Doyle L. Bingham

On Saturday, October 12, 2013, Doyle Louis Bingham, 87, lifetime resident of Idaho Falls, lost his two-year battle with cancer at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

He was born April 29, 1926, in Idaho Falls to Edwin William Bingham and Alice LaVon Ferguson Bingham. He attended local schools in Ammon and Idaho Falls.

After attending Idaho Falls High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the height of World War II. He attended basic training at Farragut Naval Training Center near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

He was then assigned to the USS Talladega (APA 208) as a gunners mate, manning the 40-millimeter anti-aircraft guns. The Talladega was involved in amphibious landings at Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the final surrender at Yokohama Harbor.

During the invasion of Iwo Jima, he watched the flag being raised on Mt. Suribachi from his gun mount that had been giving supporting gunfire as the Marines ascended the mountain.

The Talladega sailed past the USS Missouri as the peace treaty was being signed between the United States and Japan and was the first ship to dock in Japan and disembark the first Americans to occupy Japan.

After being honorably dis- charged from the Navy, as a Second Class Gunners Mate, he returned to Idaho Falls and married his longtime sweetheart, Mary Mabel Haskell, on October 26, 1946.

With the help of the G.I. Bill, he trained as an electrical apparatus repairman and worked in that field for several years. During this time, the marriage was blessed with five children, three boys and two girls. After his years in the electrical field, he turned his electrical and mechanical knowledge into becoming a proprietor of the Elks Bowling Lanes until his retirement.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Elks Lodge and was a longtime political supporter of the Republican County Treasurer (his wife).

He was an avid sports fan, attending many games of the minor league franchises at Highland Park and later with the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Lakers on television.

He also was an avid bowler for many years, participating in several leagues as well as the administration of the local American Bowling Congress Association. He was inducted into the Idaho Falls Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1975, as well as his family being awarded the Idaho State Bowling Family of the Year in 1984. He won several individual and team championships, both local and statewide.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Vernal Bingham; two sons, Bill Bingham and Ron Bingham; a son-in-law, Hank Woolf; and a daughter-in-law, Gail Bingham.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mabel; a brother, Vaun Bingham; his children, Les (Gail, deceased) Bingham, Meri (Scott) Bybee and Teresa (Hank, deceased) Woolf; and a daughter-in-law, Ellen Bingham, all of Idaho Falls; 10 grandchildren, Cari (Aaron) Mugleston, Cori (Jenny) Bingham, Clay (Rose) Lancaster, Shannon (Sean) Schmidt, Dani Spannknebel, Clint (Kristi) Bybee, Russell (Lena) Bybee, Brandi (Rob) Humphries, Brent (Tisa) Woolf and Spencer Bingham; and 28 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 19, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave. The family will visit with friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, both at Wood Funeral Home. Burial will be in Ammon Cemetery. Military rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.

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