Sandy area resident Richard Harland Northup died at home on Monday June 13, 2011 after a brief illness. He was 79.
He was born Richard Harland Northup in Forks, Washington on January 18, 1932 to Dale and Mildred (Hamilton) Northup and they made their home in the Forks area. He had two sisters, Sharon and Mary Sue. After attending primary school, he began a life-long career as a logger and forest construction worker.
Dick married Verna (George) Davis on December 27, 1976 in Vancouver, Washington, and they continued to live in Sandy, Oregon. One of Dick and Verna’s favorite past-times was bowling together.
He worked for several logging outfits in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, and spent some time in the 1950’s working for the U.S. Forest Service teaching firefighters how to operate chain saws. He also worked for Alpine Towing and RSG Forest Products. He was a highly skilled logger and cat operator, and built several roads in forested areas. He was always happy while telling stories about his logging experiences; pulling misery whips, setting up and operating landings, and trying to keep inexperienced loggers from injuring themselves. He also enjoyed spending time in the woods fishing and hunting.
Dick’s surviving children are Kathy Dixon of Chehalis, WA. and Jim Northup of Armory, MS; 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three of his children, Dale and David Northup and Patty Bloom.
A memorial will be held Saturday June 25, 2011 at 1:00 at the Sandy Grange, 34705 SE Kelso Rd.