Richard R. McLearn

Richard (Dick) McLaren Wenatchee, WA Dick McLaren, age 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 19, 2017. Born in Wenatchee to Robert and Betty McLaren, he had two brothers, Arthur â€œArtâ€ of Wenatchee and Kenneth of Tampa, Fl. Drafted by the US Army in February 1944 he served with the 513th Parachute Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division in the European Theatre until May 1946. After the war Dick attended Eastern Washington College where he met his future wife Patricia (Pat) Fish who he married in 1951. He played for the EWC Savages basketball team and was a 2 miler for the track team. Dick spent 38 years as an educator. After 1 year as a 7th and 8th grade teacher in Wilbur, WA he moved to Edwall, WA where for 4 years he taught Physics, General Science, PE, and coached basketball. He spent the next 33 years at Cashmere High School where he first taught Industrial Arts and was the head basketball and track coach. He also was the assistant football coach known to the players as â€œDocâ€. After retiring from coaching Dick served as school counselor for 20 years. He believed that his job was to give assistance, list options, and offer advice to students but not to make decisions for them as it was up to them to decide which paths in life they would take. In the community Dick was very active in the Kiwanis club and the church. Retirement in 1988 provided him opportunity to travel through out the US and abroad. As an active member of the Appleland Promenaders Square Dance Club, he and Pat enjoyed dancing with friends through out the US. Dickâ€™s greatest joy was spending time with his family chuckar hunting, driving to his sonsâ€™ games in his van â€œthe Trarâ€, designing and building his sonâ€™s log home, taking his grandkids camping and boating, and dancing with his best girl of 65 years. He is survived by his wife, Pat McLaren; his children, Kenneth McLaren, Leavenworth, Robert (Teri) McLaren, Kent, Barbara (Knut) Anderson, Gig Harbor; 3 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; nephew, Roy (Tammy) McLaren, East Wenatchee; nieces, Pam Davidson, Fort Meyer, Fl., and Betty Benefiel, Spokane. At his request there will be no service or reception at this time. If wished, memorials may be made to Cashmere Schools Foundation, 210 S Division, Cashmere, WA 98815 or American Parkinson Disease Association (Washington State Chapter), 150 Nickerson St Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98109. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home.

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Richard R. McLearn

November 14, 1925 - February 19, 2017