Richard “Dick” Merle Farrow died unexpectedly on April 15, 2010 in Cathedral City, Calif.

He was born Dec. 21, 1925 in Olympia to Merle and Viola (Landon) Farrow. Shortly after Viola’s death, 2-year-old Richard was raised by grandparents Willis and Myrtle (Grice) Farrow.

After graduating from Olympia High School, Dick enlisted in the Navy and proudly served in the Pacific during World War II.

He attended Willamette and Princeton universities and graduated from the University of Washington. In 1945, he married his eighth-grade sweetheart, Eileen Goodrick.

Dick began his career with Lone Star Cement (living in Concrete; Peekskill, N.Y.; Dallas, Texas; and Seattle), and later owned Seattle’s Charles Watts Company. Over the course of his personal and professional life, Dick was a member of the Date Palm, Sand Point, and Useless Bay golf and country clubs; the Fraternal Order of Eagles; the VFW; Seattle Rotary; Rainier Club; and the Seattle Yacht Club. During four decades on Whidbey Island, he had been active in WITA and the GOP.

We will miss his devotion to family and community, his advice, his stories and his heartfelt beliefs.

From logger’s son to recognized business leader, Dick never lost sight of who he was or what he believed. Whether fishing the banks of the Skagit River, or dining in Manhattan; testifying to lawmakers or teaching Sunday school; in charge of PONCHO fundraising for the Arts or head Scoutmaster, Dick was always giving back.

He was dedicated to friends and family through his last day. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 9 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, followed by an afternoon of remembrances.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Date Palm Country Club in Cathedral City in November. All are encouraged to attend both events. The family would appreciate written notes sharing fond memories of Dick.

He is survived by son John (Art Herrera) of Greenbank; daughter-in-law Sandra Farrow of Carlsbad, Calif.; grandsons Reese Patrick Farrow of Oakland, Calif., and Curtis Michael Farrow of Anchorage, Alaska; cousin Verne Farrow of LaGrande, Ore.; and dear companion Delores Lawless of Hayden, Idaho.

He was preceded in death by sons Richard Merle Jr. and Michael Ralph and wife Eileen Marie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Farrow Family Gift, Meerkerk Gardens PO Box 154, Greenbank, WA 98253.