EINAN’S FUNERAL HOME

William “Bill” Woodrow Chamberlain, a 56 year resident of Richland, died at the age 90 on December 30 at Kadlec Medical Center.

Born on April 8, 1914 on his family’s farm near Glasgow, Kentucky; Bill was the third of seven children of Mitchell Young Chamberlain and Mary Lucretia Ellen Chamberlain. He attended a one-room school until high school and graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He received his M.A. from Stanford University.

Bobbs-Merrill published his novel, Leaf Gold in 1941, at the same time he was inducted into the U.S. Army. He retired as a colonel from the Air Force Reserve in 1972, for which he served as the Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy for many years.

In 1948, Bill moved to Richland and worked as a technical writer for a succession of Hanford contractors from General Electric through Rockwell, from which he retired in 1978. Bill was a member of Central United Protestant Church and Kiwanis.

Bill is survived by his wife Jan, whom he married in 1950. Bill is also survived by three daughters: Ann Chamberlain Roseberry Lee of Portland, Laura Chamberlain of Seattle; Holly Chamberlain Charles Mitchell, of Vancouver; two grandchildren, Olivia and Isaac of Vancouver; one brother Rev. Timothy Doris Chamberlain of Munfordville, Kentucky; one sister, Alyce Paul Preston of Park City, Kentucky; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bill will be remembered for his lifelong affinity for words and writing, his abiding and often-shared memories of his youth in Kentucky, and his great love of family and country.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 6, at 1 pm at Central United Protestant Church. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to Kadlec Medical Center Foundation, 888 Swift Blvd., Richland, WA 99352 or Trinity United Methodist Church, 383 NE Beech, Toledo, OR 97391. Memorial arrangements by Einan’s Funeral Home.