Married Florence Ethlyn Brown on 18 February 1916.
Died: Veterans Hospital, Portland, Oregon
Children:
Florence Marguerite
Barbara Jean
Ruth Naomi
"Baby" as he was known for about the first three years of his life became Bliss, as a Mrs. Zoe Presby commented that he was "just a little armful of Bliss." The name stuck, but in later years he was sometimes referred to as B.L.
He spent his early life in Biggs and Wasco, Oregon prior to the family moving to the Pine Grove area of the Hood River Valley, when he father purchased a fruit ranch. He would grow up working on the farm and eventually attending Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis.
He was involved in WWI, however, was not shipped overseas, as the German surrendered prior to his having to go.
Back to Hood River to take up farming where he would spend a number of years. His wife suffered from Hay fever quite severely and it was decided that she needed to get away from fruit spraying and dust that the valley produced.
An opportunity availed itself to Bliss to become the caretaker of Camp Westwind near Otis Junction, Oregon. This was a YWCA camp for girls. Though camp was only open during the summer months, Bliss lived there year around, where he kept continually upgrading the facility.
Bliss loved children and had such a way with them and they were totally drawn to him and especially when he started making up and relating stories to them. Camp Westwind was an ideal spot for him, as the girl campers came to know him and loved him so much that they called him "Uncle Bliss." For many many years he lived isolated at Camp Westwind, with no electricty and only available by boat crossing the Salmon River.
It was with a heavy heart that he left when he could no longer perform the way he had at the camp. He and his wife Florence settled down the coast line at Delake, where they had a view of Cascade Head, in such close proximity to Camp Westwind that it kept him grounded as being home.
Bliss was a many faceted man. An avid reader and writer, thankfully so as he left many pages of historical interest to family and others, from early childhood right up until the time of his death. For a number of years after he retired to Delake he kept the rain gage and weather updates. Many articles have been published in various newspapers that he is credited with.
He was never forgotten at Camp Westwind, as in his honor when they constructed some new cabins one was named "Uncle Bliss."
Even when diagnosed with cancer, Bliss kept very upbeat and kept writing and organizing his papers, photos, etc. until he was forced to spend his last days at the Veterans Hospital in Portland.
A most remarkable man to all whom had the honor of knowing him.
Note: In 2013 his grandson, Marshall Clark Dunham wrote a very nice indepth book about his grandfather, entitled "The Wizard of Westwind", which in fact he certainly was.
Died: Veterans Hospital, Portland, Oregon
Children:
Florence Marguerite
Barbara Jean
Ruth Naomi
"Baby" as he was known for about the first three years of his life became Bliss, as a Mrs. Zoe Presby commented that he was "just a little armful of Bliss." The name stuck, but in later years he was sometimes referred to as B.L.
He spent his early life in Biggs and Wasco, Oregon prior to the family moving to the Pine Grove area of the Hood River Valley, when he father purchased a fruit ranch. He would grow up working on the farm and eventually attending Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis.
He was involved in WWI, however, was not shipped overseas, as the German surrendered prior to his having to go.
Back to Hood River to take up farming where he would spend a number of years. His wife suffered from Hay fever quite severely and it was decided that she needed to get away from fruit spraying and dust that the valley produced.
An opportunity availed itself to Bliss to become the caretaker of Camp Westwind near Otis Junction, Oregon. This was a YWCA camp for girls. Though camp was only open during the summer months, Bliss lived there year around, where he kept continually upgrading the facility.
Bliss loved children and had such a way with them and they were totally drawn to him and especially when he started making up and relating stories to them. Camp Westwind was an ideal spot for him, as the girl campers came to know him and loved him so much that they called him "Uncle Bliss." For many many years he lived isolated at Camp Westwind, with no electricty and only available by boat crossing the Salmon River.
It was with a heavy heart that he left when he could no longer perform the way he had at the camp. He and his wife Florence settled down the coast line at Delake, where they had a view of Cascade Head, in such close proximity to Camp Westwind that it kept him grounded as being home.
Bliss was a many faceted man. An avid reader and writer, thankfully so as he left many pages of historical interest to family and others, from early childhood right up until the time of his death. For a number of years after he retired to Delake he kept the rain gage and weather updates. Many articles have been published in various newspapers that he is credited with.
He was never forgotten at Camp Westwind, as in his honor when they constructed some new cabins one was named "Uncle Bliss."
Even when diagnosed with cancer, Bliss kept very upbeat and kept writing and organizing his papers, photos, etc. until he was forced to spend his last days at the Veterans Hospital in Portland.
A most remarkable man to all whom had the honor of knowing him.
Note: In 2013 his grandson, Marshall Clark Dunham wrote a very nice indepth book about his grandfather, entitled "The Wizard of Westwind", which in fact he certainly was.
