Richard A. Giller, born February 5th, 1955 passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Sunday, June 17th, 2012, peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife Sally and family. Rich was born the second of five children to David and Lorraine Giller in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Union High School in 1973, and then obtained a Civil Engineering degree at the University of Michigan in 1978. Rich met the love of his life Sally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They spent time together in Michigan before getting married in 1978. After marriage, Rich and Sally moved from Michigan to West Richland, Washington where they started a family, and raised their two sons Matthew and Jacob. Rich was a loving husband and a great father. His greatest joys came from being a Dad, spending quality time with his sons, and teaching them a multitude of life skills.
Rich loved watching his boys play sports, and eventually became involved in coaching both his sons' soccer, baseball, basketball, and football teams. He went on to coach the Hanford sophomore boys' basketball team. Rich loved spending time with his wife and sons, doing lots of adventurous outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, skiing, shooting guns, dirt biking, and motorcycle road trips. Rich had an affinity for the water and loved sailing, boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing. Rich had an enthusiasm for life and was always planning trips for the family to various destinations across the United States. He enjoyed hobbies at home, which included making replica war airplanes and battleships, and built a variety of wooden boats that he used on the Columbia and Yakima rivers. Rich made many life-long friends while working at the Hanford Area. He enjoyed doing activities with his friends from work, and was always having fun making jokes with his co-workers. Each summer he looked forward to working with the young engineers, and was always rejuvenated when mentoring interning engineers. He is survived by: his wife Sally and two sons Matthew Kimberly and Jacob Nichole; mother Lorraine; brother George Gay Lynn nephews Shaun Anna, David Rachael, niece Amber; sister Janice Ted nephews Daniel, Steven, Christopher; sister Diane Thomas nephews Michael, Thomas; and sister Lola Phil nephew Connor. Rich was preceded in death by his father David Giller. A celebration of Rich's life will be held at Richland Lutheran Church on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice at the Chaplaincy of Tri-Cities.