Charles W. Kliphardt

February 25, 1937 – September 17, 2018

Charles W. Kliphardt passed away Sept. 17, 2018 at Mount Vernon, Wash. Chuck was born Feb. 25, 1937 in Walla Walla, Wash. He grew up on the family farm near Othello, Wash. and attended Othello schools, graduating in 1955. Chuck attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash. and Columbia Basin Junior College in Pasco, Wash. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1959, served in Kitzingen, Germany until 1962.

While in Germany he married Josie Gabardi of Kennewick, Wash. on Nov. 23, 1961. Chuck worked for the Boeing Company for a year, owned a farm at Alicel, Ore. from 1963 to 1972 and worked for the Oregon Highway Department from 1972 to 1975. He and family moved back to Othello in 1975 to open Sunshine Painting Company. In 1979 Chuck started working at the Othello post office as a clerk/carrier. He was appointed Postmaster of Viola, Idaho in 1987. He was appointed Postmaster in Garfield, Wash. in 1990 and Postmaster in Palouse, Wash. in 1995, retiring in 2002.

He and Josie moved to Mount Vernon in 2012. Chuck became a Master Mason in 1975 in Paul Revere Lodge in Othello. He was a District Deputy to the Grand Master of Masons in Washington in 1985. He was a member of the Ankor Lodge in Garfield, Eastern Washington Lodge of Research in Spokane and the Mount Baker Lodge in Mount Vernon.

Chuck is survived by his wife Josie, daughter Abby Kliphardt, son Andy Kliphardt, adult grandchildren Kayla Mehring and Corey Kliphardt, two minor grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Bess Hampton Memorial Garden in Othello. At Chuck’s request there will be no memorial service.