Married Florence Ethlyn Brown on 18 February 1916.
Died: Veterans Hospital, Portland, Oregon
Children:
Florence Marguerite
Barbara Jean
Ruth Naomi
"Baby" as he was known for about the first three years of his life became Bliss, as a Mrs. Zoe Presby commented that he was "just a little armful of Bliss." The name stuck, but in later years he was sometimes referred to as B.L.
He spent his early life in Biggs and Wasco, Oregon prior to the family moving to the Pine Grove area of the Hood River Valley, when he father purchased a fruit ranch. He would grow up working on the farm and eventually attending Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis.
He was involved in WWI, however, was not shipped overseas, as the German surrendered prior to his having to go.
Back to Hood River to take up farming where he would spend a number of years. His wife suffered from Hay fever quite severely and it was decided that she needed to get away from fruit spraying and dust that the valley produced.
An opportunity availed itself to Bliss to become the caretaker of Camp Westwind near Otis Junction, Oregon. This was a YWCA camp for girls. Though camp was only open during the summer months, Bliss lived there year around, where he kept continually upgrading the facility.
Bliss loved children and had such a way with them and they were totally drawn to him and especially when he started making up and relating stories to them. Camp Westwind was an ideal spot for him, as the girl campers came to know him and loved him so much that they called him "Uncle Bliss." For many many years he lived isolated at Camp Westwind, with no electricty and only available by boat crossing the Salmon River.
It was with a heavy heart that he left when he could no longer perform the way he had at the camp. He and his wife Florence settled down the coast line at Delake, where they had a view of Cascade Head, in such close proximity to Camp Westwind that it kept him grounded as being home.
Bliss was a many faceted man. An avid reader and writer, thankfully so as he left many pages of historical interest to family and others, from early childhood right up until the time of his death. For a number of years after he retired to Delake he kept the rain gage and weather updates. Many articles have been published in various newspapers that he is credited with.
He was never forgotten at Camp Westwind, as in his honor when they constructed some new cabins one was named "Uncle Bliss."
Even when diagnosed with cancer, Bliss kept very upbeat and kept writing and organizing his papers, photos, etc. until he was forced to spend his last days at the Veterans Hospital in Portland.
A most remarkable man to all whom had the honor of knowing him.
Note: In 2013 his grandson, Marshall Clark Dunham wrote a very nice indepth book about his grandfather, entitled "The Wizard of Westwind", which in fact he certainly was.
Died: Veterans Hospital, Portland, Oregon
Children:
Florence Marguerite
Barbara Jean
Ruth Naomi
"Baby" as he was known for about the first three years of his life became Bliss, as a Mrs. Zoe Presby commented that he was "just a little armful of Bliss." The name stuck, but in later years he was sometimes referred to as B.L.
He spent his early life in Biggs and Wasco, Oregon prior to the family moving to the Pine Grove area of the Hood River Valley, when he father purchased a fruit ranch. He would grow up working on the farm and eventually attending Oregon Agricultural College in Corvallis.
He was involved in WWI, however, was not shipped overseas, as the German surrendered prior to his having to go.
Back to Hood River to take up farming where he would spend a number of years. His wife suffered from Hay fever quite severely and it was decided that she needed to get away from fruit spraying and dust that the valley produced.
An opportunity availed itself to Bliss to become the caretaker of Camp Westwind near Otis Junction, Oregon. This was a YWCA camp for girls. Though camp was only open during the summer months, Bliss lived there year around, where he kept continually upgrading the facility.
Bliss loved children and had such a way with them and they were totally drawn to him and especially when he started making up and relating stories to them. Camp Westwind was an ideal spot for him, as the girl campers came to know him and loved him so much that they called him "Uncle Bliss." For many many years he lived isolated at Camp Westwind, with no electricty and only available by boat crossing the Salmon River.
It was with a heavy heart that he left when he could no longer perform the way he had at the camp. He and his wife Florence settled down the coast line at Delake, where they had a view of Cascade Head, in such close proximity to Camp Westwind that it kept him grounded as being home.
Bliss was a many faceted man. An avid reader and writer, thankfully so as he left many pages of historical interest to family and others, from early childhood right up until the time of his death. For a number of years after he retired to Delake he kept the rain gage and weather updates. Many articles have been published in various newspapers that he is credited with.
He was never forgotten at Camp Westwind, as in his honor when they constructed some new cabins one was named "Uncle Bliss."
Even when diagnosed with cancer, Bliss kept very upbeat and kept writing and organizing his papers, photos, etc. until he was forced to spend his last days at the Veterans Hospital in Portland.
A most remarkable man to all whom had the honor of knowing him.
Note: In 2013 his grandson, Marshall Clark Dunham wrote a very nice indepth book about his grandfather, entitled "The Wizard of Westwind", which in fact he certainly was.
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