Theodore (Ted) Otis Price

5 December 1928 – 8 May 2016

We celebrate the life of Theodore (Ted) Otis Price, who loved life and lived it well.  Ted died peacefully at his workbench after planting geraniums in the garden on 8 May, 2016. 

Ted was born in Weehawkin, New Jersey on 5 December 1928, the only child of Theodore Otis Price, Sr. and Flora Shero Price.  He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey.  Due to his curiosity and intelligence, he completed his schooling early and he joined the U.S. Navy in 1946 at the age of 17.  He was trained to repair radar equipment and served on the USS Missouri at the end of World War II.  He then studied at Syracuse University, earning a B.A. in Earth Sciences in 1952.  From his early years, he loved football, exploring his environment, joking and concocting elaborate pranks with his friends.  He married Lois Johnson in 1952 and together they created a joyful marriage and happy family life in nine different homes stretching from Connecticut to Richland, Washington.  Through 63 years of marriage, the sparkle never left his eyes when enjoying a dinner out, a chat over ice cream, or a joke with Lois.  

Ted loved camping and the outdoors and his work as a geologist allowed him to enjoy the beauty of the Americas in the Colorado Rockies, the plains of Wyoming, the Utah desert, and the mountains of Costa Rica.   He moved to Richland, Washington in 1972 working for Holosonics to help develop new uses for sonar technology.  This work took him to Central Alaska to minimize permafrost damage to the Alaskan pipeline, to Honduras to prepare the foundation of a new hydroelectric dam, to Japan to plot the safest route for the Japanese Seikan tunnel-still the longest undersea tunnel in the world, and to the Korean demilitarized zone to search for North Korean tunneling activity.  

In 1982, he started his own company Sonex, Ltd which further developed uses of sonar in infrastructure testing and safety.  As a 44 year resident of Richland, Ted contributed to his community as a member and president of Richland Rotary Club, a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, and as an active volunteer of the Tri-Cities Food Bank.  He gained a love of gardening and tinkering with tools from his father, and many have enjoyed both the beauty as well as the produce of his garden.  He was an avid reader, loved football and enjoyed playing tennis at the Colombia Basin Racquet Club.  Throughout his many accomplishments, it was people he most enjoyed.  He loved to tease, and to laugh, and to learn about the experiences of his friends.  His impish smile, quick wit and hearty laugh will be remembered by all who knew him. 

Ted was a constant support to his children, Cathi (Russ) Walker and Bonnie (Larry) Cothren and grandchildren, Alex Cothren, Zach Walker and Hayley Walker.  He was always interested in their activities and the greatest champion of their aspirations.  He will be greatly missed.

Ted will be fare welled and his life celebrated at All Saint’s Episcopal Church at 1322 Kimball Avenue, on Friday, May 20^th at 4:00.  Donations may be made to the Tri-Cities Food Bank in Ted’s memory.