Lorin Ross Dedrickson

Lorin Ross Dedrickson, recently of Clarkdale, passed over to a higher command after 87 active and productive years on Saturday, July 21, 2007. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 28, 1918 to Dedrick and Ruth (Smith)Dedrickson. Ross graduated High School at the age of 16. His course of study at Utah State University, College of Natural Resources focused on ecology and civil engineering. He was captain of the ROTC rifle marksmanship team, a mountain climber, skier, and naturalist at Sequoia National Park in 1940. With an ROTC officer scholarship, he was called to active duty in the United States Army at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. After Pearl Harbor, he served in the Anti-aircraft organizations of the Army. He applied to the US Army Air Corps after service in the Desert Warfare training, Mohave Desert and was assigned to the USAAC 9th Air Force in England. He subsequently accepted a commission in the Army Air Corp which in 1948 became the USAF, a new branch of the Department of Defense. He received an MBA degree at Stanford University Business School and was assigned to the US Atomic Energy Commission. A long service with the Energy Commission between 1950-1958 included, contract administration duties at Nevada test sites, Pacific Nuclear Test Area west of Hawaii, nuclear weapon manufacturing and quality assurance in Albuquerque, and inspection of nuclear and non-nuclear facilities throughout the country. He served with the 5th Air Force in Japan and later as a ranking Colonel, Officer in Charge of the Pacific Unified Command's alternate "command and control center" in Hawaii. In 1962, he was transferred and served as Deputy for Material for the 832 Air Division at Canon Air Force Base, Clovis, New Mexico. He retired from the USAF in 1964. For a short time he was employed at Sperry Rand, Utah, and later as an engineering manager at the Boeing Company in Washington. He retired to 20 years of ranch life in Washington and Montana with his first wife of 52 years, who passed away in 2000. Ross is survived by his long-term acquaintance and wife, Judith Jubb; five children including, daughter, Karen; and sons, David, Kevin, Brian, and Harry. Ross was a lifetime member of the American Society of Dowsers, and an ordained minister in the International Assembly of Spiritual Healers and Earth Stewards. He touched the lives of many friends and students. His exuberant spirit will be missed. No services are planned at this time. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com