Verne McMillan, a longtime resident of Richland Washington, passed away May 7^th, 2017 in Shoreline, Washington.  He was born near Colville, Washington on April 1^st 1924 to Grace and Daniel McMillan.  Throughout his life he treasured the memories of his early years, growing up with six other brothers and sisters in this beautiful, rural region of the state. It was here that Verne developed some of his favorite past times: stream fishing, bee keeping and listening to old-time country music.

In the early 1940’s life changed abruptly for Verne, as it did for his generation. During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to serve on several different small aircraft carriers in the Pacific.  Verne was on the White Plains aircraft carrier, part of the Taffy 3 Task Force, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

In 1951 Verne came to Richland and made it his home. He worked for a number of contractors in the 200 area of the Hanford Project and retired as a nuclear chemical operator in 1988. Richland was where he met Doris Lawrence, a school teacher, on a blind date.  They married in 1955 and had two children, Cheryl and Steve. Verne’s retirement years were spent volunteering at the Richland Food Bank, traveling to visit and attend family events, and almost always, he was working on a garden or a home improvement project.

Verne is preceded in death by his wife, Doris McMillan and siblings, Kenneth McMillan, Leslie McMillan, Lawrence McMillan, Helen Felts Lunneborg, and Joyce Levitch.  Verne is survived by his children, Cheryl McMillan (Thomas Kohn), Steve McMillan; sister, Janice Walther; and many nieces and nephews.

A simple graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 20^th, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 915 By-Pass Hwy, Richland.

His family would like to thank the Callahan House of Shoreline, Washington and Providence Hospice for taking excellent care of Verne in his final years and months.  Remembrances in Verne’s name can be made out to the Richland Food Bank or the Callahan House Holiday Fund.