John McKibbin, former Clark County commissioner, remembered at service

Hundreds of people gathered to remember a former state representative and Clark County commissioner whose plane crashed in the Columbia River.

The Columbian reports that family and friends lit candles and held them aloft Saturday night at Pearson Field in memory of John McKibbin.

The 69-year-old McKibbin and his passenger, Irene Mustain, died when the antique plane crashed Wednesday in the Columbia River near Astoria. The two had left Vancouver to scatter the ashes of Mustain's deceased husband.

Divers on Wednesday recovered McKibbin's body.

McKibbin was remembered as a dedicated public servant who brought people together. The Democrat was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1974 and served two terms. He was also a businessman and served in numerous volunteer and leadership roles in local civic organizations.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

-- The Associated Press

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