The music world has suffered a great loss with the death of this talented man....Del was a good friend to many of us and we will miss him greatly. A write-up of his life follows below. A musical tribute is scheduled for noon on Jan. 30, 2005, at the Newport Performing Arts Center, in Newport, Oregon.

Delbert Russell Chinburg, Jr. 77, of Gleneden Beach died Nov. 16, 2004 of cancer.

He was born April 6, 1927, in Lavoye, Wyo.

Following his service in the U.S. Military, he attended the University of Wyoming, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in education.

He moved his family to Oregon in 1953 and received a master of arts degree from the University of Oregon in Eugene.

He taught music privately and in the public schools of Cheyenne, Wyo., Lebanon, and Salem for 34 years.

While living in Salem, he was instrumental in developing jazz festivals at North Salem High School and Willamette University.

Following retirement, he settled on the central Oregon coast, where he gave private music lessons and serve as a board member of the BAY (Bloch and Yaquina) Music Association. He was founder of the Lincoln County Youth Chorale.

He was a performer on alto and tenor saxophones and the piano, and served as the rehearsal director of the Yachats Big Band. He also performed with the Pacific Coast Winds Ensemble and the Ecumenical Bell Choir.

He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Newport, where he was a member of the choir and served as festival choir director.

He volunteered at the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen D. Rich; his children and their spouses, Mardel Chinburg and David and Robin Chinburg of Eugene, Peg Thompson of Gresham, Jo Chinburg and Peg Schmitz of San Francisco, Calif., and Lisa and Finn Stovin and Jon and Anna Chinburg of Keizer; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marie B. Chinburg.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 4 at the First Presbyterian Church in Newport, followed by a reception. A musical tribute is scheduled for noon on Jan. 30, 2005, at the Newport Performing Arts Center. Memorial contributions may be made to the Del Chinburg Music Education Fund at any U.S. Bank location.