PIFER — Robert Eugene "Gene", 87; was born June 3, 1933 in Wheatridge, Colorado and died December 24, 2020, in Battle Ground Washington. He is survived by his wife, Judy, Battle Ground WA, daughters Nancy Myers, College Place, WA, Jan King, Caldwell ID, Teri Richardson, College Place WA, step-daughters Teresa Benjamin, Sedro-Woolley WA, Cori Jones, Yacolt WA, son Ron Pifer, Forest Grove OR, step-son Nick Ward, Sequim WA, sister Juanita Byrd, Canby OR, and brother George Pifer, Fall River CA;14 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Robert "Gene" Pifer

1933–2020

Robert Eugene Pifer was born June 3, 1933, in Wheatridge, Colorado. Gene was always a builder. Along with his father and brother, Gene built the Meadow Glade Church on the campus of Columbia Academy in Battle Ground, Washington, which was his alma mater. While attending Walla Walla College, he was on the crew that built the Clara Rogers Elementary School across from the College Church. He came back to the Meadow Glade area to build homes in the community before moving to Laurelwood Academy near Gaston, Oregon, where he helped build the gymnasium, music building and faculty housing. For the rest of his career, he built or repaired agricultural-chemical plants across the United States.

Gene died Dec. 24, 2020, in Battle Ground, Washington, at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, Judy; daughters, Nancy Myers of College Place, Washington; Jan King of Caldwell, Idaho; Teri Richardson of College Place; stepdaughters, Teresa Benjamin of Sedro-Woolley, Washington; Cori Jones of Yacolt, Washington; son, Ron Pifer of Forest Grove, Oregon; stepson, Nick Ward of Sequim, Washington; sister, Juanita Byrd of Canby, Oregon; brother, George Pifer of Fall River, California; 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, George and Evelyn Pifer, and his sisters Roberta Pifer, Edith Dietrich and Brenda Olson.