Vernon L. Threlkeld

Vernon Lee Threlkeld, of Bend, passed away on January 21, 2026, at the age of 88. He died at home surrounded by his family.

Vernon was born January 2, 1938, in Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana, and grew up on a dairy farm near Thorntown, Indiana. In high school, he played on the varsity basketball and baseball teams, graduating in 1956 in a class of 14 students. Vernon attended Purdue University, where he majored in Agricultural Engineering. In 1957, he married Carolyn Urban, and they raised three children together before divorcing in 1982.

Vernon graduated from Purdue University in 1961, and the family moved to Los Angeles. There Vernon began his career as a civil engineer for the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and later worked for the firm of Alderman & Swift. In 1968 the family moved to Seattle and in 1969 to Bellevue, Washington. Vernon worked for Hill Ingman Chase; Jones Associates; Kennedy Engineers; and CH2M Hill. In the last two decades of his professional career, he worked for King County Metro in construction management on wastewater treatment and transit projects.

Vernon married Kay Stein in Seattle in 1986. After he retired in 2003, they moved to Bend, where they were members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. Vernon was also a member of East Cascades Bird Alliance, Bend Genealogical Society, and the Indiana Historical Society. He was an avid bicyclist, and he organized and participated in many long-distance bicycle rides. He and Kay enjoyed travelling throughout the West and across the country in their RV. In 2025, they moved to Touchmark at Pilot Butte, a retirement community in Bend.

Vernon was predeceased by his parents Earl and Leveda (Hiland) Threlkeld, and his older siblings Mildred (Clifford), Virgil, and Marjorie (Harlos). He is survived by his wife Kay Stein, sons Brian (Patricia Hswe), Craig, and Todd (Anne Stevens), stepdaughter Lara Handsfield (Craig Lundstrom), grandchildren Julian Threlkeld and Lydia Hswe, step-grandsons Evan Lundstrom and Nate Lundstrom, and ten nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon on May 3rd at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Vernon's family suggests a donation in his memory to Partners In Care, 2075 NE Wyatt Ct., Bend, OR 97701; the Indiana Historical Society, Attn: Development, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202; the National Audubon Society, Attn: Tribute Gifts, 225 Varick St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014; or a charity of one's choice.