ROBERT WILBURN HUCKLEBERRY, 85, of Richland, passed away January 31, 2007 in Richland. He was born August 27, 1921 in Childress, Texas to Reverend Paul R. Huckleberry and Mabel Dell Coburn Huckleberry. He had five brothers, Paul, Ralph, Harold, Clifford, and Floyd, and two sisters, Mildred and Edna, all of whom preceded him in death.

He grew up and attended schools in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. He later served in the United States Army during World War II as a chemical warfare and flamethrower expert. He was on Omaha Beachhead on D-Day +2 during the invasion, near or on the front lines all during the advance, ending up in the Black Forest destroying poison gas which the Germans had stored in the forest. He was one of the first 20-year-olds drafted for service. He earned the European Service Medal, Combat Medal and the Croix de Gare from France, among others. He reached the rank of Sergeant and was discharged at Fort Logan, Colorado with an honorarable discharge, after serving 1942-1945. He met Gertrude Trudy Morrish in Pueblo, Colorado, his home town, after the war. They were married in Oberlin, Kansas, her home town, in April 1947. They moved to Longview, Washington that year, where he worked for Weyerhauser Timber Company until joining Sears as a salesman in their new store in Longview. Soon after, he left Sears and went into the floor covering business with partner Bill Miller. He sold the business to his partner and moved to Richland in 1953, where he opened a paint store on Williams in the Uptown area, eventually adding floor covering to the business and moved to the downtown area where he was when he retired in 1985. He turned the business over to his son, Paul, who ran the business until he retired due to health reasons. Bob and Trudy have three children, Marilyn Huckleberry Tom, Paul Huckleberry Linda and Kathryn Huckleberry Mike. They also have ten grandchildren, Aeren, Adam and Amie Huckleberry, Dan, Barbi and Jarett Wolf, and Melissa, Greg, Sophia and Olivia Bell.

He has been a member of Northwest United Protestant Church since 1953 when he and his family moved to Richland. He also joined the Jaycee’s and later the Lions Club in Richland. He served as president seven times, Zone Chairman two times and as District Governor two times.

He had the distinction of being the only Lions Club Governor to serve as a Golden 50th Anniversary Governor and 25 years later as a Diamond 75th Anniversary Governor. His area covered eastern Washington from Connell to Garfield, Pullman, Moscow, Idaho, Grangeville, Idaho, Yakima, Ellensberg and Goldendale, Washington, 50 clubs in all. He was instrumental in starting a Lions Club in Aomori, Japan during the late 1950’s.

He was an avid Lions Club friendship pin collector with over 50,000 pins in his collection. He had friends all over world from his association with the Lions Club.

He had over 50 years of perfect attendance as a Richland Lion. His Lions activity has earned him the nickname of “Mr. Lion.” He has known several international presidents personally and has had some of them in his home in Richland. He was always proud to be a Lion. He was a member of the Freeholders Committee when Richland was first set free by the Government. He helped form the first city government. His most recent city activity was as a member of the committee which got the bond issue passed to build the new Richland Police building. His name is on the plaque in the lobby of the new police building. The family would like to express their gratitude to Zane Carey and the caring staff at Hospice for all they did during Bob’s last days. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, February 5, 2007 at Northwest United Protestant Church, Richland. Inurnment services will follow at 1:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Gardens, also in Richland.