FIND AN OBITUARY
Service information is posted on our website only with approval from the family.
If you are seeking information not listed below, please contact us.
David T Thonn
03/15/1928 — 05/06/2014
From West, Richland, WA, US | Born in Northwood, IA
David T Thonn
David T Thonn
Please join us Friday, May 30th at 3:00 P.M. at Einan's Funeral Home to celebrate the life of David T. Thonn. He went home to his Heavenly Father on May 6th, 2014 after battling heart failure and COPD. He did what he could, until he could do no more. He will be missed by all who knew him.
David was born, March 15, 1928, to Agnes S. Torgerson and Paul G. Thonn. He grew up in Northwood, Iowa and later Fargo, ND. He became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1946. A WWII veteran, he graduated from University of Washington in 1951. He moved to Richland, WA to work in the Hanford area as a Senior Electrical Engineer. He enjoyed hunting in B.C. Canada and Spokane areas. A member of the Rod and Gun Club, he won several shooting contest. He married Jacqueline Walls in 1972. He is survived by his two brothers, Paul and Jerry, his ex-wife, Jacqueline, his two daughters, Beverly and Barbara and his six grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please offer donations to the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission or to the GOP/Republican Party. The family invites you to sign their online wall at www.einansfurneralhome.com.
It is not every day that a gentleman of senior years opens his heart and his home to homeless dogs. Dave did just that. Such a gentle soul, he fostered several dogs for us POPP/ Pet Over Population Prevention as recently as three years ago. He would bring them to our adoption center each Saturday, and would quietly help them become the best dogs they could be. When I would thank him for fostering and remark how special he was to want to help them, he was so humble and unassuming as to how rare this sort of selflessness is. Heaven has definitely welcomed a special angel. My heartfelt condolences to the family.
I first met Dave in the early 1970’s when we worked at WNP-2 Columbia Gen Sta for Energy Northwest and later Enercon. He was the best electrical engineer I ever worked with, both technically and from a plant design history prospective. After retirement he would occasionally join our group of cohorts at MacDonald’s on Friday mornings. He was a good guy and will be missed.
What a nice guy, humble, quiet, and a quiet sense of humor
It is not every day that a gentleman of senior years opens his heart and his home to homeless dogs. Dave did just that. Such a gentle soul, he fostered several dogs for us POPP/ Pet Over Population Prevention as recently as three years ago. He would bring them to our adoption center each Saturday, and would quietly help them become the best dogs they could be. When I would thank him for fostering and remark how special he was to want to help them, he was so humble and unassuming as to how rare this sort of selflessness is. Heaven has definitely welcomed a special angel. My heartfelt condolences to the family.
I first met Dave in the early 1970’s when we worked at WNP-2 Columbia Gen Sta for Energy Northwest and later Enercon. He was the best electrical engineer I ever worked with, both technically and from a plant design history prospective. After retirement he would occasionally join our group of cohorts at MacDonald’s on Friday mornings. He was a good guy and will be missed.
What a nice guy, humble, quiet, and a quiet sense of humor
I was very saddened to learn that David passed away. I worked with David in the Electrical Engineering department starting at Washington Public Power Supply System in 1984 and then at Energy Northwest until his retirement. He was a great friend and a colleague and my mentor. I learned from David how to approach the resolution of a complex technical issue starting from the basic theory of math, physics and Electrical Engineering. He was the best Electrical Engineer I had the privilege to work with during my 35 years professional career. David was very humble about his knowledge and expertise in Electrical Engineering. He treated every one with respect including the young engineers who are fresh out of the universities. Most importantly I learned humility from David. Although he retired around 1996, we remained very good friends. We often kept in contact either by phone or meeting at Denny’s for breakfast. I will miss David very much.
Members of the Richland Rod and Gun Club were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of David Thonn on May 6, 2014. David joined the club in March 1954, was a member for 52 years and received the 25 year belt buckle in 1979. Over the years, he participated in a number of club projects. In 1955, the club raised money through a raffle to send two hunters to Canada on a moose hunt to obtain meat for the annual Big Game Dinner. A drawing was held, and David and Howard Ellsworth were selected to be the moose hunters and they were both successful. David was an avid hunter and reloader and when I decided to start reloading, I was referred to him for advice on the purchase of reloading components. He advised purchase of a Herter’s Super Model 3 press for resizing and loading plus a Belding and Mull powder measure which were purchased in 1960 and both continue to serve reliably. David will be missed.
Guestbook for
David T Thonn