Richard “Dick” Ronald Gastfield, 96, passed away Sunday, December 17th, 2023, peacefully in his home with his wife Betty by his side.
Dick was born December 3rd, 1927, in Lewistown Montana. He was born the youngest of his 3 siblings, by his Father Samuel Gastfield and Mother Lily McHugh. His Mother, brother and two sisters moved to Sequim Washington in December of 1931, and finally residing in Port Townsend Washington were his mother Lily married Ernest Kunz and they had Dicks youngest sibling, Evelyn Hough.
Dick lettered in both basketball and football, playing 3 years on Varsity, and was elected captain on the football team from 1944-1945. He graduated from Port Townsend in 1945 and one year later he was drafted into the Army.
Dick attended The University of Puget Sound from 1948-1949 and worked part-time in the Tacoma Post office. He accepted a full-time position with the postal service being a clerk/carrier and transferred to Port Townsend in 1950. He was promoted to Assistant Postmaster in 1963, and then Postmaster in 1969. In 1971, he received The Appointment on Merit award.
Dick played city league basketball until he was thirty-five and then assisted former University of Washington coach, Art McLarney, running a summer camp for Chimacum and Port Townsend youth.
Dick was awarded several accolades throughout his life including, “Citizen of the Year,” from the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce, “Elk of the Year”, by Port Townsend Elks Club, Chairman of Elks “Hoop Shoot,” and he was President of the Jefferson County fair. Along with being their Treasurer, Dick was one of the prime movers in the construction of the new Elks building.
Dick Married Bettye Conger and they had one daughter, Denise.
Dick married Norine Krieger, a Port Townsend native and had two children, Cynthia, and Richard. They were married for 47 years, before Norine passed away from Cancer.
Dick married Betty Lee Russell in February 6th 1999, and they lived between their home in Port Townsend and Palm Springs, where Dick took up Golfing and Bowling at the young age of 70.
Dick loved the Adelma Beach area and always aid he was fortunate to go through life with such good friends and family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were an immense joy to him.
Dick is survived by his wife Betty Gastfield, his children, Denise Fredrickson, Richard Gastfield and Cynthia Madison, 9 grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.
A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, at the Port Townsend Elks Club, located at 555 Otto St, Port Townsend, Washington from 12:00-3:00PM.
