Edward Albert Spalding Jr.

Edward Albert Spalding Jr. passed to join his wife, Millie on Feb. 25,2007.

Ed was born Jan. 24, 1922, in Elma, Washington. He, his sister and parents lived on the family farm just south of Elma. They raised milk cows, cattle and feed.

He enjoyed high school sports and graduated from Elma High School 1941. As well as farming, he and his dad logged small patches of timber around Elma.

When World War II broke out, Ed decided fighting for his country was what he should do. He joined the Navy, and having run a lot of equipment, went into the SeaBees (fighting Navy Construction Battalion). Training took him to the deep South, then Maine. When they got liberty, a bunch of the guys would go into Nova Scotia to a USO dance club where he met Millie. They were married on July 29, 1944. He began a trip around the USA by boat with Millie following via train, with them seeing each other when the boat put into port. Ed left Millie and young Ed III with his parents in Elma and went to the Philippines. When the war ended, he returned home and they had another son, Larry.

Ed returned to the family farm, logging, hauling milk for Dairygold and doing custom farm work. As a veteran, he was eligible for the land lottery when the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project opened up, and in 1957 moved the family to a 117-acre patch of sand, sage brush and cheat grass on Royal Slope to make their home.

Ed served on the Royal City School Board, saw the construction of the high school, served on the Irrigation Board for 37 years working for the farmers and bringing reason to discussions of water usage, natural habitat and wetlands. He was also a member of the Lions Club and the Moose Lodge. When he finally semi-retired, he had tripled the size of the family farm and switched most of it to more efficient circle irrigation. He still helped on the farm until the time of his death.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Maybel and his devoted wife of more than 50 years, Millie. He is survived by sister Pearl-Elma, sons, Larry-Royal City and Ed-Soap Lake, and six granddaughters and for great-grandkids.

At Ed's request, no memorial services are being held. A small graveside service at The Memorial Gardens in Royal City for Ed and Millie will be announced at a later date. Friends are asked to please make a donation to a favorite charity in remembrance of Ed Spalding.