- Date Of Birth: April 23, 1928
- Date Of Death: May 30, 2020
- State: Idaho
Richard Eaton, 92 a resident of Wendell, passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Stonebridge Assisted Living in Wendell.
Richard Stanley Eaton, was born on April 23, 1928 to Fred W. Eaton and Faeth Amerette Vetsch Eaton in Wendell, Idaho.
Richard attended Wendell schools graduating in 1946. In his teenage years, he worked after class at the Wendell Irrigationist newspaper where he learned several skills that he would put to good use later in life. After graduating high school, he and three friends joined the Army and served his country in Japan. He was stationed at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo where he was responsible for safely transporting high-ranking officers in his Jeep. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he returned home and attended business school in Salt Lake City where he met his future wife – Veloy McMillan.
He and Veloy returned to Wendell where they married on October 21, 1951 making their home in the same house where Richard was born on East Avenue A. In 1967 they moved to their current home on North Idaho Street. He then returned to co-own and work as a typesetter and printer at the Wendell Irrigationist newspaper and later worked at the Northside News in Jerome. In 1964 he and Veloy obtained the contract to operate the school buses for the Wendell schools as the Hub City Bus Company for 42 years. They safely transported three generations of Wendell families to school, sporting events, ski trips, field trips and many other school activities. They loved their jobs and their passengers, while promoting responsibility, good behavior and respect.
Always supportive parents, they never missed a sporting event, concert or any event in which their children participated. As the children became adults and had families of their own, their support never wained.
Richard learned to fly in a Piper Cub in the 1950s and after all his children had left home, bought a used Cessna 172 and spent many hours flying around the Magic Valley. He and Veloy traveled the United States extensively in their motorhome and also made several trips overseas. However, they were happiest when surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
Richard was predeceased by: his parents; sister – Charmion Amadeio; brother – Robert; and daughter-in-law – Jan Rumsey Eaton.
He is survived by: his wife – Veloy, three sons – Brandon of Boise, Michael (Judie) of Midway, Utah and Curtis (Pam) of Maui, Hawaii; two daughters – Jeri Vanderzwaan (Jim) of Monterey, California and Janette Larson (Fred) of Wendell. He has 14 grandchildren – Stephanie Kelly, Kristen Bruce, Cole Eaton, Chad Eaton, Cody Eaton, Scott Eaton, Travis Eaton, Alisa Jahn, Ashlee Lau, Nicholas Larson, Eric Larson, Jennifer Anderson, Kellen Eaton and Ariel Eaton; and many great-grandchildren.
One of his grandsons described him best, “We will never look at school buses, handlebar mustaches, and Old Spice the same. Today we lost one of the most caring, ornery, supportive and giving men around.” He will be missed by many.
