Walter A. LePage

Walter A. LePage, 97, of Pasco, Wa. passed away on Thursday., January 13, 2011, peacefully at home.

He was born August 3, 1913 in Santa Ana, California to Thomas R. LePage and Alta Young LePage. Walter grew up before and during the Great Depression on family farms located near Lusk, Wyoming; Red Bluff, California; Colville, Washington; and Nob Noster, Missouri. Due to family needs on the farm, Walter dropped out of high school his junior year.

In the spring of 1936, Walter's father sold their farm in Nob Noster and moved the family to Brownsville, Texas where he purchased and operated a tourist court catering primarily to northern 'snowbirds.'

That fall, at 23 years of age, Walter enrolled at Brownsville Junior College. A special program had been developed at the college which allowed students 21 years of age, or older, who had not graduated from high school, to enroll. The only stipulation was that they maintain passing grades.

After graduating from junior college, he then enrolled in and graduated from Central Missouri State Teacher's College now University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in physics and chemistry, with minors in mathematics and education.

His first job after graduation was teaching kindergarten through eighth grade in a one-room school house in Cornelia, Missouri. The next year he took a teaching job in Texas at Brownsville High School. While teaching in Brownsville, Walter trained for and received a private pilot's license.

In 1941 Walter was hired by Brayton Flying Service at Quero, Texas to teach primary ground school meteorology to Army Air Corp cadets. Over time, Walter qualified for and taught all ground school subjects.

He and a friend purchased an airplane which allowed Walter to build up airtime. He soon earned his commercial and instructor ratings and switched from ground school instruction to the flight line and taught primary flight until the school was decommissioned in August of 1944. Walter was then honorably discharged from the Army Air Corp Reserve.

Upon the flight school's closure, and from having fond memories of the family's brief farming stint in Washington State, Walter drove to Yakima hoping to land a teaching job. Instead, he was directed to Richland where, eleven days after leaving Texas, he was hired by DuPont as an instrument technician for the nearly-completed 100-D area reactor at Hanford. Walter met his future bride, Florence Ethelyn Ham, at Hanford where she also was employed. Soon, tiring of shift work, Walter quit and accepted a teaching job at Columbia High School now, Richland High School. Walter and Ethelyn were married on October 5th, 1945. From 1945 through the spring of 1951, Walter taught physics, science, algebra, and aviation. Walter has since been proud to attend his students' 50th year class reunions.

At this time, Walter also owned two airplanes and gave flight instruction at the Civil Air Patrol airfield located in south Richland. He taught ground school at night, mostly to ex-military students under the G.I. bill, and was the local area private pilot's examiner for the Civil Aeronautics Administration now F.A.A..

Several of Walter's high school students were inspired to continue in the field of flying. One became C.E.O. of a commercial airline, and later, Administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Another is a retired Boeing 747 airline pilot.

On Memorial Day in 1948 the Columbia River flooded, blocking automobile travel from Pasco and Kennewick to Richland. Walter was allowed to leave school one week before the school year's end to air-ferry returning holiday travelers back into Richland. All roads into town were closed. Flooding continued for nearly one month. During this time he shuttled Hanford workers daily between the Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland airports.

This same year Walter purchased undeveloped farm land, just north of Pasco, in anticipation of irrigation water from the planned Columbia Basin Project. After farming and teaching for two years, Walter followed his heart, quit teaching, and moved his family to the farm.

In 1952, Walter and Ethelyn formed the W.A. LePage Seed Co., located on the farm, which they operated for 46 years, processing and marketing various seed crops raised by themselves, and by growers from throughout the Columbia Basin and the Walla Walla Valley.

Walter soon became very active politically: in the community, and in the seed industry. In 1953 he helped form Franklin County Fire District #3. Its first fire truck was housed in his seed warehouse until the Pasco Heights Community Club hall, and attached fire station, were constructed by club members in 1955. Walter was an elected fire commissioner for 20 years. In 1973, the Washington Fire Commissioner's Association presented Walter an honorary lifetime membership award.

