Grant A. Van Buren

Grant A. Van Buren

1949 - 2021

Grant A. Van Buren, 72, passed away peacefully April 26, 2021, at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane. The Good Lord invited Grant to the great hunting ground and brought him home. Grant was born Feb. 10, 1949 to Clara Reinbold Van Buren and Otto Van Buren in Ritzville Wash.

Grant grew up in Davenport and was one of 5 siblings. He was preceded in death by his sisters Dona Van Buren Patti, Sandy Van Buren Knapp and survived by his brother Glenn (Helen) Van Buren, Gresham, Ore. and sister Darci (Jim) Van Buren Linstrum, Davenport, as well as Brother-in-law Ron Knapp in Bend, Ore. He also leaves behind nephews: Reid (Lindsey) Van Buren, Tyson (Stephanie) Linstrum, niece Traci Linstrum, as well as great nieces Paige Van Buren, Codie Linstrum and great nephew Jasper Linstrum, all in Davenport. He also leaves behind countless friends for he never met a stranger.

On a blind date at the Lincoln County Fair in 1972, Grant met the love of his life Ruth Morrison and on June 9, 1973 they were happily married and enjoyed life together in Davenport for 48 years. Grant attended Spokane Falls Community College until being drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam in 1969. While there, Grant served with honor and distinction as an Artillery Sergeant, and was awarded The Bronze Star Metal, the Army Commendation Metal, the 1st Oak Leaf Cluster Metal, and The Air Metal. Upon returning home, Grant worked as a master mechanic before changing his career path becoming an appraiser for the Lincoln County Assessor, and later transitioning into the Utilities Industry working for decades for Lincoln Electric Co-op and Inland Power and Light where he completed his working career as Safety Director.

Grant had a great love for the country and the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and some of his fondest memories were elk hunts with family and friends in the Blue Mountains and yearly local deer hunts with his brother, brother-in-law and nephews. Grant also greatly enjoyed his morning coffee time bonding with friends and relatives at one of the local Agribusinesses where his presence and stories were always a highlight. Grant was a loving father, husband and brother; he was loved and cherished by family and well known throughout the community for his kind demeanor, humor, creative expressions, ability to fix almost anything and his contributions to the community where for years he dedicated his time and skills to countless projects. Grant is survived by his two sons, Brian Van Buren in Seattle and Chris Van Buren in Davenport.

Memorial services are scheduled for both Grant and Ruth Van Buren at Davenports' Mountain View Cemetery on Sat., June 26, 2021 at 11 am. with luncheon to follow at the Davenport Zion Lutheran Church.