John Edward Malone

John Edward Malone, 75, a thirty-eight year East Wenatchee resident, passed away at his home on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, following an extended illness. John was born on September 24, 1935, at Astoria, Oregon to the late Edward and Lenette (Simons) Malone. He spent his formative years near Portland and graduated from Sandy High School in 1953. John further achieved a Bachelors Degree in Forestry from Oregon State University in 1958. Afterward, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in various locations including Iceland. In 1960, he received his honorable discharge and started working full time for the U.S. Forest Service. John began his new career stationed at the Spirit Lake Ranger Station at the base of Mount St. Helens. On October 22, 1961, he was married to his pen pal and sweetheart, Patricia Ann Chilton at Iowa City, Iowa. The young couple split their time seasonally between a new home in Longview, Washington and the ranger station at Spirit Lake. John was transferred frequently working in the Forest Service. Their various moves in the area included Vancouver and the Lewis River Ranger Station on the east side of Mount St. Helens. In 1969, John and his growing family were transferred to the Sweet Home Ranger Station, in Oregon. Finally, the family moved to Wenatchee in 1973. After a career of 33 years working for the US Forest Service, John retired in 1993 and started a business as a consulting forester. John had a passion for forestry and encouraged forest stewardship through his business and educational activities. John reached out to the community through his associations with the Society of American Foresters and as the president and founding member of the North-Central Chapter of the Washington Farm Forestry Association. John's interests were varied. As a young man he excelled at sports, and these interests followed him throughout his life. Having grown up in a small town next to Mount Hood, John spent his early years working at a golf course, skiing, playing basketball and fly fishing. As his children grew older, he liked to spend his free time coaching little-league baseball and basketball. He also enjoyed the challenges of bicycling as he toured Italy and completed a ride across the U.S. from Seattle to the New Jersey coast in 1997. At the age of 50, John competed in the Ridge to River Relay race as an Iron Man. In his golden years, John's interests included travelling, and sports of all types: especially golf, tennis, and cross-country skiing. Throughout, and particularly after retirement, John spent his free time enjoying, managing and protecting his private forest land. He received the Washington State Outstanding Tree Farmer Award in 2005. John was a family man and had numerous good friends. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patricia "Pat" Malone, East Wenatchee; three sons and two daughters-in-law, M. Kelly & Marianne Malone, Oslo, Norway, Allen S. & Susan Malone, Centennial, CO and Scott A. Malone, Tacoma; one brother and sister-in-law, Tim & Debra Malone, Glide, OR; three grandchildren, Lina and Ella Malone both of Oslo, Norway and Duncan Malone, Centennial, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Patricia Allen and Joyce Limbaugh. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, November 22, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Eastmont Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Kentucky Ave., East Wenatchee, with the Rev. Jim Deal officiating. Friends are invited to sign in or leave a memory for the family online by visiting www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for the John Malone Forest Stewardship Education Memorial Fund at the Family Forest Foundation, P.O. Box 1364, Chehalis, WA 98532 or the charity of your choice.

John Edward Malone

September 24, 1935 - November 10, 2010