John Morris Dietrich Obituary (1922

John Morris Dietrich, age 89, of Prosser, entered into rest on January 20, 2012 at his home at Sun Terrace in Prosser. He was born on December 12, 1922 to Herman Frederick and Bertha (Morris) Dietrich in Tampa, Florida where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Brandon High School in Hillsborough, Florida. John was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 238th Engineer Combat Battalion from January 12, 1943 until January 5, 1946; two years in France. John married Arlene Vivian Barrington on September 21, 1946 in Tampa. They made their home in Seattle that same year and he attended the University of Washington. John worked for Seattle City Light for thirty years. In 1966, he transferred to Metaline Falls near Spokane and worked as a millwright on the Boundary Dam Project, then moved to Mossy Rock where he worked for Tacoma Power and Light for six years before retiring to their 20 acre property in Roy in 1985. Arlene, his wife of forty-nine years died on September 6, 1996. John married Arlene’s sister, Carlene Barrington in 2002 and she died in 2009. In 2010 John moved to Prosser to be near his daughter. John and Arlene spent many years enjoying square dancing and bowling and they served as presidents for their Square Dance Club. They loved traveling with their Fifth Wheel Trailer. He also loved fishing, spending time in the outdoors and fixing all things mechanical. He also very much enjoyed reunions with his World War II Army Corps of Engineer buddies. John is survived by his daughter, Sharon Dietrich Potter and her husband, Charles of Prosser, WA; two sons, Emory “Morrie” Morris Dietrich and his wife, Helen Meyers of Des Moines, Iowa and Daryl Gene Dietrich and his wife, Susan of Woodland Park, Colorado; two brothers, H.F. Dietrich of Redondo Beach, CA and Phil Dietrich of Tucson, AZ; his sister, Odessa Eagan of McKenna, WA; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 31st at 12:00 Noon at Prosser Funeral Home. Full Military Honors will be provided by the Lower Valley Honor Guard. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Lower Valley Hospice or the donor’s favorite charity.