Claud Arden Poteet, 95, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Wednesday, June 17. He was born to Arden and Ollie (Patterson) Poteet in Porum, Oklahoma.

Claud moved from Porum, Oklahoma to Visalia, California prior to entering the Army in 1944. He served in the 79th Infantry Division in WWII, July 1945 until March 1946, and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army unit – French Criox de Guerre.

Following his military service, he spent time in Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas, as well as other states, before moving to Sweet Home in 1973. He traveled coast to coast and border to border for his work, which was mostly in heavy construction, such as oil refineries and paper mills.

Claud was a lifetime member in The Masons and life member in Plumbers and Steamfitters of the USA and Canada. He was a “Union Man” all of his life.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time in the woods, as well as woodcarving and making small furniture out of scrap wood.

Family was very important to him and he loved them one and all, including his little dog, “Maxwell.”

Claud is survived by five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Betty (Herndon) Poteet, and son, Boyd DeWayne Poteet ( 1995).

Viewing will be from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, June 25, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 26, at Restlawn Memory Garden in Salem.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.