Cloudy, 27° F
(Oct. 6, 2004)
Eddie Oldman, 59, Powell, died Wednesday, Oct. 6 at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, after a five-year battle with cancer.
He was born May 26, 1945, son of Willford and Irene "Plant" Immel, in Wooster, Ohio. He received his education in Ohio before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1970. He spent three years in Vietnam as a sniper.
He married his soulmate, Rita J. Durand, in West Memphis, Ark. Being Native American Lakota Sioux, he insisted on a Native American ceremony. As a result, on June 8, 1996, they had two weddings.
On June 15, 1996, he moved his new bride to a completely new way of life. He had traveled this area many times during his years as a truck driver. He loved this area and the people.
After retiring in 2000, he turned his attention to veterans work. He was Commander of Heart Mountain DAV Chapter 11, Commander of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 927, Wyoming State Jr. Commander for the DAV, and First Vice Commander and a trustee in Hughes-Pittinger American Legion Post 26 of Powell. He was a certified state service officer for the State of Wyoming.
He was also instrumental in starting the DAV Transportation Network for transporting veterans to and from medical appointments in Powell, Sheridan or Billings, Mont. The past two years of his life have been entirely dedicated to the welfare of veterans.
Survivors include his wife, Rita, of Powell; four daughters, Judy (Louie) Gutierrez of San Antonio, Texas, Amber (Mike) Bynum of Blythervill, Ark., Ashley Canoy of Millington, Tenn., and Paula (Damon) Parker of Mize, Miss.; and grandchildren Monique, Matthew, Natalie and Briana Gutierrez; Leah, Michael, London and Dustin Bynum; Brett Canoy; and Ciera, Priscilla, Damon Jr. and Dillyn Parker. He is also survived by his beloved mother-in-law, Iva Young of West Plains, Mo.; his aunts and uncles of Wooster, Ohio, Norm and Pat Immel and Blain and Mary Immel; and his beloved dog, Chantay, who misses him very much.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Harvest Worship Center in Cody at 1:30 p.m. Burial with full military honors, provided by the U.S. Marine Corps League of Billings, of which he was a member, will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery, Powell, at 3:30 p.m.
