Dr. Marshall Charles Richmond (66), our beloved husband, father and friend passed away peacefully in his home in Richland, WA. on June 18, 2026, after a long, undaunted battle with cancer. Marshall provided the steady, supportive, and quietly loving, drumbeat of our lives. He was, absolutely, the soundtrack to every gathering of family and friends, and the solid ground on which we built our life. He was affectionately known as “Grandpa Cheeseburger” by his grandsons, after his love of “the most perfect food”. Marshall was generous, witty and was always unapologetically himself.

Marshall was born in Spokane, WA on December 1, 1959 to Thomas Jack Richmond and Sylvia Loree Thompson Stearns Richmond Bowen. After moving around Washington state in his early years, his family moved to the west plains of Spokane in 1970 where he attended school in the Cheney School District. Unbeknownst to either of them at the time, it was here he met his future wife, Wendy Weller, in his 4th grade classroom at Sunset Elementary School.

During his high school years Marshall excelled at school and endurance sports. He was active in cross country and track. He ran in the first Bloomsday runs in 1977 and 1978, finishing in the top 100, and completed a full 26 mile marathon. His hard work and determination on the Cheney Cross Country Team earned him the nickname “Hardcore.” He also took to mountain climbing conquering both Mount Hood and Mount Baker before graduating from Cheney High School in 1978. A knee injury prevented him from future running, so he took up long distance biking later in life and completed long distance rides of up to 100 miles.

As a college freshman, a scholarship allowed him to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, however, he returned to Washington, the following year to be with the love of his life, Wendy, and together they attended Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, WA. Marshall and Wendy were married in Spokane, Washington on February 3 1980. The eruption of Mount Saint Helens changed the course of Marshall’s education when he took a summer job with the USDA, running a rain simulator on the wheat fields of the Palouse to determine the effects of volcanic ashfall on the production of wheat. This experience turned his inquiring mind towards the field of Hydraulic Engineering Research. Graduating from WSU in 1982, Marshall continued his education, earning his Master’s Degree in Engineering from WSU in 1983. He accepted a fellowship at the Hydraulic Laboratory at the University of Iowa (U of I) in Iowa City, Iowa, earning his PhD in Engineering in 1987. While in Iowa City, Marshall and Wendy welcomed the arrival of their first son, Charles, in 1986.

Upon earning his PhD, Marshall began his 30 year career at Battelle’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory(PNNL) in Richland, WA working in the Hydrology Group. Wendy and Marshall welcomed their second son, Glenn, to the family in 1989. In 1991, Marshall took a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at WSU, in Pullman, WA, teaching in the Civil Engineering Department. He returned to PNNL three years later, where he worked on environmental hydrodynamics, making a sizable impact in his field, using computer modeling of the Columbia River to study various environmental issues. He retired from PNNL as Chief Engineer in 2020. He truly loved his work and was dedicated to his colleagues.

The love of music was in Marshall’s soul. At home with his family and close friends he was the consummate D.J. The first major purchase that Marshall and Wendy made as a couple was a stereo system on which Marshall played music nearly every waking hour. He had an extensive collection of reel-to-reel tapes, LP’s, CD’s, an original IPod, and was very proud of the listening minutes he amassed on Spotify. His music taste was vast, eclectic, and often very loud.

Marshall’s sense of humor was notable and endearing. He enjoyed bantering with those that could match his quick wit. He could whip out weirdly funny, dry, and sometimes dark one-liners, with ease.

Marshall and Wendy built a devoted 46 year marriage. They raised two remarkable men and became grandparents to two grandsons. They spent much of their family time enjoying the outdoors, backpacking, hiking and camping throughout the western US, enjoying numerous national and state parks with their family and friends. Together they built three homes, finally settling in the last one, in Richland, WA to raise their family.

Marshall enjoyed good food and drink. He liked strong coffee, IPA’s (not hazy) and single malt scotch. When his cancer diagnosis and Covid-19 hit simultaneously and travel became difficult, Marshall and Wendy began a series of twice yearly virtual world trips, experiencing new cuisines and cultures. Marshall also began using a Traeger smoker with a custom “Grandpa Cheeseburger” handle to grill meat. His idea of a “perfect day” was to use a “low and slow” method of grilling, allowing him to enjoy his music, the view, and beer on the patio and led to some very late dinners.

Marshall is preceded into death by his mother, Sylvia Bowen, his father, Tom Richmond and his brother Aaron Richmond. He is survived by his wife, Wendy Weller Richmond, son Charlie Richmond, son Glenn Richmond and daughter-in-law Blair Kelly Richmond, and grandsons, Axel Richmond and Jaxson Richmond.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Washington State University: Marshall and Wendy Richmond Water Resources Scholarship (GF006885) at go.wsu.edu/give or to your local food bank.