Obituary: Conklin, Richard “Dick”
Age 83
A lifetime long avid hunter, angler and outdoorsman.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ellen, son Joe and his wife Kim of Clearview, Washington, and daughter Kathy and her husband Dan Kane of Auburn, California, brothers Ronald Conklin of Phoenix, Arizona and Michael Conklin of Glendale, AZ.
Richard “Dick” was born December 11th, 1930 in Jackson, Michigan to the late Frank and Alma Conklin.
Throughout the 30’s and mid 40’s the family resided in Jackson eventually moving to Clinton, MI after the Second World War.
Upon graduation from high school Dick worked as a machinist for Clinton Machine Company, working on small engines.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, Dick enlisted in the newly formed United States Air Force.
After basic training, he went to Air Police school in Camp Gordon, Georgia.
His first posting was at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, WA in 1951.
He met his future wife, Ellen Malone of Ephrata, WA, and was married in 1952.
A year later in 1953, their first child, Joe was born at Larson Air Force Base.
After completion of his military service, they moved back to his boyhood home in Clinton, MI, where he worked with his father at the family bakery.
As usually happens in life, there is no going home, so the young family picked up stakes and moved to Arizona, the land of opportunity.
Upon arrival, Dick, with his military police background secured employment at Retail Credit Company, known today as Equifax, as an insurance investigator.
After four years, and one new baby girl later, he was promoted into management and transferred to Sacramento, CA.
While there, Dick was offered a better employment situation with the California State Automobile Association (CSAA) as a claims investigator.
While in Sacramento, Dick was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America, as a Scout Master and participated in regional councils.
Within a few years, Dick gained a promotion into management with the CSAA and transferred to San Jose, CA.
While in San Jose, he again showed his continued involvement in helping others by working with local Little League teams.
Within a few years, Dick continued to be recognized for his management skills and was promoted to Division Claims Manager overseeing hundreds of employees in multiple offices based in Oakland, CA.
Not wanting to live in the heart of the city, Dick moved his family to the small hamlet of Pleasanton, CA in 1969.
He continued his love affair with the outdoors during this period by scuba diving and spearfishing in the Pacific Ocean near Santa Cruz, CA.
He was also an enthusiastic duck and pheasant hunter.
Tired of commuting and working in the big city environment, Dick took an early retirement from CSAA at the age of 50.
The family then moved to Mount Vernon, WA where he opened his own insurance investigation office.
This area provided a great location to pursue his outdoor pursuits.
Around this time, Dick became involved in the Elks organization.
He really enjoyed working with the Elks and served in all the various chair positions, including eventually being the Exalted Ruler for the Mt.
Vernon lodge.
Due to his expertise and knowledge of the Elks history and procedures, he was asked to serve as a ritual judge for regional competitions.
In 1992, Dick and his wife decided it was time to see new horizons and set off on a two-year odyssey to travel the United States, eventually landing in Coulee City, WA.
Dick joined the Coulee City Gun Club where he spent several years participating at various trapshooting competitions around the region.
Due to medical reasons they decided to relocate to Moses Lake, WA.
In Moses Lake, Dick and Ellen continued to travel, read, play cards and enjoy life as health permitted.
A Celebration of Life service for Dick is scheduled on February 22, 2014 at 2pm at the Moses Lake Elks Lodge located at 814 N. Stratford Rd.
in Moses Lake, WA.