Andy Eugene Waldrop

Andy Eugene Waldrop was born May 28, 1925, in Imperial, California, to James T. and Mary Florence (James) Waldrop. He grew up with ten siblings in the Imperial Valley in the far south of California, almost to the Mexican border. As a young adult, Andy worked for the Imperial Valley Irrigation district in CA before joining the Navy in 1943. He was mechanically inclined and after boot camp he attended naval school in Iowa and became a Motor Machinist’s Mate.  He was initially assigned to sub-chaser Class SC-497, ship 1374, then to ship 1028 where he spent the remainder of the World War Two. The ship Andy was assigned was a shallow draft, just 110 ft. long by 16 ft. wide made of wood so it would not set off the harbor mines or be hit by torpedoes fired by the enemy. They travelled the Pacific Ocean from Seattle to the Solomon Islands and many islands between, going wherever the big ships went.  Andy shared endless stories of his time at sea. One of the most harrowing was when they were caught in a Typhoon, being pummeled by waves much taller than his ship, taken straight up toward the sky then straight down to the ocean, the bow of the boat being submerged before popping back upright. There were many tales of adventures and close calls, but Andy was fortunate to survive the war and when he was discharged from the Navy in Seattle WA. in 1946 he made his way back home to the Imperial Valley. Soon after he arrived home, he met his sister’s sister in law, Verna Rosanbalm, and the two fell in love and married. Shortly thereafter son Audy Darrel was born, however, Verna’s family was in Missouri, so Andy relocated is young family there in 1953. The first place he saw in Missouri was a small town called Pleasant Hill, which Andy referred to as “Gloomy Gulch” when he first arrived.  Although Andy wasn’t fond of life in Missouri, he loved his work and was near his wife’s family.  With the addition of daughter Laura Diane to the family in 1955 they raised both their children in Missouri. Andy worked for Black and Veatch, an engineering company that built bridges, roads, dams, and water treatment facilities all over the United States and in subsequent years, the World. Andy was hired by Mr. Veatch himself.Andy saw all 50 states through his job as well as his love of travel with Verna. The couple vacationed in various places around the US and especially loved Alaska, taking both cruising and driving vacations there. But the Pacific Northwest always called to Andy and he was thrilled to have the opportunity to relocate to the area to be near his daughter and her family. In 2008, Andy and Verna moved to Aumsville, Oregon, were they would spend their final years together in a home they bought and paid for sight unseen when they came out west. Andy loved living in Oregon and especially enjoyed seeing the mountains and going to the coast and watching the ocean.After Verna passed away in 2014, Andy rented his home in Aumsville and moved into a cottage on the lakefront property where his daughter Laura and her partner Michael lived near Aumsville. The last few years was a special time for Andy’s daughter, Laura, as she got to know her dad better during the quality time they got to spend together. Andy would spend mornings with Michael, sipping coffee and looking out over the lake, watching a nesting pair of bald eagles soar out over the water before retiring to his workshop. Michael cherished this time with Andy, listening to the stories of his time in the Navy. Eventually, Andy moved to Marian Estates and passed away peacefully there early in the morning on December 25, 2019.Andy will be remembered for his charming personality, making friends wherever he went. Even in passing at a restaurant, he would start conversations with a joke, and it would immediately seem as if the stranger had known him all along. It can be said about Andy that he never knew a stranger. He was an easygoing person, kind and funny, always joking. He was a bit of a Cowboy at heart, a macho guy, with a can-do spirit. Andy enjoyed a lifelong friendship with his cousin Bill Miller of Imperial Valley, CA. He also enjoyed wood working but his real passion was guns and reloading. For many years he reloaded ammo for friends and family, it was through these connections that he enjoyed a good relationship with law enforcement in Kansas City and upon his arrival in Oregon. Andy was preceded in death by his parents, JT and Mary (James) Waldrop, his wife Verna, then siblings; Una Luallin, Eva Luallin, Hurley, J.T. (Jake), Alice (Olene) Veach, William (Nelson), Lucy Rosanbalm, Ray, Marylea Rosanbalm.He is survived by his daughter Laura Rossiter and Michael Rosanbalm of Aumsville, Oregon; son Audy D. and wife Georgiana Waldrop of Indiana; sister Evelyn Nauman; grandchildren Dawn Rossiter (Stewart Reed), Lindsey Borstein (Josh) and Andrew Waldrop; and one great grandchild.In talking with friends Andy would humorously say, “I know my place; it just hasn’t been dug yet”. Now he can be put in his place, right next to Verna at the Lone Oak Cemetery in Stayton, Oregon. The family will hold a private graveside interment and a celebration of his life will take place at a later date.