Theron Ford "Ted" Northrop Jr.

Theron Ford “Ted” Northrop Jr., 82, of Astoria, died Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at Clatsop Care Center in Astoria. He was born Sept. 12, 1929, in Portland. He was raised in Portland and Lakeview until the family moved to North Bend, and purchased a drug store. He attended North Bend High School and was among the first from his school to receive a college degree, which was in pharmacy, from Oregon State University. In 1954, he married Pat Spurgeon. They had two boys together and later divorced. He married Gena Kuhn. They had three children together and later divorced. After college, Mr. Northrop worked as a pharmacist and manager of Northrop Rexall Drugs. The family sold the store to Payless Drug Store in 1966. After that, he worked for Payless Drugs for a while, then at Nob Hill Pharmacy in Portland, where he retired in 2000, after being a pharmacist for more than 50 years. He spent some of his retirement in Arizona, then moved to Astoria in 2006 to be near family. Family members said he was known for being witty and having a keen sense of humor. He was always prepared to discuss current events or politics, and ready with a joke. He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jeff and Penny Northrop of Sonora, Calif., and Mitch Northrop of Salem; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Marni and Walt Postlewait of Astoria and Melissa and Bryan Smart of Salem; a daughter-in-law, Val Northrop of Jamestown, Calif.; 13 grandchildren, Velina Crook and her husband, Shaun, and Lindsay Northrop of Jamestown, David, Josh and Greg Northrop of Sonora, Emily Northrop of Morro Bay, Calif., Morgan, Megan and Michael Postlewait of Astoria, and Josie, Noah, Jonah and Zoe Smart of Salem; two great-grandchildren, Gregory and Walker Crook of Jamestown; and a brother and sister-in-law, Norman and Myrna Northrop of Green Valley, Ariz. He was preceded in death by both ex-wives; and a son, Greg Northrop. Mr. Northrop requested that there be no service. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com