Ivan Gilbert Bodine

Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 2:00 am |

Feb. 13, 1923 - Nov. 13, 2009

Ivan Gilbert Bodine passed away Nov. 13, 2009, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

He was born to Clarence E. and Margaret B. Durham Bodine on Feb. 13, 1923, in Van Orin, Ill. He spent his youth in nearby Ohio, Ill., where he graduated from high school in 1940. Following graduation, he attended Illinois State Normal University until joining the U.S. Army Air Corps, in which he was a bandsman and chaplain's assistant at the Ohio Glider Test Base.

Following his service, he continued his education, and graduated with a degree in history in 1947. He continued with graduate work in geography at Normal and at the University of Illinois.

While at the base, he met Roxana DeWald. They were married on Sept. 1, 1946, in a ceremony performed by her uncle, the Rev. A. Ward Applegate, a Quaker minister in Wilmington, Ohio.

Ivan began his high-school teaching career in Morris, Ill., and Galena, Ill. In 1957, Ivan, Roxana and their two sons moved to Vernonia, where Ivan taught for one year before moving to Corvallis in 1958 to join the social studies department at Corvallis High School, where he taught for 22 years. He also taught three years at Cheldelin Middle School.

Among Ivan's many interests were art, reading, music and extensive worldwide travel. He was an active volunteer for the American Association of Retired Persons, for which he was president and on the State Legislative Committee. He was active in the Democratic Committee, and was on the board of directors of the Corvallis/OSU Music Association for many years.

The Bodines were active participants in Great Decisions, the Dining Out group and the Academy of Lifelong Learning. Ivan spent many years as a student in the Write Your Life Story class at Linn-Benton Community College. Over the years, the Bodines, as volunteers for Crossroads International through Oregon State University, hosted many students from the Middle East in their homes.

Ivan is survived by his wife of 63 years, Roxana; two sons, Lawrence and Charles; two grandsons; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margurite Hardersen of Dixon, Ill. Ivan will be remembered by many cherished friends he had in Corvallis and around the world.

A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the auditorium at the Benton County Fairgrounds. A reception will follow.

Remembrances can be made to the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), 1536 S.E. 11th Ave., Suite A, Portland, OR 97214; or to Crossroads International Friendship Hosts at OSU.