- Date Of Birth: August 27, 1936
- Date Of Death: January 18, 2015
- State: Idaho
Dick was born August 27, 1936 to Morris E. and Thelma G. Collingwood at the Blanchard home in Payette, ID. Since he weighed only 3lbs 12oz at birth, he felt very fortunate for his long life. He was 78 years old, dying of mesothelioma cancer. He started school in Payette, but moved to Yakima, WA two weeks later and finished 1st grade. Before the start of school the following fall, the family returned to Payette where Dick lived the rest of his life. Many lifelong friendships were formed during the school years, including a pretty girl named Wanda Shepler whom he met in the 8th grade. He felt his good luck was still holding out! They both graduated from Payette High School in 1954. Dick also served for 2 years in the Idaho National Guard. Dick and Wanda married January 8, 1955 and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, not the way they had planned. Being at St. Luke’s Medical Center, the staff gave them a cake and had a small choir of employees sing love songs and a couple of hymns, all a surprise! During their life together, they raised three outstanding sons, Rick, Randy and Mark, all of whom also graduated from Payette High School.
Dick worked for his stepfather at McCrea Heating and Plumbing from 1955-1964, learning the trade at the shop. Metropolitan Life was an adventure where he worked from 1965-1972. In 1972, he went back to McCrea’s, eventually buying the business from Mac McCrea along with his brothers, Ron Collingwood and Mike McCrea. He retired February 1, 1998 and the two brothers continued the business. Dick and Wanda loved to take trips and traveled whenever they could, playing their favorite sport of golf along the way.
