Obituary: Despain, Ritch Lee
A life-time resident of Lincoln County, he was born on December 14th, 1946, the oldest son of Jerry and Francis DeSpain.
A resident of Edwall, WA, Ritch graduated from Sprague High School Class of 1966 and shortly upon graduation, enrolled in the SeaBee’s division of the United States Navy where he served in the Vietnam War, 1968-70.
Upon returning to the states as an iron worker, Ritch wed Sharon Tyson.
The couple raised their two children and operated a wheat farm off SR-231N for many years on land originally home- steaded by his third great-grandfather Benjamin DeSpain in 1890.
Ritch passed the fifth generation farming operations oversight to his son in recent years and the farm is leased still producing wheat, barley and Angus cattle.
If you took the time to get past his “rough and tough” persona you would find a man with a heart of gold, a great sense of humor full of captivating stories and life.
Ritch is survived by his son Jeremy Lee DeSpain (wife Megan), Snoqualmie, WA and daughter Jennifer Sue DeSpain McCain (husband Mike), Reardan, WA.
Ritch was blessed with five grand- children, Madison, Katelyn, Jake, Brody and Gunnar.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and survived by brother Jim DeSpain of Nine Mile Falls, WA and sister Charlene Wesley of Sheridan, AR.
Friends are invited to celebrate Ritch’s life at a memorial service Friday, October 25th at 3pm at the Washington State Veteran’s Cemetery in Medical Lake and reception to follow at the Farm in Edwall, WA.