Denver Ray Gandee 1923-2015 (Hur Herald Photo)
One of Roane County's most illustrious and decorated World War II God and County veterans has died, October 2015.
Denver Ray Gandee, 92, served in five major campaigns, including the Invasion of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, the Bridge at Remagen in Germany, and also served in Northern France, the Rhineland and the European Theatre with the 76th Infantry.
He was wounded and taken prisoner of war at the Battle at Remagen and that ended his military service.
That battle was brought to life by Ken Heckler's book "The Bridge at Remagen," which was made into a motion picture.
Gandee was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Belgian Cross of War for Bravery, and merit, good conduct and valor medals.
More recently he was awarded France's highest award, the Insignia of Chevalier de la Legion d' Honneur.
He participated at many occasions
honoring veterans in Calhoun County
Denver was retired from the Spencer Post Office with more than 25 years of service. He attended the Beech Grove Church in his youth and also more recently the Gandee Chapel Church and St. John's United Methodist Church.
As an active member of the American Legion Post 21, he participated in hundreds of military funerals, speaking at memorial services, and obtaining park and cemetery monuments to recognize veterans who lost their lives fighting for our country.
He served 16 years on the Roane County Board of Education, 14 years on the board of the Roane/Jackson Technical Center, 20 years on the Little Kanawha Soil Conservation District and Little Kanawha R, C, & D.
Gandee was instrumental in obtaining grants for many worthwhile Roane projects such as the Roane County Library, Camp Sheppard, and Roane County High School.
Ninety-year-old Calhoun Pfc. Lee Jones, 61-years after World
War II was over, received his medals, eleven in all, including the
Bronze Star and a POW flag, shown with Mike Myers (left), who led
the awards effort, and Roane County veteran Denver Gandee (right)
He was a breeder of purebred North Country Cheviot Sheep and was awarded Master Shepherd in 1995, an active member of the Roane County Farm Bureau and served 40 years on the Board of Northwestern Livestock Marketing Association where he was president for 25 years.
He was an avid supporter of the Roane County 4-H and FFA programs and served on the Board of Directors of the Roane County 4-H Foundation and has been a continuous donor to the 4-H program.
He was an active member of the American Legion Post 21 performing military funerals, speaking at memorial services, and obtaining park and cemetery monuments to recognize veterans who lost their lives fighting for our country or did not have a military marker.
Prior to his military service, he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday at the Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer, with Charlie White delivering the eulogy and presentation of the flag by VFW Post 21 of Spencer and Marine Corps League, Wood County Detachment 1087.
Burial will follow in the Eventide Cemetery in Spencer. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 11:00 am until time of the service.
See complete obituary Denver Ray Gandee | 
