Ernest Gilmore Engelhardt

Ernest Engelhardt, 85, passed away in Ephrata, Washington on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 at Columbia Basin Hospital.

Ernest was born April 5, 1928 to Fred

and Frances Engelhardt in Spokane, Wash. He was raised in the Cedonia/Hunters, Wash. area and in 1946 graduated from Columbia High School.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and was stationed at Fort Irwin near Barstow, Calif. He returned to Hunters and married Carol James on Nov. 1, 1951. They spent a year-and-a-half in California as newlyweds with two babies born in 1952, Jamie and Carla. Jill and Sam joined the family in 1954 and 1955.

Ernest and Carol lived in Davenport, Wash. where he worked for the Gauger wheat farm and Odessa Union Warehouse. They moved to Medical Lake, Wash.where Ernest had his farm and cattle and drove school bus. In 1970 they moved to Chewelah, Wash. raising cattle and hay. He retired in 1993 and the couple traveled in their motorhome until 2002. They lived in Big River, Calif., Soap Lake, Wash. and Moses Lake, Wash. and celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2011.

We kids loved to listen to Dad's stories of growing up, work, the Army and about his travels in life. He never seemed to forget names of pets, old friends and even his cows and especially names of horses.

Ernest is survived by Jamie Godwin, Carla (Michael) Haines, Jill (John) Larson, Sam (Shirley) Engelhardt; brother George (Bud) Engelhardt and sister Betty Waggoner; eight grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren on the way.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Frances Engelhardt; brother Glen; and his beloved wife Carol (on April 25, 2012).

Services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, 1 p.m., at the Cedonia Church.