Richard Harold "Dick" Bourne

1925 - 2011

Richard Harold (Dick) Bourne, 86 of Ellensburg, WA passed away on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at home from complications of cancer. He was born February 15, 1925, in the Welsh community of Gomer, Ohio, to John and Mary Ellen Jones Bourne.

Dick was a lifelong member of Presbyterian Churches, serving many years as deacon and elder.

Dick graduated from Gomer (Ohio) High School, and Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio where he earned a BA in Business. He served as a US Army Air Corps Cadet during 1944 and 1945. His health led him from his roots in Ohio to thirty years in Phoenix and Cave Creek Arizona and then in 1989 to Cle Elum and Ellensburg, Washington. He worked in several administrative positions and was owner/broker of Dick Bourne Realty in Arizona. He served many civic organizations, beginning with Junior Chamber of Commerce in Defiance, Ohio, and most recently on the forming committee for a Senior Center in Cle Elum. Dick was an outstanding athlete, and played basketball and baseball on championship teams in high school and college.

A highlight after "retirement" was the eight summers the he and wife, Rose, were employed in Grand Teton National park, Wyoming as Park Rangers. RV traveling and camping, summering in Hope, Arizona, near Quartzite were among his favorite things.

Dick was preceded in death by both parents, two sisters, Mildred Bourne and Helen Bourne Micha of Lima, Ohio, and a brother, Thomas E. Bourne, Scottsdale, Arizona. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rose Alice Corson Bourne and four sons John Bourne and Jeffrey Bourne, both of Ellensburg; Bruce Bourne, Scottsdale, Arizona and Thomas (Patricia) Bourne, Bothell, Washington. Also a brother, Charles (Kolene)Bourne of Lima, Ohio; a grandson, Skyler Bourne, Scottsdale, granddaughters, Katherine Bourne, and Julie Bourne, Bothell, WA; two step-granddaughters, Jill Jackson and Jessica Birney, and their mother, Tamera Bourne of Arizona; three sisters-in-law, Marjorie Bourne, Scottsdale, Anna Marie Klink, Lima, Ohio and Jessie (Bob) McBreen, Carefree, AZ plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ellensburg First Presbyterian Church or Ellensurg Hospice, whose members gave Dick and his family loving and devoted care during the last several months of his life.

A private graveside service will be held at High Valley Cemetery.