PULLMAN, Wash. – Richard Nelson who worked 12 years as a maintenance mechanic for WSU Pullman, died Oct. 10, 2017.
Nelson, 88, was a lifetime Garfield resident. He passed away at the Avalon Care Center.
Born Oct. 23, 1928, in Clarkston, Wash., he grew up in the Garfield area and attended Garfield schools. He graduated from Garfield High School. He married JoAnne Cochran, his high school sweetheart, on Feb. 21, 1947, and soon purchased the home where the couple lived for 66 years.
Nelson worked a variety of jobs as a young man in Garfield, including 21 years at the Garfield Union Hardware Store. He finished out his working career with 12 years at WSU as a maintenance mechanic. He retired at age 59, and he and Joanne enjoyed traveling, fishing and gardening.
He is survived by his son Dwain Nelson and his wife Jane of Tucson, Ariz., and his daughter Susan Brooks and her husband Rob of Helena, Mont.; grandchildren Jeff Nelson of Amboy, Wash., Michelle Cournyer of Toledo, Wash.; Jenny Milmont of Phoenix, Ariz.; Sami Milburn of Boise, Idaho; and Joe & Matt Nelson of Moses Lake, Wash., as well as nine great grandchildren Jake, Hallie and Nolan Cournyer, Dylan, Raelyn, Jeffrey, and Jessica Nelson and Brooklyn and Avery Milmont. He was preceded in death by two sons, Gene and Dick Nelson and his wife JoAnne.
Memorial contributions in Nelson’s honor are suggested to the Garfield Cemetery Beautification fund, c/o James Storms, Box 235, Garfield, Washington 99130.