Carl Lentz

Long Beach resident, 97Carl Lentz, 97, of Long Beach, Wash., died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in Long Beach.

Mr. Lentz was born Aug. 25, 1905, in Rosenfeld, Manitoba, to John and Henrietta Streckler Lentz.

In 1931, he married Elsie M. Herruth in Stevenson, Wash. She survives, residing in Long Beach.

At the age of 4, Mr. Lentz moved to Long Beach, where he grew up and attended school through the eighth grade. He worked in several local businesses and logged until starting employment with the Washington State Highway Department in the late 1930s. During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Europe. He was severely wounded in France and received the Purple Heart. He returned to Long Beach and his job with the Highway Department, where he worked until retiring in 1968.

He was a longtime member of the Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church, served on the Ilwaco (Wash.) Cemetery Board, was a member and past commander of the American Legion Post 48 in Ilwaco and took part in annual Long Beach Loyalty Days for many years. He enjoyed clamming, fishing, gardening, bicycling, walking and music.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John and Dawn Lentz of Long Beach; three sisters, Irene McKee of Forest Hills, Calif., Elmina Benson of Rancho Santa Marguerita, Calif., and Vivian Anderson of Palm Springs, Calif.; two grandchildren, Cindy Delestrez of Lake Stevens, Wash., and Christopher Lentz of Lakewood, Wash.; and a great-granddaughter, Scarlett Delestrez. Three brothers, Ted, Don and Eddie Lentz, and two sisters, Martha Coulson and Laura Fagan, died earlier.

Funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church in Seaview, Wash. Graveside service follows at Ilwaco Cemetery, with a reception back at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Ilwaco Heritage Museum or the Ilwaco Cemetery, in care of Penttila’s Chapel by the Sea, P.O. Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631.