Quentine Pershing DeVore
Marriages
Dorothy Ann Devlin - June 30, 1945
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7 B Obituary - June 11, 2016
Quentine Pershing DeVore
May 14, 1919 - June 2, 2016
Quentine Pershing DeVore completed his life’s journey on June 2, 2016.
Born on May 14, 1919, in Vernon, Colorado, he was raised on a wheat farm during the Great Depression. In 1940, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and trained as an armament specialist. In October 1941, he was shipped to the Clark Field Air Base in the Philippine Islands, and on board met Ben Steele, who would become his closest war companion. Two months after they arrived, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
As anticipated, the next day, the Japanese attacked Clark Field, and during the bombing, Pershing was blown from an airfield watchtower, but survived with shrapnel wounds in his chest.
Within months, the Japanese had overrun the island, taking
many American soldiers captive, including Pershing and Ben.
They both endured the Bataan Death March plus three years of starvation and abuse in Japanese POW camps. Details of their ordeal are relayed in the book, “Tears in the Darkness.” As POWs, Pershing and Ben saved each others’ lives and forged a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Following his liberation and return to the states, Pershing
married “the prettiest girl in Vernon,” Dorothy Ann Devlin, on
June 30, 1945, and settled down to raise his family of three
sons. During his work career, Pershing was the City Manager
for Wray, Yuma, and Longmont, Colorado. He later worked for
the Colorado Department of Transportation, developing a new
position of Utilities Inspector. He retired in 1984 and stayed
busy buying cars, gardening, jeeping, fishing and
hunting—bagging a 6-point bull elk at the age of 80. After his
wife died in December of 2010, Pershing moved and started a
new life in Grand Junction, Colorado, making many wonderful
friends.
Pershing was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Maude
Wales DeVore; his two brothers, Harold and Perry DeVore, and his sister, Marjorie Zion. He is survived by his three sons and their wives, Robert of Seattle, WA; Thomas (Susan) of Arvada, and Dennis (Judi) of Grand Junction. He is also survived by four granddaughters; two grandsons; a great-granddaughter; great-grandson, and several nieces and nephews. It leaves a big hole in our hearts saying goodbye to this witty, sassy, hero of a man.
Military service to be held at the Grand Junction VA Cemetery
on June 13, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Reception following at 353
Dakota Circle, Grand Junction, CO. Details at Callahan-
Edfast.com.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Grand Valley Honor
Guard or Home Care of the Grand Valley.
