Lee Ohmart, WHC Collections 0079.001.0003

Lee V. Ohmart

Job Title(s)

Laborer

Dates of Employment

c. 1930s

Last Name  Ohmart 
First Name  Lee 
Middle Initial  Virgil 
Born  18 Mar 1914 in Salem, OR 
Home Addresses  

(1929-1934) 

 196 E Rural  
Died  4 Jan 1994 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, OR 
Wife  Willa J. Roethlin 
Date of Marriage  31 Aug 1935 in Salem, OR 
Children  Robert, Judith 
Dates of Employment  Apparently a short time in 1935/36.  Possibly summer work. 
Job(s)  Unknown 
Story  Lee Virgil Ohmart may have had summer employment at TKWM or simply visiting the mill when the subject photo was taken.  Lee was 18/19 at the time and the son of Roy V Ohmart, a longtime employee of the Mill.  (See Roy Ohmart employee info sheet.)  Lee went on to be a very successful businessman in Salem and a State Legislator. 

Lee V. Ohmart 

March 18, 1914 – Jan. 4, 1994 

Lee V. Ohmart, 79, of Salem died Tuesday. He was a native and lifelong resident of Salem. After serving in the Army from 1932 to 1934, he married Willa J. Roethlin on Aug. 31, 1935, in Salem. From 1935 to 1944, he worked in various capacities for Marion County.  

In 1944, he founded Ohmart & Calaba Realtors. He planned and built 19 subdivisions, including Meadowlawn in East Salem. He retired from real estate in 1975. During his career, he served as president of the Salem Board of Realtors and the Oregon Association of Real Estate Boards, regional vice president of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, and a member of the state Real Estate Board. He was honored as Salem Realtor of the Year and Oregon Realtor of the Year in 1970. He also belonged to the Society of Residential Appraisers and the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers.  

From 1951 to 1959, he served two terms as a state representative and one term as a state senator. He belonged to the Republican Party. His other memberships included the Salem Hospital Board, where he served during the merger of Salem General and Salem Memorial units; Salvation Army Advisory Board; Elks Lodge No. 336; and Salem Lions Club. He was also a director of the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Salem Community Chest. 

After his retirement, he volunteered with Meals on Wheels. He was named Salem First Citizen in 1970. He attended the First Baptist Church. 

Survivors include his wife; son, Robert L. of Salem; daughter, Judith K. McDonald of Portland; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Private family graveside services will begin at 2 p.m. today in Belcrest Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Virgil T. Golden mortuary. 

Obituary – Statesman Journal 6 Jan 1994, p. 14 
References 
Name  Remarks 
City Directories  1932  Lee V Ohmart, Student, 285 S 16th, Salem.  Father Roy V. Ohmart, Cashier TKWM.  Sister Velleda N. Bookeeper, Oregon Statesman.  

1935  Lee V Ohmart, Tax Dept, County Sheriff, 196 E Rural. Still lived with father and mother. 

 
Census  1920  Lee V Ohmart. Age 5. Birth Year: abt 1915. Birthplace: Oregon. Home in 1920: Liberty, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Oregon. Mother born in Washington. Additional household members: Roy V Ohmart, 41. Gracia L Ohmart, 34. Velleda W Ohmart, 12. Lee V Ohmart, 5. 

1930  Lee V Ohmart. Age 16. Birth Year: abt 1914. Birthplace: Oregon. Home in 1930: 244 S 14th St. Salem, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Father born in Oregon. Mother born in Washington. Additional household members: Roy V Ohmart, 51. Gracia L Ohmart, 45. Velleda W Ohmart, 22. Lee V Ohmart, 16. 

1940  Lee V Ohmart. Age 26. Birth Year: abt 1914. Birthplace: Oregon. Home in 1940: 591 Knapp St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Deputy Clerk. Additional household members: Willa J Ohmart, 27. Robert L Ohmart, 2. 
Birth Certificate  Lee Virgil Ohmart. Male. Second child of couple. Date of birth: 18 Mar 1914. Father: Roy V Ohmart, age 35. Merchant. Mother: Gracia Lee, age 24. Housewife. 
Oregon Return of Marriage  Lee V Ohmart – Willa Roethlin. 31 Aug 1935 Salem, OR. Husband Info. Residence: 196 E Rural Salem, OR. Age 21. Birthplace: Salem, OR. Occupation: Tax Collector. First Marriage. Parents born in Oregon. Wife Info. Residence: 969 N Cottage St Salem, OR. Age 21. Birthplace: Stafford, OR. Occupation: stenographer. First Marriage. Father born in Switzerland. Mother born in Holland. 
WW2 Draft Registration  Lee Virgil Ohmart. Age: 26. Address: 591 Knapp Salem, Marion, OR. Birth Date: 18 Mar 1914. Birthplace: Salem, OR. NOP: Willa J Ohmart. Employer: Marion County. Height: 6’2. Weight: 210. Eyes: Brown. Hair: Brown. Complexion: Ruddy. Registration date: 16 Oct 1940. 
Social Security Death Index  Lee V. Ohmart. Birth Date: 18 Mar 1914. Issue Year: before 1951. Issue State: Oregon. Last Residence: 97301, Salem, Marion, OR. Death Date: 4 Jan 1994. 
Oregon Death Index  Lee Virgil Ohmart. Age: 79. Birth Date: 18 Mar 1914. Death Date: 4 Jan 1994. Death Place: Marion. Spouse: Willa. Certificate: 94-00184. 
Find a Grave  Lee Ohmart. Birth: 18 Mar 1914 Salem, Marion County, OR. Death: 4 Jan 1994 in Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem, Marion County, OR.  Memorial ID: 73217812 

Willa J Ohmart. Birth: 24 Feb 1913 in Stafford, Clackamas County, OR. Death: 6 May 2001 in Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Belcrest Memorail Park in Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 73217815 
Newspapers.com  Statesman Journal 6 Jan 1994 p 14. Lee V. Ohmart Obituary 

Statesman Journal 7 Jan 1994 p 3. Lee Ohmart Obituary 
WHC Materials  M3 1992-117-0010     Photo 

M3 1992-117-0012     Photo 

M3 1992-008-0001     PhotoÂ