Obituary of Ross Gordon Chandler

Ross Gordon Chandler, 86, a longtime resident of St. Maries, Idaho passed away at his home of 690 E. Meadowhurst Drive on Monday, March 16, 2015. He was surrounded by his loving wife, Nahyda and their children,spouses and grandchildren. Ross was born on May 11, 1928 in Gibbonsville, Idaho to Ralph Gordon and Effie May (Barzee) Chandler. His family moved to Birch Creek in southern Idaho then moved to Ellensburg, Washington. He attended school in Washington and Idaho. Mr. Chandler enlisted in the Army at Fort Lawton, Washington on December 13, 1947. Ross was sent to Fort Ord, California for Basic Infantry and Radio School, then sent to the 408th Airborne Quartermaster Company and then was assigned as part of the 11st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served aboard the USS General Omar Bundy for air transportability on the way to Sendai, Honshu, Japan during the Japanese occupation, was later transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii before being shipped back aboard the U.S.A.T. General Howze to Gulf Port, Mississippi, then back to Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he was honorably discharged as a Private First-Class, from the 408th Airborne Quartermaster Company, 11th Airborne Division on April 4, 1954. Ross met and married Miss Nahyda Catherine Richter in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on January 17, 1950. They moved back to Idaho where they raised 8 children. Mr Chandler leaves behind his loving wife of 65 years, Mrs. Nahyda 'Pat' Chandler and their children: Mr. Carl Roy (Grace) Richter of Fort Saskatchewan, Canada; Mrs. Julie Ann (Edwin) Humann of St. Maries, Idaho; Mrs. Millie Jean Catherine (Brent) Christensen of Colfax, Washington; Mrs. Rose Marie (Brent) Cope of Santaquin, Utah; Mr. Ralph Arnold (Carol) Chandler of Renton, Washington; Ms. Susan Faye Hewson of Post Falls, Idaho; Ms. Tina Louise Chandler (Robert Cole) of St. John, Washington and Mr. Robert Gordon Chandler (Kathrine Ann Benson) of Mojave, California, brothers Glenn Chandler of Slate Creek, ID, Edward Chandler of Tri Cities, WA, and sisters Jean Worrelly of Chester, ID, and Felecia English of Emmett, ID. He also leaves behind 26 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 3 great great-grandchildren. Ross was preceded in death by his mother, father and brother's Ralph and John, and 2 great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 130 S. 10th Street, St. Maries on Friday, March 20, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Military rites presented by the St. Maries American Legion Post # 25. A gathering of family and friends will follow services at the church. Donations will go to the Shriner's Hospital and the American Legion. Visit Ross's online memorial and sign his guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com