Richard A. Wetmore

December 27, 1932  –  July 19, 2024

Richard A. Wetmore

Richard Allan “Dick” Wetmore packed more into his ninety-one years than most people would ever dream possible. Dick accomplished so much because when he dreamed it, he did it. From humble beginnings in North Seattle to high school in Wenatchee, from the University of Washington for an engineering degree and as coxswain on the UW lightweight crew, to Navy ROTC and two years in the U.S. Navy, and then raising a family with wife JoAnn while proudly working at Boeing for 32 years, Dick created and seized opportunities for any pursuit that tested him physically, technically, or creatively.

As a structural engineer for Boeing, Dick worked on a range of projects from hydrofoils to the development of the 767. For the latter, Dick and JoAnn lived in Japan for 18 months, immersing themselves in Japanese food and culture while also developing lifelong friendships through the local bicycle club. Dick was especially proud of his final assignment at Boeing, serving on the international repair team. This work provided him the chance to travel to sites including China, Pakistan, Germany, and the Middle East, engaging his endless curiosity about the world.

A master woodworker, Dick built everything from barns and houses to kitchen cabinets, rocking chairs to dining tables, music stands to turned bowls, train sets to scooters, and one of his many legacies, cedar boxes with carved and painted Northwest Native American-inspired designs.

After returning from Japan, Dick converted their dining room to a tatami room, complete with handmade shoji screens. His pinnacle: a carousel-worthy hand-carved and painted rocking horse with steel horseshoes and leather bridle. When others might say “impossible”, Dick asked “how?” In short, if he dreamed it, he built it. To say that Dick was a woodworker is like saying Miles Davis played the trumpet.

An accomplished outdoors person, Dick was a mountaineer (Rainier, Adams, early St. Helens, among others), backpacker, scuba diver, sea kayaker, cross-country skier, runner, and snowshoer (yes, he built snowshoes for his family). To say that Dick enjoyed the outdoors is like saying that John Muir liked to walk in the woods.

To say that Dick liked to bicycle is the grandest understatement of all. Consider: first President of the Boeing Bicycle Club (BBC) and trip leader and long-time member of BBC and the Cascade Bicycle Club. On a tandem with wife JoAnn: Bellevue to Boston to celebrate his 50th birthday, raising money for the American Cancer Society; United Kingdom, south to north; St. Louis to Astoria, Oregon retracing Lewis and Clark’s route. In addition, Dick completed countless Seattle to Portland rides while also providing volunteer organizational support; completed RAMROD (around Mt. Rainier in one day) multiple times; and at age 90, loved riding his e-bike around Lake Washington. Dick liked to bicycle like Neil Armstrong liked to fly.

Even with all of these pursuits, Dick prioritized family. Along with JoAnn, his beloved wife of 57 years, the Wetmore family explored the Northwest via horseback, backpack, and bicycle. He tended a large garden nourished by their horses, instilling a life-long love of gardening in his

daughters Debbie and Cindy. Animals from cats and dogs to goats and rabbits could be found on their suburban mini-farm. After retirement, Dick devoted many hours to his three grandchildren and more recently, his three great-grandchildren. Constantly building and designing, Dick built a towering swingset and a geodesic climbing dome, among many other creations. At age 90, Dick could still be found on their level, even on the floor, playing or reading as they wished.

Always generous with his time and talents, Dick enjoyed serving as a mentor and teacher. He enthusiastically supported JoAnn as they developed a Girl Scout troop that introduced a large number of girls to the great outdoors, including a bike trip from Bellevue to Spokane for the 1974 World’s Fair. Dick taught many classes on bicycle maintenance and repair, and loved to spend time in his wood-shop with grandson Walker and “grandfriend” Luke, passing on the skills of a lifetime.

While not a follower of professional sports during his working years, Dick became a devoted Mariner fan after retirement. He and JoAnn RV-ed to spring training in Arizona for many years, a tradition he continued with his second wife Deena after JoAnn passed in 2013. Dick was also a dedicated daily crossword puzzler and voracious reader, scouring used bookstores for titles that piqued his far-ranging interests. He and Deena enjoyed attending the symphony, theater, and opera, always appreciating the talents of others. Something else Dick appreciated: ice cream, the bigger the bowl the better.

Dick is survived by his loving wife Deena, daughters Debbie and Cindy, sons-in-law Scott and Charley, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many cherished cousins, and friends too numerous to count. He leaves a legacy of generosity, curiosity, and living proof that if you dream it, you can do it.