Torrance Arlene Husch

As a young girl, Torry washed dishes for her mother who owned Ma Clark’s Café in Harrah, WA. She graduated from Wapato High School and afterwards graduated from Yakima Business College. During WWII, she worked at the telephone exchange. Shortly after that, she met the love of her life and best friend, Allen Husch. They married in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho in 1945.

They made their home in the Wapato area for 65 years. Together, they built Husch and Husch Inc. in Harrah, WA, pioneering the first bulk storage and blending fertilizer plant in the Yakima Valley. As Secretary Treasurer of Husch and Husch, Torry developed a custom accounting system that the plant still uses today.

Torry and Allen were recipients of the Presidential Medal of Merit and the Governor’s Distinguished Volunteer Award. Their contributions to the community are too numerous to try and fit in this column. Many lives were touched by their generosity.

Torry and Allen took frequent vacations to the Hawaiian Islands as well as a trip to Israel, and a tour of Europe to commemorate the 50th reunion of the 57th Bomb Wing of the Army Air Corps.

A true matriarch of the Husch family, Torry leaves a legacy of generosity and hard work and a heritage of community involvement.

Torry is survived by her son Kelly Husch; her daughter-in-law Deanna Husch; her brother Roy Clark; and her sister Frances Noble; her grandchildren, Autumn Torres, Tegan Husch, Torry McGuire, Courtney Husch, Allen Husch, and Lisa Husch; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Jordan, Ryker, Faith and Sophie Torres; Liam, Ashlin and Kayali Husch; A.J. and Jonas Husch, Brooklynn McGuire, Jazmin and Jade Salazar, and Max Allen. They will miss their Grandma Nana, Grandma Angel, and Grandma Torry.

Torry is preceded in death by her son Allen (Buff) Husch, her husband Allen Husch, her daughter-in-law Cynthia Husch, and her great-grandson Hunter Husch.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Vicky Jones and the staff at North Star Lodge for their excellent care. Also, a special ‘thank you’ to Tammye for her love and care. Donations can be made to Children’s Wishes and Dreams and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday Sept. 28, 2010 at Yakima Christian Center, 1422 S. 10th Avenue, Yakima. Burial will follow in the Reservation Community Memorial Park, Wapato. Merritt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.merrittsfuneralhome.com