Richard Hope, 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in his home July 6, 2018. He was born Nov. 28, 1932, in Omak, Wash., as the son of Richard Hope Sr. and Kalma (Erickson) Hope.
Richard attended Onalaska High School unil he enlisted in the Air Force in 1952. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Richard met the love of this life, Esther Short, at a community dance in Toledo, Wash. He married Esther after two years of dating and they settled in Topeka, Kan. They celebrated 65 years of marriage in February. They began their family while living in Topeka, Kan., and had two sons, Donald and Richard Hope III. After Richard was discharged from the Air Force, the couple moved to Onalaska to be close to their family. They lived in Onalaska for a year before settling in Morton, Wash., where they spent the rest of their years together. They soon had a third son, Paul Hope and then came their daughter, Denise (Hope) Clevenger.
After moving to Morton in 1958, Richard began working for Tubafor Mill and completed his business degree at Knapps Business College. Soon after, he found his calling at St. Regis Paper Co./Champion Int. working as a purchasing agent. He retired from Champion n 1986, an became a family man who loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Richard was a hard working man and decided to go back to work for Corky Stanley in 1987. Richard also worked for Bob Mochan delivering septic tanks to local residents.
Richard's favorite past times were dancing, playing the weekly lottery, clam digging at the beach, hunting with the boys and gardening. He enjoyed sitting at this kitchen table playing cards, doing work book puzzles and coloring.
In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his siter, Merle (Hope) Cossey; and brother, Eric Hope.
Richard is survived by his loving wife, Esther; sister, Julia (Hope) Wentzel and her husband, Harry Wentzel; his four children, Donald Hope and wife, Norma (Moore) Hope of Morton, Richard Hope III and wife, Sue (Sullivan) Hope of Napavine, Paul Hope and wife, Kim (Taylor) Hope of Winlock, and baby girl, Denise (Hope) Clevenger and husband, Robert Clevenger of Morton; seven grandchildren, Crystal (Moore) Compton and husband, Julian Compton of Morton, Jack Hope and wife, Kristine (Finley) Hope of Morton, Amanda (Clevenger) Spencer and husband, Jon Spencer of Onalaska, Breann (Clevenger) Anshuts and husband, Brian Anshuts of Kelso, Diane Sullivan of Winlock, Adam Sullivan of Napavine, and Janet (Melton) Snell and her husband, Steven Snell of Winlock; nine great-grandchildren, Danyka Nevitt, Katelyn Anshutz, Tyler Simpson, Case VanKooten, Jaelin Sullivan, Marlene Melton of Winlock and Brooke Melton of Winlock.
Graveside services will be held at the Morton Cemetery at 2 p.m., Friday, July 13, 2018.