Also in 1953, Walter helped form the Franklin County Crop Improvement Association, and was its sole secretary-treasurer for 34 years. In 1985, The Washington State Crop Improvement Association presented Walter an honorary lifetime membership award.

Walter helped organize the Washington State Potato Commission in 1956 and was an elected Director for 33 continuous years. During his tenure, he traveled extensively, promoting the usage of potato products at food trade shows and conventions throughout the United States. In 2006, while celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Potato Commission awarded Walter a service award for his unselfish contribution to the industry.

In 1957, Walter helped organize the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Board and was a Commissioner for 10 years. During this period, Chiawana Park and its adjoining zoo were built. Planning was made for the future Pasco Municipal Golf Course now Sun Willows. In 1961, Walter was appointed by President John F. Kennedy's administration to hold one of three Washington State Agricultural and Stabilization Service now F.S.A. Appeals Committee positions. He held that position through 1967.

In 1966, the Pasco Jaycees, and the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District awarded Walter, Franklin County 'Conservation Farmer of the Year.' Walter was an elected Port of Pasco Commissioner from 1968-1973.

Walter retired from the seed business in 1999, at the age of 86, due to occupationally-related health issues.

In 2000, The Greater Pasco Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Port of Pasco inducted Walter, as a charter member, into the Franklin County Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Throughout his life, Walter enjoyed several hobbies including raising fruit, golfing, fishing, hunting, playing cards, and bowling he sponsored a team for years. In addition, he was an avid reader with a voracious appetite to learn. Walter enjoyed computer use, as long as his daughter-in-laws were willing to troubleshoot problems that developed.

Walter was an excellent mentor for his children. He taught us how to get up at, or before sunrise. He taught us how to work, but have fun while doing it. He gave us the opportunity to earn money, and taught us how to save some of it. His wisdom and guidance will be sorely missed.

Walter gave each of his children the chance to take flying lessons from Boyd Hoops of Hoops Aviation in Pasco, if we were interested. All of us did. Phyllis, Walt's oldest child, started lessons soon after the beginning of her senior year of high school. In two and a half months she was done with all requirements and earned her private license before Christmas, that same year, at seventeen years of age.

Walter was forever an optimist who could always see light at the end of the tunnel. He was always looking for a new challenge. No hurdle stopped him, maybe just slowed him down momentarily. He was quick with a smile which invariably lightened the mood of everyone around him. Walter's opinion was highly respected. No one was his enemy.

Walter was a long time member of Columbia Valley Grange and established an endowment, in his daughter Joyce's name, which pays the camping fees for deserving Columbia Valley junior Grangers attending Camp Wooten.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sister, and by his daughter, Joyce. He is survived by Ethelyn, his loving wife of 66 years. Also surviving are his children, Phyllis Dawson of Pasco, Bruce Sandy LePage of Pasco, Steven Jane LePage of West Richland, and David Lynne LePage of Worley, Id.

His grandchildren include Spring Dawson Nanda, Luke Dawson, Bailie and Clive LePage, Logan and Gavin LePage and Jocelyn LePage Schiermeister. He has 3 great-grandchildren.

A special thanks goes out from the LePage family to Dr. Jim Campbell and Dr. Stanley Hales for their medical professionalism and longtime friendship. Also, thank you to the Visiting Angels administration and care-giving staff who went out of their way to keep Walter comfortable and safe.

Einans Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 16, 2011 from 5:00-8:-00pm at Einan's Funeral Home. A celebration of Walter's life will be held on Monday, January 17, 2011 at Einan's Funeral Home at 1:00pm followed by a reception at Memories at Sunset Event Center.

Walter often mentioned that a college education was the turning point in his life. He was forever beholden to those who made a college scholarship available to him. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Columbia Basin College scholarship endowment which exists in Walter and Florence LePage's name. Walter also established an endowment fund at his alma mater, University of Central Missouri.