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Wilbert Lauren "Will" Pool

Wilbert Lauren "Will" Pool obituary

Wilbert Pool Obituary

Wilbert Lauren 'Will' Pool
May 27, 1926 - Nov. 22, 2019
Wilbert Lauren "Will" Pool – author, activist and longtime Lincoln High School teacher.
With unbreakable spirit, Will battled ongoing illness and passed away at home Nov. 22, 2019, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Will led a long and colorful life, which he lived on his own terms. Born in Port Angeles, Wash., May 27, 1926, to Ruth Hitchings Pool and William Franklin Pool, he was raised in Redmond, Wash., and in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.
Will enlisted in the Naval Air Force in 1944, where he was assigned as first ordnance man to a squadron on a PBM Martin Mariner plane in Corpus Christi. His squadron was transferred to San Diego. Later, he also served on shore patrol in the Chinatown area of downtown Seattle.
After the war, he attended Central Washington College in Ellensburg, where he met his bride, Mabel Hanson of Puyallup, Wash., in a Social Science class. Mabel and Will married in 1949 and celebrated their 70th anniversary this past August.
In the early 50s, the Pools moved to Vancouver, where each found work teaching in public schools as they raised four children. In the 60s, they relocated to Portland.
Will's school work led to two Master's degrees, one in public administration and another in Russian Language and Literature. For over 20 years he served as a Social Studies, Russian and German language teacher at Lincoln High School on S.W. Salmon St., in Portland. His Russian program grew to the point that he led his high school students on an overseas study program to the Soviet Union for eight summers, some groups in association with Portland State University.
After retirement, Will's mind never rested. He continued to read and to be active. He was an avid skier, hiker and cyclist. He participated in several groups including the Wy'east Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Humanists and especially Veterans for Peace, Chapter 72.
In the most recent years, his mind turned to writing and he authored a memoir, "American Fascism," detailing his views on the turns of American politics and foreign policy since he was a young man in Seattle in the 1940s.
Will is survived by his wife, Mabel; daughter, Heather and spouse, Scott Somohano of Milwaukie; son, William "Chris" Pool and spouse, Martha Entin of Sedona, Ariz.; son, Frederick "Fred" Pool of Hillsboro; and daughter, Wendy St. Clair of Tigard; six grandchildren; and five adorable and well-behaved great-grandchildren.
Will had wide ranging interests and amazing determination. He will be greatly and sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to your favorite environmental group or to Veterans for Peace.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits

Published by The Oregonian from Dec. 26 to Dec. 29, 2019.
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Will loved Veterans for Peace and Veterans for Peace loved him. He was a wealth of information on world events and their history. Harvey Thorstad

January 18, 2020

In the couple years I saw him at Wy'east UU church, Will was always eager to connect and inspiring to connect with- he never lost his passion or the belief that another world is possible.

Mathias

January 18, 2020

Moving to Portland in the Fall of 2018 I found Wy'east Unitarian Universalist church quickly and met Will soon after that. What I will always remember about Will was his passion for justice and his spirit to fight for what he believed in. He was inspirational and will be deeply missed.

My blessings to the family,

Ron Thurston

Ron Thurston

January 17, 2020

Will was an incredible man; intelligent and involved. He will be missed by me, his family and mine.

January 11, 2020

Will was my good friend and mentor these past eight years. I ferried him to Humanist and VFP meetings as well as to grocery stores and our Sunday coffee clatches. We were both regular attendees at the Sandy peace vigil. I learned a lot of history and how to live a long and meaningful life from this man. R.I.P. Will.

Tom Riddering

January 8, 2020

Mr. Poole was an incredible Russian teacher and an amazing educator who understood how to teach a foreign language. I have many fond memories of him.

Catherine Beovich Jenney

December 30, 2019

I met Will at a political group we both attended. I always thought he was an amazing man! He was so active and action oriented. Just talking about something was not enough, he was always inviting us to join in the action!
I have been wondering about him, and my friend found the posting. I am forever amazed by this wonderful man!
As long as my mind keeps working, I will remember Will.
Roslyn

Roslyn Rice

December 29, 2019

I shall always remember Will's thought-provoking and lively discussions at Eastrose Unitarian Church. He was so passionate for peace. My love goes out to his family at this difficult time. He was a jewel.

Avis Frein

Friend

December 29, 2019

I will cherish my memories forever

Jess McNeese

December 29, 2019

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