Marvin L. Alexander passed away on Dec. 7, 2022 at his home in Hermiston at the age of 75.
He was born on March 3, 1947 in Klamath Falls to Duane and Olga Alexander.
Marvin moved to Hermiston from Klamath Falls with his family when he was 14 years old and participated in the opening and operating of Hermiston’s original A&W Drive In. He was a 1965 graduate of Hermiston High School and attended a term at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in March 1966. He served one and a half years in Vietnam both as an equipment operator and as a clubs and messes manager. Returning home in October 1968, he married Rena Smith of Hermiston and they lived in San Diego for the next year as he completed his term of service with the Navy. They then returned to Hermiston, where he bought and operated his family’s A&W for several years before relocating the franchise to Highway 395, where he was affectionately known as “The Great Root Bear.” Later in his working career Marvin operated Fowler Bus Co., serving the Hermiston School District. The last 14 years of his working career were spent working for U.S. Bakeries, driving an 18-wheel transport truck full of Franz Bread products across the mountain to La Grande, nightly.
He was a member of the Elks, the Eagles, and the chamber of commerce. Other organizations to which he belonged include Hermiston Jaycees, of which he served various posts, including president of the club one year. He was also a member of the Hermiston Gun Club, where he became a life member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association of America. In 2015 he was awarded a very handsome belt buckle as champion of the Harvest Team Challenge.
As a member of the Hermiston Rotary Club, he was named Rotarian of the Year in 2003-2004. He was also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award in appreciation of 18 years of service as secretary/treasurer.
Marvin’s strongest passion was elk hunting. Starting with the last day of each elk season, he eagerly anticipated the next year’s season. His favorite years of elk hunting were the many which he spent with Hermiston’s former mayor, Bob Severson, as his hunting partner. Each year’s experiences provided more memories to laugh about and more stories to embellish. And as such, it was demonstrated that the companionship and camaraderie were as valuable as the hunt.
Marvin is survived by one brother, Neil (Mary) of Woodbridge, Va.; his wife of 54 years, Rena; daughter, Heather Mills (Marvyn) of Los Angeles, Calif.; son, Jerod Alexander (Brandy) of Renton, Wash.; three grandsons, Brighton of Napa, Calif., Myles of Los Angeles and Tyler of Renton, Wash.; his cousins, Bob Lund (Vicki) of Hermiston and Charles Swadley (Sue) of Williamsburg, Va.; and a foster brother, Paul Sandoval (Rose) of Klamath Falls.
He was preceded in death by his father, Duane; his mother, Olga; and a brother, Larry.
A celebration of life service will be published at a later date.
Please share memories of Marvin with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
