Wayne R. Meredith, 76

Wayne R. Meredith passed away on July 24, 2015, surrounded by family and friends.

He was born March 13, 1939, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the son of Ralph and Loretta Meredith and the first of six children. After graduating from Sandpoint High School, Wayne joined the Navy and served from 1958 to 1963 on the USS Tusk SS 426 and USS Tinosa SS 606 as an electrician’s mate.

While in the Navy he studied operational nuclear power for submarines and taught night school for struggling students.

After the Navy he worked at the Argonne National Laboratory as a research technician until 1966 when he moved to Spokane, Wash., where he and his former wife Lilian (McNeese) raised their five boys.

In 1968, he started a manufacturing company that designed and fabricated automated packaging machinery for the glass bottling industry and later manufactured machinery for the sawmill industry.

After retirement, he continued to go to work every day, wiring machines, running errands, helping make decisions, but always getting home in time to watch Perry Mason reruns.

Wayne’s ultimate love was music, playing the bass fiddle. He and his wife Marian, who plays the accordion, spent many wonderful times together playing for the blind, dances, weddings and any other opportunity that came along.

He was a “people” person, and in his later years put much energy into nurturing relationships, both old and new. He also loved to garden, specifically potatoes and peas. It will be an honor to harvest the final crop in Dad’s memory.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Kevin and Jeff. Wayne is survived by his wife, Marian; his sons, Kevin (wife Deborah), Scott (wife Kim), Mark (wife Debbie), Michael (wife Lida) and Craig (wife Kristel), all of Spokane; his sisters, Nona Vincent (Post Falls, Idaho) and Patty Wallace (Spokane); a brother, Glenn (wife Jakie) (Naples, Idaho); 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We are looking forward to hearing the many stories that will be told of our dear father, husband and friend. Join us to celebrate the life of Wayne on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 10 a.m., at St Ann’s Catholic Church, 2120 E. First Ave. Spokane, WA. Donations can be made in his name to St. Ann’s Catholic Church, or a charity of your choice. He will be greatly missed.

Arrangements have been entrusted to: Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Spokane.