On Tuesday, September 20, 2016, Delmar Silas Day was gently called to join his Maker in heaven. Born into modest beginnings in Pawnee City, Nebraska on December 31, 1927, Del maintained his humble attitude and kind spirit to the end.
As a young boy, Delmar and his family made the long and arduous journey from the barren dust bowl of the Midwest, to the lush Yakima valley where water, wildlife, and jobs were found to be plentiful. Indeed, Yakima was the finest place that the youngster had ever seen. Del made the Yakima area his home for the rest of his life.
After finishing high school at Yakima Senior High School (A.C. Davis), he continued his education at Whitworth, and then transferred to Washington State College. While attending college at WSC, Del chose to serve his country. He proudly joined the United States Air Force, where he was entered into a training program in Russian language immersion and studies at Syracuse University, mastering the Russian language, and serving in a classified communications center in Alaska. Duty and honor were of the highest importance to him and, to the day he left this Earth, Delmar never revealed the contents of the communications he handled so many years ago.
While attending WSC, Delmar had the great fortune of meeting a spirited young lady, Joyce Winters. He quickly learned that Joyce was an exciting, intelligent girl who was passionate about life. Delmar knew that Joyce was right for him. The couple celebrated 65 years of marriage on August 26th and remained together to the end.
Delmar was a quiet man, but he was passionate, and he was proud of his accomplishments. From his military service, through his many years as a manager at Del Monte, to his long work as an orchardist, Delmar was always able to overcome the hurdles that life presented. Del knew the value of perseverance and hard work, but he also realized that setbacks were inevitable. It was those very challenges that fueled Delmar’s drive to improve and find better solutions.
Throughout his long and happy life, Delmar was always able to rely on his strong faith to light his path; and his determination to make the world a greater place guided his actions. As the respected patriarch of the family, Del was proud to have raised four strong, independent children, one of whom was taken away far too soon. He left three wonderful, accomplished children who brought eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to the family.
Delmar Day will certainly be missed, but his strength, thoughtfulness, and determination will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
Del is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Ruth Leers and her husband Andrew Biggs, daughter Karen and her husband Leo Richardson, son Daniel and his wife Valerie Hyatt-Day; his grandchildren Katharine, David and Scott Leers, Andrea Biggs, Jennifer, Kelly and Brian Richardson, Natalie and Michael Day and great-granddaughters Teagan Erickson and Elaine Easton.
He is also survived by his brother Raymond Day, wife Tola and his brother Donald Day. He was preceded in death by his son David, parents James Day and Rose Holliger Day, his brother Robert Day and his sister Betty Woodworth.
Visitation will be held Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902.
A family burial service at Terrace Heights Cemetery will precede the memorial service which is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at East Valley Reformed Church, 7203 Mieras Road, Yakima, WA 98901.
A reception will immediately follow at the Yakima Country Club.
Gifts in memory of Delmar can be made to Young Life or to East Valley Reformed Church.
To share a memory of Delmar, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.
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