Friday, June 23, 2006, Russell Russ Einan was unexpectedly taken from us. Quickly, quietly, peacefully, he left this world and entered the next. Russ was born in Whitefish, Montana on May 23, 1927 to Hans and Agnes Einan. With his older brother Duaine, the four of them didn’t have much; but they had each other, a loving extended family, and most of all a sense of humor and playfulness that made the hard times easier to bear.

Joining the Navy, Russ served in the Pacific as an electrician’s mate and was honorably discharged in 1946. He joined his parents here in Richland where he met and married Barbara Bobbie Wilkinson, who passed away in 1979. Beginning as an electrician on the Hanford project, he completed his engineering degree and became a pioneer in the nuclear engineering field, retiring in 1992 as a Nuclear Start-up Engineer. During his 60 years in the area, he watched the small company town of Richland grow into the beautiful city that he and 14 other Freeholders envisioned when they wrote the city charter in 1958.

While he enjoyed his professional and civic work, it was never the centerpiece of his life. That was reserved for family. He would often say: “I don’t work for my employer; I work for my family.” He leaves behind his four children: son Steve and wife Teri, with grandson Russ and granddaughter Merrick; daughter Linda Stairet and husband Marc; son Eric with grandson Kevin and granddaughter Angela; and son David and wife Martha with grandson Tim and granddaughter Katy. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Bobbie; her parents, Rulon and June; her brother, Larry; and his brother, Duaine Einan.

His family would like to thank the wonderful and caring staff at Charbonneau Retirement Community where he lived his final years. He enjoyed his time there and made many good friends.

At his request, there will be no public service. A private graveside gathering will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Edith Bishel Center for the Blind, 628 N. Arthur Street, Kennewick, Washington 99336.