Richard Ralph Retallic

Richard R. Retallic, 62, went to be with the Lord on June 21, 2009, the result of an auto accident in Spencer, Idaho.

Rich was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ephrata, he loved the Lord Jesus Christ, his physical and spiritual families, and served as an Elder and an adult Sunday School instructor.

Richard Ralph Retallic was born March 11, 1947, in Sewickley, Penn., to Eugene Kenneth and Mary Ralph Retallic. He grew up in western Pennsylvania, attending local schools, and was graduated from West Allegany High School. He went on to earn a degree from Sterling College in Kansas and earned a degree in education from Central Washington College in 1975.

In December 1975, Richard was married to Jean Watson in Kennewick, Wash. They began their teaching careers in the Methow Valley in north central Washington, where they taught for three years.

For the next 22 years, Rich taught school children in Moses Lake – mainly at North Elementary, where he instructed in the classroom and taught physical education.

Upon his retirement from the Moses Lake School District, he worked for one year at New Life Christian School in Ephrata. In 2004, Rich was employed with the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk in Quincy.

Rich was a resident of Ephrata for nearly 20 years. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Jean, and loving father to his daughter, Christine, and son, Brian. He loved being a grandfather to his two grandsons, Noah and Joshua, and eagerly looked forward to the birth of his third grandchild.

Rich enjoyed camping and traveling with his extended family and many friends, playing racquetball, working at the post office, and spending as many other fun times as he could have with his family. All who joined him on his journey through life will miss him.

Rich is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter Christine Navarro and her husband, Omar, of Ephrata; son Brian Retallic of Spokane, grandsons Noah and Joshua Navarro; brother Ken Retallic and wife, Lauri, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and brother Tom Retallic and wife, Joanne, of Hudson, Fla., and many nieces and nephews.

His father, Eugene, and mother, Mary, also believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, preceded him in death.

A special service in celebration of Rich’s life will take place on Saturday, July 25, at 1 p.m., at the Ephrata First Presbyterian Church.