Lon Rombough

Lon J. Rombough

May 17, 1949 - January 30, 2012

CANBY -Lon Joseph Rombough was called home to Jesus on January 30, 2012, after serving 62 years as a husband, father, and one of the country's foremost horticulturists. He was born May 17, 1949, to Dr. Joseph A. Rombough and Emma C. Rombough in Independence, Oregon. In 1979, he married Susan K. Marsh, a teacher from Salem, Oregon, and they raised two sons, Jeff and Chris.

Inspired by the work of Luther Burbank, Lon became interested in plant breeding, and earned a B.S. degree in Horticulture from Oregon State University. He went on to earn a M.S. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from UC Davis, where he remained for his Ph.D research. He was especially interested in the culture and breeding of grapes, and was greatly influenced by the work of his mentor, Dr. H.L. Olmo. His love of grapes led him to start his own business in 1985, breeding and selling grapes to the public. He was also interested in the discovery and growing of unusual fruits, and collected rare plants from around the world. His current research is focused on selecting fruit varieties which perform best under the growing conditions found in Heaven.

Lon was also a talented writer, and published many popular and scientific works on plants, including his well-known book The Grape Grower, for which he was awarded the "Best Talent in Writing" in 2003. He was a member of numerous professional horticultural societies, many of which awarded him honorary life memberships.

Lon Rombough was kind and generous beyond words. He would not hesitate to drop everything to help a friend, or to share his vast knowledge and love of plants with anyone who asked. He was a wonderful father and a great man, and the world is a poorer place for his loss. He is survived by his wife Susan, his sons Jeff and Chris, and his brother Lee.

A memorial mass will be held on February 25, at 11:00 AM, at St. Patrick's Church in Canby. St Patrick's is located at 498 NW 9th St., Canby, Oregon (503) 266-9411.