Gerald Dean Eyestone, 90, of Walla Walla, WA died on December 31, 2015. Gerald (Jerry) passed away peacefully in the company of his children at Kadlec Hospital, Richland WA as a result of injuries sustained in a fall the day after Christmas.

Gerald was born on his mother's and grandmother's birthdays, on a farm near Utica, Nebraska on August 29, 1925. He was the second child of Dewey and Josephine Eyestone.

His family continued farming until 1938 when the drought forced the family to sell their livestock and most of their possessions before loading the family and rest of their material possessions into a 1 ½ ton truck and driving west to Twin Falls, Idaho to seek a better life.

Jerry was 12 years old and in the eighth grade when his family left the farm.  He attended High School in Twin Falls and Filer, Idaho before graduating in 1942.  He continued his education at the University of Idaho, majoring in civil engineering, before being drafted into the Army AirCorp.

After basic training he was sent to Laredo, Texas for gunnery training.  He served on a B-24 for 35 missions, flying from Italy over several countries controlled by Nazi Germany.  He survived those missions “by the Grace of God” and returned to the University of Idaho to complete his education, graduating in 1949.

After graduation, Jerry took a job with the Walla Walla District Corp of Engineers and spent most of his career designing fish ladders for 5 dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In 1968 he served as contract administrator for the U.S. Government in Arabia for a large contract for construction of a military base for the Saudi Government.

Church, family, and friends played an import role throughout Jerry's life. He was an active carpenter in his spare time, building his own home as well as helping several friends build theirs.

Early in Jerry's second marriage, he and his wife joined the First Church of God, now called Blue Mountain Community Church where he remained an active participant until his death.  Jerry taught Sunday school for many years and served as Chairman of the church Board of Trustees.  Following his retirement from the Corp of Engineers, Jerry served his church as Chairman of the Building Committee for construction of a new sanctuary.  His engineering experience was a good fit for the building project.

Jerry was preceded in death by: his parents, Dewey and Josephine Eyestone; a brother, Robert; sisters Nancy, Marilyn, and Gloria; and wives; Freda, Ila Mae, and Betty. Surviving Jerry are: his three children; Bill Eyestone (and Jan) of Walla Walla, Judy Daugherty of Olympia, and Jerry Eyestone (and George Curren) of Yelm, his grandchildren: Paul Daugherty (and Shannon) of Olympia, Carolyn Eyestone Leonhard (and Brent) of Walla Walla, and great grandchildren, Claire Daugherty of Olympia, Zoe and Evie Leonhard of Walla Walla, and Jack and Taylor Ray of Boise.  He is also survived: by many step-children, step-grandchildren, ,  nieces, nephews, and a brother-in-law.

Jerry was a good and faithful servant of God.  He gave generously to those in need and had a big heart for friends, family, and his fellow man. He was defined by, and will be remembered for his caring and the good he did for others.

A Memorial Service for Jerry will be held at the Blue Mountain Community Church, 928 Sturm, Walla Walla on Friday, January 15^th at 1PM.