Richard "Dick" Watrous

Ilwaco resident Richard Thomas Watrous, 91, known to all as “Dick”, died Christmas Day in Ilwaco. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Dick was born there June 5, 1924, the son of Homer and Estella (Powell) Watrous. At age 8 Dick came west with his parents, settling in Camas, Washington. There he attended Camas High School where he excelled in basketball, baseball and track and graduated in 1942. He promptly joined the US Navy during World War II and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS White Plains in the South Pacific Theatre. Returning from duty, Dick again settled in Camas where he was employed at the Crown Zellerbach paper mill until 1982, retiring as maintenance supervisor. Dick had been a visitor to the Peninsula since the 1940s and for years sport fished out of Ilwaco. In 1982 he permanently moved to Ilwaco. Dick was a member of the First Baptist Church of Camas, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Camas, 50 year member of Masonic North Bank Lodge #152 in Washougal, Long Beach Elks and Ocean Park Eagles. In past years he was chairman of the City of Camas Park Commisssion where he was instrumental in developing several baseball fields, served as a Port Commissioner for the Port of Camas where he was also temporary manager, and was a commissioner for the Port of Ilwaco. Over the years Dick enjoyed fishing, hunting and sports. During the 1950s he played fast pitch softball in the Camas/Vancouiver area on the Vancouver Fuel team and additionally was involved in both Little League and Babe Ruth baseball leagues as a coach when his children were young. Dick and Mildred Martin were married until her death in 2008. Surviving are sons Don Watrous of Los Angeles, CA, Steve Watrous of Vancouver, WA and Robert Watrous of Phoenix, AZ; four grand and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his long time companion Morene Martin, formerly also of Ilwaco. At his request no services are planned. Cremation arrangements by Penttila's Chapel by The Sea. His guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com