter on Peyton Bridge. In 1961-1963 he went to California to work for Greenwood Surveyors who did the Olympic Village at Tahoe, then for Clair Hill who surveyed for the power lines over the Feather River Canyon area, where the only way in every day was by helicopter.
Back in 1959 he was hired by Delmar Smith, the original owner of Crater Rock Museum, who wanted to teach him beekeeping from the ground up and how to make his own bee "equipment." He had been a commercial beekeeper for 40 years along with working full time. At one time he was a building contractor and retired in 2006 from carpentry. He also held a master of cabinetry certification.
He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions in the church along with positions with the Boy Scouts of America.
He is survived by his wife; a sister, Roberta Henegi; five children, Richard Laurence, a rancher in Weiser, Idaho; Laura Zurligen, an interior designer in Salt Lake City, Utah; David Despain, a builder in Oregon City, Ore.; Julie Farmer, a beautician in Vernonia, Ore.; and Karen Patton, a dental technician in Vernonia, Ore.; 30 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Noal Despain.
Marwin and Eloise lived in the same house for 45 years.
Marwin always loved being in nature, like climbing Mt. Shasta, working with wood in his shop, and serving others in the Church. His beekeeping was his life's enjoyment, even until this time. But still his family and church came first. He had many wonderful friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, September 1, 2012, at Memory Gardens Mortuary Chapel, 1395 Arnold Lane, with a graveside to follow at Memory Gardens Memorial Park. www.memorygardensmortuary.com