Leonard E. “Lefty” Hershman

Leonard E. “Lefty” Hershman, 90 of Spokane, WA, since 2007, died May 16, 2010 at the VA Hospital in Spokane, WA. He was born on June 18, 1919 in Crown Point, Indiana, the youngest of five children born to Oliver and Gladys Hershman, Lefty, as he was known by all his friends and family. Lefty often regaled all who would listen of the happy experiences he had growing up in a small Midwestern town during the Depression Era.

As a young man, Lefty used to travel out to Malta, MT by train to work on his uncle’s farm during the summers. It was during this time that Lefty met Nora and in 1940 they were married and Debbie was born. In 1943, Lefty was drafted into the US Army and proudly served his country in WWII, receiving a Purple Heart for wounds received in battle December 1944.

After the war, Lefty returned to the Midwest, where he drove truck, worked as a mechanic, and raced sprint and midget dirt cars. In 1955, Lefty migrated to Richland, where his son Len and daughter Lynelle were born and raised. Lefty was a fifty-year resident of Richland, moving to Billings and then eventually Spokane shortly after the passing of his wife Nora in 2005. He was a mechanic by trade, Lefty worked for Romeri Ford and Western Sintering, both in Richland, but his dream job was being the manager of Tri-City Raceway and Yakima Speedway in the 70’s.

Any one who knew Lefty at all, knew he was famous for telling stories, some of which were even true. He loved good natured teasing and always had a joke or two to share with anyone who would listen.

When he wasn’t pulling someone’s leg, you might find Lefty and Nora and their RV parked at Sprague or Clear Lakes fishing off the dock. Lefty and Nora loved getting away from the city and invariably played host to kids and grandchildren who visited them at the lake. Simply put, Lefty was the happiest in his life when he was with Nora, his children and grandchildren, at a race, or just fishing off the dock.

Lefty is survived by his daughter, Debbie Claphan and her husband Billy Ray in Denver, CO; son, Len Hershman and his wife Sharon in Spokane, WA; daughter: Lynelle Bushman in Billings MT; grandchildren, Tina McBee, Koey Waters, Klayton Waters, Sarah Hershman, Megan Hershman, Derek Hershman. He is also survived by 8 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife and best friend Nora M. Hershman who passed in 2005 and his son Gary L. Hershman in 1943.

A funeral service will be held at Einan’s Funeral Home Richland, WA Monday May 24th 10am with a graveside immediately following at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Public viewing will take place at Einan’s Funeral Home Monday May 24th 9am-10am.