LIFE STORY

John Willie Pool

Portland, Oregon

(June 2, 1938 – April 5, 2024)

In the afternoon of April 5th, 2024, John passed away peacefully at Legacy Mt Hood Medical Center in Gresham, Oregon at the age of 85.

John Willie Pool was born on June 2, 1938, in Clay, Texas, the third of 11 children born to Surry and Lillie Mae Pool. After graduating high school he moved from Texas to Portland, Oregon in 1959. John was drafted into the Army in 1961, stationed in Fort Ord, Germany and Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington.

John would often visit Portland on the weekends while stationed at Fort Lewis. During one of those visits in 1964 he would meet Vera Corbin. John married Vera Corbin 5 years later on July 26, 1969, and their only child, Sheina, was born 3 years later.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1964, John settled in Portland and worked for Union Pacific as a cook and then at Nabisco.  While working at Nabisco he received his welding certification from Portland Community College in 1967. In 1968, he got a job as a welder with the City of Portland Water Bureau and worked for the city until his retirement in 1998. He also worked part-time as a security guard at both Portland Meadows horse racing track from 1971 to 2007 and at Multnomah Kennel Club greyhound racing track from 1973 to 2004.

In his free time, John enjoyed playing cards and dominoes. fishing, bowling, and traveling to visit family at reunions in California, Texas and Louisiana.

John was a member of New Hope Baptist Church for many years and joined Fellowship Baptist Church later in life. He was a regular at the 8am Sunday morning service until falling ill due to complications from diabetes in October 2019, where he remained hospitalized until his death.

A Viewing will be held Friday April 19, 2024, 2pm-4pm at Omega Funeral & Cremation Service, 223 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Services will be held on Saturday April 20, 2024 at 11:00 am at Maranatha Church (4222 NE 12thAve. Portland, OR 97211).  A graveside service with military honors will be held on Monday April 22, 2024, at 11:00am at Willamette National Cemetery (11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd. Happy Valley, OR 97086).  Please arrive promptly at 10:30am to line up for the procession at the cemetery.