Richard Vanderflute

1929 - 2022

Richard Vanderflute
June 25, 1929 - September 11, 2022
Puyallup, Washington - After 93 years Dick Vanderflute has moved on to reunite with his wife of 62 years, the love of his life, Barbara.
Born to Wayne and Esther Vanderflute at the beginning of the depression he quickly learned how to take care of himself. He learned to hunt with his neighbor Al Kinbbe and assembled his first car (a model A) from parts he bought in boxes for $40.
He served two years in the Navy from 1951-1952 at Pearl Harbor and San Diego.
Not long after marrying Barbara in 1949, Dick took up both snow and water skiing. Assuming ownership of the Paradise Ski School at Mt. Rainier in 1956 teaching there until 1975 and then until 1998 at Crystal Mountain. He became a certified ski instructor in 1961 and went on to teach more than 3000 people to ski.
In 1965 Dick and Barbara bought Parkland Sports Center and served countless numbers of skiers while passing along much leadership and wisdom especially to younger customers. Perhaps his most famous advice was "If you get a boyfriend/girlfriend who doesn't ski you wanna dump that puppy".?Dick skied until age 91 and was the oldest season pass holder at White Pass for two years.
Lesser known was Dick's water-skiing career. He skied most evenings on American Lake from 1953-1965 then took a break until 1978 while developing Parkland Sports Center. Skiing the slalom course for the first time at 55 years old he then became again interested with the development of Ski Park Lake in 1988. He was the first guest invited to ski there on November 13,1989. He set a slalom record for his age division at Ski Park in the 2001 Western Regional Championships
Dick ultimately traded skis for golf clubs and enjoyed golfing (and working) at Ski Park.
Dick never wanted a fancy car or a vacation home, but he really wanted a plane. He earned his pilot's license in 1958 and bought his first plane in 1968, a Cessna 205. Ultimately, he bought his favorite plane in 1979, a Cessna 421B which he flew for 35 years traveling as far as Barrow Alaska and the US East coast. He and his son Scott also own a Cessna 172 together which he flew until age 89. Time and travel with friends were very important to him.
Dick was preceded in death by Barbara in 2011 and his sister Marilyn in 1991. He is survived by his son Scott, daughter in law Cathy and Granddaughter Michele Batchelder.
No services are planned at this time although the family hopes to have a gathering next summer.
We shall always remember his inspiration and passion for life and desire to help others
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