Wanda & Clyde Richards

In love they lived and passed, the family mourns at the loss of Wanda and Clyde Richards who passed on March 9th and 10th, 2019 respectively. Destined to find each other, Clyde Junior was born on June 10, 1929 to Clyde Earl and Tina (Tiny) Richards in Pawnee Oklahoma. Wanda Pearl Vandermeer was born on March 29, 1933 to Peter and Bessie Vandermeer in Garibaldi, Oregon. Family tragedy brought both to the Canyon as small children, Clyde’s family was victims of the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma and Wanda lost her father. Settling in Fox Valley, Clyde’s family came for a better life while Bessie brought Wanda and her sister, Ginny, home - returning to her hometown for help from her family. Granddaughter of a local legend, Stoney Wells, Wanda’s childhood was filled with adventure. Wanda was treated as the grandson Stoney never had. This gave Wanda a toughness throughout her life. Clyde and Wanda graduated from Santiam High School, the same high school Bessie graduated from as well as all four of their children and four of their grandchildren. Clyde excelled athletically, especially in football where his senior year his team was runner-up in the State Championship. Wanda was a very active student. Well loved, she was involved in many clubs and activities graduating as valedictorian of her class. Clyde and Wanda fell in love and planned their life together when Clyde was called to serve our country, stationed in South Carolina while Wanda was still a senior. After finishing high school, Wanda traveled to South Carolina to marry the love of her life on June 21, 1951 while he was stationed at Fort Jackson. Clyde was deployed to Germany after the Korean War and Wanda returned home in 1952 while expecting their first child, Gary Allen. The beginning of a family centered their core values. Upon discharge, Clyde returned to Mill City where they built a life together around family, honesty, hard work and giving. Clyde started working as a timber faller after a brief stent building the fabric of transportation within the canyon. Their family grew adding Sherry Lee in 1954, Maurie Earl in 1957 and Steven Clyde in 1960. Struggling to provide for their family, they worked to ensure their children never were without and built an inner toughness, building a family reputation for generations of hard workers that continues to be seen within their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  As Clyde established himself as a master of his trade in the woods, Wanda worked a series of jobs while raising their family together. Clyde developed a reputation as a hard worker as he and Wanda cultivated their love for the outdoors and kids. Wanda loved to watch her kids participate in high school sports and activities, this would develop into a lifetime love for high school athletics. She continued to follow high school sports well beyond the careers of her family. She and Clyde had a passion for their gardens. Wanda for her flower gardens and Clyde for his vegetable garden. They worked together, being known through the community for having one of the best lawn and gardens in the community. Their yard resembled a park with nothing out of place and the lawn being mowed, whether it needed it or not. Wanda started working at the Mill City School district in 1969 where she worked until 1994. Clyde and Wanda found her service to the community within the school district allowed them to give to many in need.  In 1976, Clyde and Wanda found their new passion - grandchildren. With the birth of their first grandchild, Jeremy, it cemented their love of family. They were blessed with eight grandchildren. Summers often included fishing and camping trips, barbeques in their backyard with Clyde manning the BBQ and Wanda making her famous potato salad, water fights, drinks, food and laughter. Fall included a family hunting trip with Clyde making morning pancakes for the camp. Winters had many sleepovers with grandchildren while Spring had Clyde and Wanda pulling their camp trailer to the next adventure. Clyde and Wanda enjoyed their retirement, spending as much time as possible with family and loved ones.  In 1999, Clyde and Wanda joined the Gates Community Church of Christ and were baptized in November of that year. Their young faith grew to an immense desire to love others and each other. They often would tell family of their plan to walk through the gates of heaven hand in hand, neither wanting to leave before the other. They became very active in the church, to no one’s surprise, they took on the lawn and garden.  As Clyde and Wanda prepared to pass through the gates of heaven together, they were blessed and thankful to be surrounded by many family members and friends and were able to pass peacefully with the help of Kindred Hospice and Bonaventure of Salem, Boone Rd. In lue of flowers, donations are being requested to Kindred Hospice or Mill City Fire Department in the name of Clyde and Wanda Richards.  Clyde and Wanda were preceded in death by their parent and siblings and their dear granddaughter Jessie Deglow. They are survived by their four children Gary, Sherry, Maurie and Steve, seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.