Richard D. Fearing 90th Sr.

FEARING 90th

Richard Fearing celebrated his 90th birthday on Dec. 9, 2017, with his family in Sedro Woolley, Wash. He celebrated again on Dec. 10 with his church family at North Cascades Church in Burlington, Wash., at a party hosted by his children Richard and Cindy Fearing of Gresham, Ore., Joy Krause of Loma Linda, Calif., George and Maurina Fearing of Richland/Spokane, Wash., June and Monte Saxby of Mount Vernon, Wash., and Jane and Jonathan Fish of Sedro Woolley.

Richard was born on Dec. 9, 1927, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He spent most of his childhood in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated on a stretcher from Mount Vernon Academy in 1945 as the result of a vehicle accident. He graduated from Washington Missionary College, now Washington Adventist University, in 1950, and married Claoma Suhrie in 1951. Together the couple had six children, one who died in childbirth.

Richard served the Adventist Church for 40 years. He pastored churches in Fleetwood, Reading and Williamsport, Penn.; Hinsdale, Ill.; and Frederick, Md. He pastored the Walla Walla College Church 1963–69. He served as president of Mountain View Conference in Parkersburg, W.V., from 1969 to 1974, Upper Columbia Conference in Spokane, Wash., 1974–80 and North Pacific Union Conference in Portland, Ore., from 1980 to 1986.

Richard has suffered heartache in addition to the death of his young daughter. His wife, Claoma, died from cancer in 2000, and his second wife, Jeanne, died in 2006, also from cancer. Richard married Helen Rasmussen in 2007. Richard lives with Helen in Mount Vernon, Wash., where he enjoys reading, walking, staying active in church and spending time with his family.

In addition to his five living children and their spouses, Richard's family includes three step-children, 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.