Harold James Chaffin

Harold James Chaffin , 98, passed away at his home on March 11th, 2014 with his wife by his side.

Harold was born on Sept, 24th 1915 in Nixa Missouri, to Comadore Richard Chaffin and Myrtle Magdaline Gimlin. He was the 5th of 7 children.

Harold left Missouri during the Great Depression in his late teens and hitch hiked across country ending up in Ketchum Idaho where he found work at Cappy Rick's service station pumping gas and driving a fuel truck, along with the bus taking skiers to Sun Valley ski resort. He met Margaret Louise Sexton and they were married in Ketchum on January 7th, 1940. During World War II the whole family moved to Long Beach California to work in the ship yards as welders. They returned to Idaho where they eventually settled in Pocatello, where Harold worked for Paul Robert's Machine Shop and then Union Pacific Railroad where he worked his way up to an Engineer with a regular run to Green River Wyoming. He retired from the railroad in 1982.

His wife of 43 yrs Margaret Louise passed away on April 25th 1983.

He was also proceeded in death by two children: Richard Chaffin (1941) Carol Chaffin Lutchka (2012) and 6 siblings: Garrell Chaffin, Clyde Chaffin, Beatrice Chaffin Patterson, Irene Chaffin Andrews, Lucielle Chaffin and Russell Chaffin.

He is survived by 4 children: Joyce Chaffin, Ron Chaffin, Linda Burwell (husband Merlin), Jeff Chaffin (wife Elizabeth) all of Pocatello.

He has 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren.

He married Elfrieda Gehring on June 8th, 1985 in Elko Nevada. Harold and Elfrieda enjoyed 29 yrs spending time together camping in the mountains of Idaho and traveling the U.S visiting family and friends. He is also survived by his extended family: Chris Weimar (husband Marc), Greg Barkdull (wife Kathy), Mike Barkdull (wife Jolene), 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

The family will always remember Harold loving to spend time camping, hunting, and fishing where they spent much time together even up till this last year!

We are all thankful for having had such a fine father and husband.

A family gathering will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. Interment will follow in American Falls at the Falls View Cemetery.