April 27, 1938 - August 30, 2014
Warren Richards was born in Mason City, Washington on April 27th, 1938. He grew up in Coulee City, Ephrata, Dishman and later the family settled on a sprawling ranch in Scotia Valley (Newport) Washington. Warren was active in FFA and helping his Dad run various businesses on the ranch including building a lucrative golf course and cafe. He graduated from Newport High School and joined the U.S. Army Reserves. In his early twenties he was an Arthur Murray dance instructor and then began working in Civil Engineering as a surveyor. He married Mary E. Galt on October 5th, 1963 and they settled in Spokane, WA. Son Jeffrey was born in 1964 and Daughter Jeanine was born in 1966. Warren started on a survey crew and quickly became a crew chief and then a Project Engineer with the City of Spokane. Although he did not have a college degree, he easily became an accomplished and respected engineer working many complex and challenging projects throughout the city. He had a significant role in the transformation of the downtown rail yard into the site for Expo 74 and eventually Riverfront Park. Warren retired from City of Spokane in 1993. His hobbies included home remodeling and construction projects, tinkering with machines, admiring vintage airplanes, building scale models of airplanes and cars and watching NASCAR. He was especially fond of British sports cars and owned an MG TD, Hillman Minx and Triumph TR4 in his lifetime. He even raced his Hillman Minx in autocross races in his early years. Warren was an innovator; he designed one-of-a-kind modifications to many of his â??toysâ? and even prototype airplane concepts that that flew wonderfully when he tested models of them. In their later years, Warren and Mary travelled in their RV. They enjoyed going to beaches, airshows/ museums and NASCAR races. Warren was a dedicated son, husband, father and friend. Whether it was taking care of his parents, helping Mary pursue her many ambitions and dreams or volunteering for roles in his kids activities, he always made family his first priority. He was a man of few words whose heart spoke volumes. Warrenâ??s wife Mary passed away unexpectedly in March of this year. Many of us believe it was from a broken heart caused by Warrenâ??s disease and living apart after 50 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his mother and father Rachel and Chauncey Richards, sisters Ilene Hannum, and Laura Jo Thomas, and Grandson Jared C. Richards. He is survived by his sister Donna Barrett, and his children Jeffrey Richards & wife Margie and Jeanine Nichols & husband Tony. He is also survived by his grandchildren Alexandra Marion, Kathryn Cunningham, Carly Winz, Elizabeth Richards, Julian Richards and Melanie Rigsby and three great grandsons. Warren bravely endured the progression of Alzheimers and vascular disease. He and the family had the greatest blessing imaginable when his niece and nephew, John & Michelle Hannum and their children cared for Warren in their home. He passed away on August 30th. A Memorial Service and celebration of life is being planned for September 27th at Sunset Chapel in Fairmount Memorial Park @ 1:00 p.m.
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