Richard Gage Trowbridge

Richard (Dick) Gage Trowbridge was born February 12, 1924 to Gertrude and Louis Jerome Trowbridge in Webster City, Iowa. Richard was the youngest of the four siblings (Kenny, Leo and Charles). His family moved out west to farm land in Lemhi, Idaho where he learned how to fish and bird hunt with his brothers and was a major asset for his high school's basketball and baseball teams.

Richard enlisted into the Navy at the age of 19 and completed his basic training at Farragut Naval Base in Farragut, Idaho. He was then sent on to Bake and Cook School in San Francisco. He met his future bride to be, Leona Charbonneau, while at a dance social in Spokane. They were married on November 13, 1943 and Richard shipped out soon thereafter overseas to the Philippines and served as a cook on the LST. His ship saw action in the Pacific and at one point took in the crew of J. F. Kennedy's PT boat, serving them food. Richard was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. He returned to Spokane, WA to raise his family. Together, Richard and Leona had four children, Pat (Adele) Trowbridge, San Diego, CA, Mike Trowbridge, Spokane, WA, Terry Trowbridge, deceased (Lori), and Ginger Smith (Ken), Laclede, ID.

Richard found employment with the United States Post Office in 1946, carrying a walking route for eight years and then a mounted route for the remainder of his career. He was promoted to administrator but soon grew tired of all of the paperwork and went back to carrying a route. He retired from the Postal Service in 1979.

Richard never lost his love for athletics and was always involved with them in many ways. He played on fast pitch teams as pitcher for several years until his arm gave out. He was a favorite coach for all of his children, coaching them in hardball as well as his daughter's slow pitch team. He was a stickler for true sportsmanship and fairness and was always asked back to coach as he was a terrific example for them. Bowling also became one of the life-time sports he excelled in and enjoyed participating in well into his mid 80's.

Richard also was a true Numismatist who had a passion for coin collecting. He was a member of the Inland Empire Coin Club and served at one point as their president. Besides coins, Richard also had extensive stamp and sports card collections. Once retired, he started his own sports card business. After a downturn, Richard went on to the "Gaming Cards" both buying and selling. All the 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren truly enjoyed their grandfather's sense of humor and ability to tell good stories.