Vancouver veteran Dave Difford celebrates 105th birthday

FAIRWAY/164TH — Touchmark at Fairway Village resident Dave Difford celebrated his 105th birthday on Dec. 21. About two dozen vehicles participated in a parade, as well as motorcyclists with the Patriot Guard Riders. Mayor McEnerny-Ogle announced Dec. 21 as Dave Difford Day, honoring him with an official proclamation in addition to the parade, including military and other officials from Kindness 911. Difford spent four years in the Army, as well as decades in the plywood industry. He was born in Philadelphia and moved to Louisville, Ky., in 1919. He majored in engineering at the University of Kentucky and was an ROTC member, graduating in 1936 as second lieutenant in the Army Reserve. He moved to Washington that year and was discharged from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1945. Upon his retirement to Vancouver in 1976, Difford volunteered with the Chamber of Commerce, PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center and the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. He also found time to volunteer at grade schools in their reading programs.