Jerry Lee Cundiff Jr

Jerry was born July 6, 1927, in Walla Walla to J. L. and Lois (McLaughlin) Cundiff. He attended local schools, graduating from Walla Walla High School. He enlisted in the Navy in 1945. A letter from Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, a close family friend, asking for a waiver enabled him to enlist at the age of 17. After Boot Camp in San Diego, he was transferred to Hawaii and later the Philippines, where he was assigned to the navigation department on the Hospital Ship USS Comfort. The Navy ran the ship and the Army the hospital, one of the few joint ventures they had. The Comfort’s usual run was from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor to Tokyo, and it was the first US ship to tie up in downtown Yokohama. The Comfort also had stops in Cavite, Guam, Manila, Nagoya, Jinsen, Korea, Okinawa, and Midway. The ship was decommissioned in San Francisco, and Jerry was sent to Bremerton and was serving on the battleship USS New Jersey when it was decommissioned. He was discharged with the rank of Seaman 1st Class.

Returning to Walla Walla, he attended Whitman College and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He married Ruth Jeane Schneidmiller on July 24, 1949. They were married 65 years before her passing in 2014.

Jerry joined Falkenbergs Jewelers, the firm owned by his parents and their partner, Knute Glimme. Upon Mr. Glimme’s passing, he became a co-owner.

He was active in the community as well as the jewelry industry. A past president of the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. He was a recipient of the Kiwanis Legion of Honor, given for 35 years of membership and service. A member of the College Place Presbyterian Church. Life member of Elks Lodge No. 287. A past member of Blue Mountain Lodge No. 13 F& AM and El Katif Blue Mountain Shrine club. Past Commodore of the Walla Walla Yacht Club, a charter and lifetime member, and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was a strong supporter of downtown Walla Walla, and in 1993 the family received the Award of Merit from the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation in recognition of the outstanding restoration of the Reynolds – Day Building and Science Hall, where the Washington State Constitution was drafted in 1878.   A Past President of the Pacific Northwest Jewelers Association and received the Hall of Fame award for his many years of service and achievements in the jewelry industry and community involvement. Past board member of the American Gem Society and past president of the AGS Pacific Northwest Guild. Past board member of the Jewelers of America, serving as Chairman of the Affiliate Council.

Jerry and his wife Ruth spent summer weekends with the family boating on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In the winter, they enjoyed both downhill skiing at Spout Springs and cross-country skiing. Bicycling was something they enjoyed in retirement. They also enjoyed regular trips to Newport on the Oregon Coast, winter escapes to Maui, and travel to several international destinations.

Jerry is survived by two children, daughter, Diane (James) Weil of Salem, OR, and son, Jerry “Skip” Cundiff and daughter-in-law Shauna Cundiff of Walla Walla; two granddaughters, Kimberlee (Greg) Jones of Springfield, OR and Kari (Mike) Lovely of Salem, OR; two grandsons, Bryan (Meghann) Weil of Dundee, OR and Jesse (Krissy) Cundiff of College Place, WA; and twelve great-grandchildren. Survivors also include numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to everyone at the Walla Walla Veterans Home for the excellent care provided to Jerry the last four years.

Viewing and visitation will be Friday, September 23, 2022, from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. A graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 11:00 am with Pastor Bob McCoy officiating. In lieu of flowers the family would like memorial contributions made to a charity of your choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.