Wayne Romayne Prior died suddenly from complications associated with a fall in Bremerton, Wash., on Nov. 19, 2016 at the age of 89. He was born in Carroll, Iowa, on Dec. 23, 1926 to Wallace and Mable Prior. Wayne dropped out of high school in 1944 to join the Navy and entered WWII.

Wayne met Loyce his future wife of over 65 years in Yetter, Iowa, and they were married in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on March 15, 1948.

The Navy sent Wayne on many deployments around the world and he had many different shore assignments from pushing “boots” to teaching electronics. Wayne obtained his QED while in the Navy and his last shore assignment sent him to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in 1959.

The family, which now included four children, made Oak Harbor their home. Wayne retired from the Navy as a senior chief in 1964.

He then entered the civil service and worked at the naval air station as an electronics calibration technician until his final retirement in 1984.

Wayne was a member of several organizations which included the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge #2362, Fleet Reserve Association Branch 97, Veterans of Foreign Wars Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392 and the Whidbey Island Lodge #15, Free &Accepted Masons. He enjoyed working in his garden, fishing and tinkering in his garage.

Wayne is survived by three children: Linda Sieffert of Rio Vista, Calif., Thomas (Linda) Prior of Bremerton, Wash., and Wallace Prior of Isleton, Calif. Four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren also survive.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Loyce (2014), son Dennis Prior (1966) and son-in-law George Sieffert Jr. (2015).

A celebration of life for Wayne Prior will be held at 1 p.m. April 21 at Wallin Funeral Home with Chaplain David G. Lura, USNR (Ret) officiating.

Arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor. Please visit Wayne’s page in the Book of Memories, online at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and leave condolences.