Edward L. Proebsting

Prosser, Wash.

Prosser Funeral Home

'Death ends a life; it does not end a relationship.' Robert W. Anderson

Edward L. Proebsting died November 8, 2008 at the Grandview Health Care and Specialty Center. He battled myelofibrosis, a bone marrow disease, for 20 years until it finally defeated him. Ed considered himself a lucky man: lucky in life and lucky in love.

Ed was born in Woodland, California in 1926 to Edward Louis and Dorothy Critzer Proebsting. He was raised in Davis, California. He attended Davis Joint Union High School, played football and basketball, and was the Valedictorian, class of 1943. Ed played violin as a boy and forever loved classical music. He enjoyed listening to Beethoven et al. and opera, especially Puccini and Verdi. In recent years, Ed and Pat were members of Seattle Opera.

At the age of 17, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he studied meteorology as part of the V-12 officer training program at UCLA, earning a B.A.S. degree and a posting to the naval base at Guam in the western Pacific. While studying at UCLA, Ed met his beloved bride, Pat, who he married in 1947 after returning from the war and resuming his education. Ed earned his B.S. degree in horticulture from the University of California, Davis, and then studied at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, earning a Ph.D. in horticulture in 1951. Ed moved to Prosser, Washington, to work as a research horticulturist for Washington State University at the Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Prosser. Shortly after arriving in Prosser, he was recalled by the Navy to Guam for two years during the Korean War. After returning to Prosser, he raised his family and continued work at IAREC until his retirement in 1994.

Ed had a long and distinguished career as a research horticulturist. His research centered on cold hardiness and deficit irrigation of stone fruits. He had colleagues throughout the world with whom he shared his work and traveled widely, including sabbaticals to Ithaca, NY, Japan and Australia. He served as president of the American Society for Horticultural Science and science editor of the ASHS journals. He greatly valued his many fruit growing friends and colleagues over four decades of association. He was honored by the Washington Horticulture Society as the 1984 Cherry King.

Ed was also an active contributor to his community. He was scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 641 for 11 years and remained involved thereafter, eventually earning the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award recognizing 25 years of exceptional service to the Boy Scouts. He and Pat received the Star of the Market Award for their help in organizing and supporting the Prosser Farmers Market. He was a long-time member of the Prosser United Methodist Church. He loved sports and followed Prosser High School teams throughout his life.

Ed was a lifelong hiker and backpacker. He loved the mountains and the hundreds of trips, solo, with family and friends that were the highlight of his life. He was a tireless hiker and wonderful companion. The beauty of Washington's Cascades was an endless source of inspiration for him. As he left the trails, Ed developed a passion for lilies and grew many fine specimens in his garden.

Ed is survived by his wife of more than 61 years, Patricia C. Proebsting; son, William M. Proebsting and daughter-in-law, Lena Proebsting, Corvallis, Oregon; daughter, Patricia L. Proebsting and son-in-law, Paul Sullivan, Bothell, Washington; sister Dottie Wellman, Medford, Oregon; grandchildren, Robin, Sophie, Phoebe, Jeremy Sullivan and his wife Katie, Catherine Sullivan and her husband Justin Green; and great-grandchildren Aidan, Henry and Paige. He was preceded in death by son Thomas Alan in 1989, an infant son Douglas Edward in 1953, his parents Louis and Dorothy, and brother-in-law Robert Wellman.

A memorial service to celebrate Ed's life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2008 at Prosser United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Troop 641, Boy Scouts of America; the Multiple Sclerosis Society in memory of Thomas Proebsting; or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Prosser Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements.

The family wishes to offer thanks to Dr. Tony Ha and the staff at North Star Lodge in Yakima; Prosser 911, ambulance service, Prosser Memorial Hospital and Yakima Regional Hospital; Grandview Health Care and Specialty Center and staff, nurses, aides and Dr. Couturier who all provided excellent care.