Harold Eugene Gish

Harold Eugene Gish, son of Ilden and Vivian (Marconett) Gish, was born September 24, 1926, in Modesto, CA. He passed away December 28, 2025, early in the morning at his home in rural north Pasco, WA. He was 99 years, 3 months, 4 days when he departed this life for eternity.

Dad accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized at the early age of 14 yrs, becoming a member of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church. He was married to Mae Catherine Garber, of Dayton, Ohio, on August 28, 1948. He met Mom on her first trip to CA, but it wasn't until her second trip 2 years later that he convinced her he was old enough for them to fall deeply in love. In that interim, he had completed his alternate service time in forestry in the Sierras and left CA for the first time traveling via ship to Italy taking livestock to Europe for relief after the war. They lived their younger years in Modesto where they were blessed with three children whom they raised there.

In 1967, Dad and Mom moved our family to Delphi, IN for a year and a half, where we all enjoyed Dad's sister Charlene's family, renewing old acquaintances and making many lasting friendships, before returning to California.

In 1981, Dad and Mom were the second family to move to Pasco, WA from their Modesto Church district, a move they never regretted. It gave Dad and Mom much joy to be an early part of a growing church district and community.

Dad started out farming in California as a young man with his father and they trucked farm commodities locally. He soon bought his own truck after they were married, and that was the beginning of his trucking career. He hauled bagged feed up into the California foothills; one winter, early on, Dad trucked in the east and they lived in Ohio close to Mom's parents. Over the years he made sure our family got to Ohio regularly to be with our grandparents and Mom's family there.

Dad tried other jobs as a young married father, including selling trucks in Modesto, construction work, and several years working for the U.S. Postal service. He always ended up back behind the steering wheel, either driving for others, or driving as an owner operator. He sold his last truck and gave up cross country hauling at age 73, due to some health issues, but soon went to work for Enterprise car rentals. He delivered vehicles around the state of Washington, and surrounding states and retired at age 91.

Dad was truly a professional truck driver with millions of miles under his belt, receiving numerous safety awards. He believed in getting his load delivered on time and treating others the way he wanted to be treated. He drove in the era where truck drivers stopping to help stranded motorists was common. To Dad, shifting gears was an art and he loved to drive and teach others to drive. He enjoyed taking whoever would ride with him places far and near. We loved going with Dad!

Dad had many stories to tell and life lessons to share and made many friends by helping people along the way. He believed in hard work to support his family, which he did generously. Dad never met a stranger and loved to share his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with whomever would listen. He had a big, warm, engaging smile and all who knew him will remember it.

Dad was a wonderful husband and father who taught us the meaning of love by example. Dad wasn't perfect, but none of us are. He asked for forgiveness and he easily forgave. In his latter years, Dad would always start his prayers at the table by addressing God as "Our kind Heavenly Father". He would always pray for the unfortunate and for his grandchildren and "little" great grandchildren", of whom many are not little anymore.

Dad had been ready to go Home for some time but his concern was for leaving his dear wife alone. And he said he wanted to take us all with him! He loved God and God's Word, his immediate family, his church family, and the body of Christ worldwide. He loved mankind. There is a Christian school named after him: Gish International in Makeni, Sierra Leone, West Africa, where 500 students will continue to honor him, and many friends called him Father Abraham.

Dad had many bouts with health issues starting in his early 70's, but he always came back fighting against adversity and counting his blessings. His knees started giving out soon after he retired in 2013, but Dad kept on getting up every day until he literally couldn't stand. He was bedfast for only 10 days, with his mind still good for his age, until he peacefully passed on to Heaven, with his wife Mae, 101 yrs old, and his children there by his side. Dad and Mom had over 77 years of marriage together, loving God and each other and showed their affection to the very end of Dad's life. God blessed Dad and Dad blessed others. Our loss is his eternal gain!

The brothers and sisters of the Columbia River districts and the surrounding brethren have been so kind and helpful to mother and dad, especially in their latter years. Our parents have loved them and they have shown their love to our parents. We want to thank all, everywhere, for their prayers and support.

Surviving are his beloved wife, Mae; children: Fred and Carol (Johnson) Bauman Gish, Christine Gish, Catherine and Keith Bowser; 12 grandchildren and their 8 spouses; 28 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Eva Boone and Janet Garber; and many nephews, nieces, and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Ilden and Vivian, a baby brother Curtis who sadly drowned at 19 months, a daughter-in-law Gail (Frantz) Gish, in June 2018, his sisters and brother-in-law's, Marleta and Roger Haney, Charlene and Carroll Kessler, and three of their sons at early ages. Also, his wife's parents, Leroy and Cleo (Balsbaugh) Garber; all of his brother in-laws and sister-in-law's and their spouses on his wife's side, except Eva and Janet. All of his uncles and aunts and most of his cousins and peers preceded him in death.

He is deeply missed and will always be remembered with love.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Ps116:15