John Chambers Obituary

John D. Chambers was born July 13, 1936, in Oregon City, Ore. to Cyril and Barbara Chambers. He was raised in Oregon City, and graduated from Oregon City High School in 1954. Following high school, John enlisted in the United States Navy. He trained in San Diego, Calif. , departed Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif. , and aboard the U. S. S. Oriskany CVA-24; he later transferred to the U. S. S. Salisbury Sound. He traveled to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Hong Kong, China; the Philippines; South Korea and Japan. John received an honorable discharge in 1957. John pursued a higher education at Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Ore. , where he met the love of his life, Sharon. The two attended evening classes together, and eventually married on December 12, 1959. They were married an incredible 63. 5 years, until Sharon's passing on July 1, 2022. John and Sharon were blessed with three children, Don, Dee, and Michelle. In 1964, John founded Chambers Motor Co. , a four-wheel drive truck, and heavy equipment, business. Over the following years, John and Sharon added Chambers RV Storage, which complimented the first operation. John never really retired from his work; he remained an active advisor to the business until his last week of life. He would come to their business property for meetings, tours, special events, and to provide advice to his daughter on how to run the business. He was vision-oriented, and skilled at planning, and executing, projects. He was an accomplished man, and a creative negotiator. He considered one of his greatest achievements to be the purchase of several thousand trucks from the Alaska Pipeline in the 1970s and 1980s. John's business prowess earned him a positive reputation across the United States. John loved life, and had many hobbies. He enjoyed flying his aircraft, and negotiating the purchase and sales of airplanes. He loved giving flying tours to family and friends. John enjoyed running his business, attending auctions, buying inventory, and, especially, operating heavy equipment; that was fun for him. He and Sharon found joy hosting family, guests, and church family for dinners, holidays, and other special events. They built their homes around hospitality. John purchased, developed property, and named the development "View Crest Heights" on Walters Hill, in Gresham, a subdivision with 11 lots. He donated property to the City of Gresham, and to METRO for greenspace and a park observatory. He and Sharon hosted many church youth group events in their homes for several decades; and they have been described as having impacted thousands of lives for the better. John was a man of tremendous faith. In his early days, he was a member of Central Bible Church. In mid-life, he attended Good Shepherd Community Church; and transitioned to Wood Village Baptist in his later life. In the last years of his life, John spent most of his time beside Sharon. The two were nearly inseparable, doing almost everything side-by-side. It was evident that he lived to make her happy; he was a devoted, loving, loyal, and faithful husband. John was called to be with his beloved wife, Sharon, and the Lord, on April 21, 2023. A graveside service with military honors will be at 1:30 p. m. , Friday, May 12, 2023, in Willamette National Cemetery. John is survived by his children, Don Chambers, Dee Chambers Anders, and Michelle Chambers Dyk; siblings, Martha Chambers Dodd, Bob Chambers, and Carol Chambers Blackman; grandchildren, Derek Chambers, Shawna Chambers Miller, Brianna Anders Hume, Braden Andersen, Darren Dyk, Grace Dyk Frazier, Chelsea Dyk Betts; and great-grandchildren, River Miller, Nova Miller, Macie Andersen, Everett Andersen, Brooke Frazier, Wade Frazier, Henry Betts, and Tegan Betts. John is remembered as a kind and generous man. He was a successful businessman who loved his family, and shared his blessings with others. He was a faithful and loving father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, developer, giver, philanthropist, Christian, employer, aircraft pilot, negotiator, and U. S. Navy Machinist. His memory will live eternal within the hearts of all who loved him.