Sylvester "Gene" Salada Obituary (1934 - 2016)

Sylvester "Gene" Salada, 82, of Baker City, Oregon passed away at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City on August 18, 2016 due to complications from pneumonia. Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is assisting the family. Gene was born on June 4, 1934, in Dubois, PA to Emery and Audrey Salada. After Attending Sandy Township High School, Gene joined the Air Force and trained to work on aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. In 1958 he married Korene Patterson in Bakersfield, California. They had two children, Douglas Eugene Salada and Laura Darlene Oleman. As a military family they lived in many places including Hawaii, Canada and Washington, D.C. Gene retired with the rank of technical sergeant in 1974 and moved to Albany, Oregon where he attended Lane Community College and studied auto body painting and repair. In 1979 Gene moved to John Day, Oregon and started a new business called John Day Rainbow Flair and Paint Center, which was later known as Grant County Auto Parts. Gene moved to the country in Mt. Vernon, Oregon and settled into his new life. In 1993 he met and married Ruth Ballard and shared 23 happy years with her. Gene was a member and a trustee of the Elks Lodge, he worked on the hoop shoot and the Monday night taco feeds. Through the years he enjoyed woodworking, he built many projects and he also liked to garden. As he got older he liked to do word puzzles and read about a variety of subjects. In 2014 Gene and Ruth moved to Baker City, to be closer to Ruth's daughter Melissa Shankle. Gene was a loving husband, a caring father and a doting grandfather and great-grandfather. There were many young people's lives that were touched by his caring and good advice through his work with the Elks as well as through the dirt bike race track he maintained on his property for many years. Throughout his life he had a smile and a sense of humor that quickly endeared him to people he met. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Ruth, son Doug (Tamatha), daughter Darlene, Step-daughter Melissa (Randy), grandchildren Anthony, Misty, Brittany, Samantha, and Kaylaan, and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters; Pete, Bonnie, Leroy, Connie, Gary, and Terry. Gene is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sisters; Colleen, Audrey, Barbara, Harold, Ronald, and Frank. At his request there will not be a service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks Lodge Eye Clinic through Gray's West & Co Pioneer Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.