David Wayne Denton Sr.

"David Wayne Denton", 75 of Heppner Oregon, passed away peacefully at home on June 15, 2025. He was a devoted husband, father, and friend, known for his strength, kindness, and a realists with a great sense of humor.
The Denton's moved to Kinzua Oregon in 1946, and David was born August 7th, 1949 to Frank D. Denton and Dena Bethene Swanson in Walla Walla, Washington.
David attended grade school at Kinzua, Oregon, where he felt fortunate to be raised in God's Country within the Kinzua community and all it offered. He laughed often about his favorites, climbing Castle Rock, Stinging Nettles sword fights, one day his dad was rolling into town on the Railroad and the crew laughing while watching a large tire rolling off the hill at a high rate of speed, bouncing high and finally landing at the bottom hitting a car, until dad realized his two boys had rolled the tire... Kids all over town loading up in M. Borings station wagon heading to Boy Scout activities, playing baseball, swimming at the mill ponds or Condon's pool, golfing and disqualified after winning the father-daughter golf tournament, fishing and Dave loved hunting whether it was squirrels, deer, elk or just plunking cans. His 8th grade class consisting of 3 girls and 7 boys versus Brookings freshman class of 90. A lifetime of memories.
The family moved to Brookings Oregon where Dave excelled as a catcher in baseball, enjoyed track, basketball, graduating from Brookings High School.
David served in the US Army 1968-1970, 62nd Artillery Division, stationed at Rhein Main Frankfurt Germany as a Hawk Missile fire control operator and Automatic Weapons repair counter insurgency division. Recipient of National Defense Service and Good Conduct medals. Honorable discharge SPE4.
He spent 8 years at Brookings Plywood in all facets of production and was self motivated to learn boiler operations. Moved to Heppner Oregon for employment with Kinzua Corporation for 18 years, as a Boiler operator for production of electricity to the plant and steam drying lumber products. Promoted to head operator of the new Cogeneration 10 mega watt turbine-steam generator for production of electricity for Kinzua Corp. and PGE - all phases of production, repair, training and compliance reporting. With the closure of Kinzua Corp., David's journey led him to Roseburg Forest Products as a senior operator of 5 Steam Turbines/3 Boilers Generation of electricity, fired by gas, sanderduct and waste oil. His experience was utilized in the startup of satellite plants at Weed, CA, and Riddle, OR. He went to work for the Oregon Department of Corrections as a boiler operator in Wilsonville, with desires to return to Eastern Oregon he transferred to Dept of Corrections security department for the startup of the newly constructed prison at Umatilla, OR in the security department for 11 years and retired early.
David received the Harrison Hale award, umpired Babe Ruth American Legion seven years and high school baseball.
He was a lifetime member of Heppner Elks Lodge #358, NRA, Regional Boiler Assoc. with a 2nd class Engineering License, KinzuaSafety committee, team leader of ODOC class #142.
Remaining to cherish David's memory, his wife Terri of 44 years, two children, Tandi Schatz (Shane) of Harrisburg, OR and David Denton Jr. (Kari) of Shoreline, WA, six grandchildren Danial, Emmaleigh, Zackary, Gretta, Jim, Ruby, three great grandchildren and his brother Verlin Denton (Andrea) of Pendleton.
He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Bethene Denton, several aunts and uncles.
The family asks that donations to Heppner Elks #358 Oregon Children's Charitable Dept., and Pioneer Memorial Hospice both of Heppner, OR be made instead of flowers or other gifts.
Sweeney Payton Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please leave your condolences for the family at below.
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