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Harvey Bruce Vinson Sr., 88

Retired veteran, Harvey “Vince” Vinson Sr. passed away at his home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on March 13, 2017, at the age of 88. Vince was born in Wink, Texas, on Jan. 17, 1929. He was born to Elijah and Ella Marie Vinson.

Vince graduated high school at the age of 16 in 1945. In 1948, at 19 years old, he joined the United States Navy. He then met and married Joan Dorothy Harbeck in Rapid City, S.D., on June 12, 1952, and remained married for 64 years. He had a son, Harvey Bruce Vinson Jr., who was born at Oakland Navy Hospital in California and his daughter was born at U.S. Army Hospital Sandia Base, Albuquerque, N.M. He served in the Navy for 10 years and was stationed at sea often. Three years after his daughter was born, he switched services to the United States Air Force where he would be home with his wife and children. He served for an additional 15 years.

During the Vietnam War, the family was stationed in Guam and spent two years living on the island. While there, they toured the island on their motorcycles, shelled, snorkeled and spent many afternoons idylically visiting the natives as they fished. He also was stationed for one year in Thailand. During the years spent in the states every weekend was spent camping, hunting and fishing with friends and family. Prior to retiring the family was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. While at Fairchild in 1971, they fell in love with the mountains of Idaho. He was then transfered to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

He retired in 1973 after 25 years of service and moved to Post Falls, Idaho, where they continued to hunt and fish for many years to come. Vince was an avid outdoorsman and passed his love for it to his children. After settling in Post Falls, he went to work as a manager at Inland Marine and then later to Tobler Marine. He loved to golf and played for many years with a foursome who remained life friends and later met for breakfast on Thursday mornings. He also won many ribbons pitching horseshoes.

He survived his twin brothers, Herman and Marion Vinson; and his son, Bruce Vinson. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Dorothy Vinson; his daughter, Evonne J. Hadfield; his stepdaughters, Christine Tolotti Vinson and Kristi Martin-Bennett; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

As I write this, as his youngest child, I look back and know how blessed I was to have had parents that taught me the value of loving “for life” and being at peace in the wilderness. My father taught me how to shoot, hunt, fish and provide all the while teaching me to love this life, my country and to respect others. I will miss him dearly as will many who knew him. God bless you dad, thank you for your service and may you rest in peace.

There are no requests for donations. There is however a request for all Americans to be thankful for our soldiers and respectful for their sacrifices.

The family will be having a service at a later date and will contact friends and family for details.