A past president of the Cascade Mariners chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans who enjoyed his dogs, gardening and clocks, Leonard F. "Ben" Savage died Thursday, August 9, 2001, at Providence Medical Center in Portland. He was 78.
Ben Savage was born Jan. 23, 1923, in Portland and attended Parkrose High School. He enlisted in the Merchant Marines when he was 18 years old. After WWII, he worked as a linoleum and formica layer and was a member of linoleum layers union, Local 1236, in Portland. Most of his career was spent work at Artcraft Linoleum in SW Portland. After retiring, he moved with his wife Jeanne to Long Beach, Washington, where they lived for 17 years. During that time they owned the Ridgecourt Motel in Long Beach and The Coast Trader in Ocean Park. They move back the Portland area in 1994 and settled in Vancouver.
Ben was a generous Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and friend to all who met him. He loved his pet dogs Princer, Molly, Missy and Holly (and a couple of cats along the way) and his clocks. He couldn't pass a "Garage Sale" sign without stopping, afraid he would miss a "good deal". It was hard to keep him out of his garden - even when he wasn't supposed to be there. He was very proud of his service to America as a US Merchant Marine during World War ll and was full of joy when the Merchant Marines were given "Veteran" status by the United States government in 1988. He was a Past President of the local Cascade Mariners chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. His trips to Reno in the motor home were especially fun because he loved Reno and they could take the dogs along on the trip
Survivors include Jeanne, his wife of 36 years, at home; three daughters, Barbara Howe of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nancy Stolmeier of Ridgefield and Laura Willoughby of Portland; three sons, Scott Leverenz of Portland, Oregon., Terry Leverenz of Caldwell, Idaho, and Rick Leverenz of Vancouver; two sisters, Winifred Fockler of Spokane and Dorothy Pederson of Portland; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He will be missed.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday August 14th, 2002 at Evergreen Staples Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may still be made to the Clark County Humane Society, 2323 W. 26th Extension, Vancouver, WA 98660. Ben is now resting at the family burial plot in the Pioneer Cemetery at 102nd & Sandy Blvd
