Richard Allen Vige – Former Guerneville resort owner

Richard Allen &#8220Dick” Vige died peacefully in his sleep
on July 9, 2007 at his home in Santa Rosa. He was 91. Born in
Nahcotta, WA. to Ethel Pedersen and Otto Vige, he was the son of a
railroad engineer. After his father was killed in a train wreck in
Washington in 1920, Vige lived for a time with his mother and
sister in Astoria, OR.
The family later moved to Los Angeles, where Vige began working
with Safeway as a box boy. While there he met his future wife,
Eleanor Beach in grade school. They married in 1940 and had three
children, Rick, Mary and Nora. He is survived by Eleanor, his
loving wife of 67 years.
Also surviving are childen Mary Harding and her husband Mike,
Richard &#8220Rick” Vige and his wife Tammy, and Nora Anderson
and her husband Frank. Surviving grandchildren include Tom Harding
and his wife Anne, Terri Harding and her husband Jim Englehardt,
Rick Vige and his wife Niki, Jeff Anderson, Jenny Anderson and
Laura Vige. Great-grandchildren Hailee, Katie, Anika, Paige and
Skylar also survive.
Vige advanced to store manager and retired from Safeway in 1959,
after 25 years of service. The family moved to the Russian River,
where they had vacationed numerous times, and purchased, Sycamore
Court, a 14-cabin popular resort in Guerneville.
In addition to running the resort, he worked for many years as a
school bus driver for Guerneville Elementary School. He was known
for his singing to the students on his bus route and was well-loved
for his mild manner and big smile.
He was active in the community as a member of the Russian River
Chamber of Commerce. After selling the resort in 1970, Vige and his
wife Eleanor moved to Vine Hill Road.
In retirement, Dick and Eleanor enjoyed taking cruises to such
places as Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Norway. He was an avid
reader of history and enjoyed mystery novels and anything related
to railroads.
At his request, no services will be held. Donations may be made
to the American Heart Association, 1400 North Dutton Ave., Santa
Rosa, CA. 95401 or the Humane Society of Sonoma County, P.O. Box
1296, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.