Sandra Lynne Newcomb

Sandra Lynne Newcomb, age 93, of Yakima, Washington, passed away on September 20, 2026. She was born on August 1, 1933, in Clarkston Washington to George Hargadine and Dorothy (Dot) Marion Higby Willams. As a little girl she was raised with her sister Janet on an acreage where her parents grew vegetables and had a cow, chickens, ducks etc. One story she told about her young life on the acreage was the time during the depression that they had duck for dinner. After dinner her parents let her know that it was her pet duck.

Early in her life she became very ill with a respiratory disease. It became very serious and she lost a couple of years of school. The Doctors didn’t believe that she would live past 16 years old.

When she was about 12, the family moved into her grandparents home in Lewiston, Idaho, while her parents started a roller skating business in Lewiston. Her Dad also worked full time for the Camas Prairie Railroad. Mom recovered and went back to school a grade behind the rest of her class.

When she was high school age her Dad had her do some painting in their roller skating rink. He also hired another young man to help her. His name was Delbert Newcomb. While they were working together her dad told her to invite Del to dinner. They also had classes together at school. They dated for about 3 years and attended the high School proms together. Her closest friend at the time was Valerie Stewart and Del’s closest friend was Don Ziehner. The four of them were very close friends throughout high school and still remain friends today. It’s amazing that all of them have lived into their 90’s. Sandy was about a year older than the others.

One story that Sandy liked to tell was about a time that she and Valerie borrowed Don Ziehner's car. They didn’t know to release the parking brake, but they drove it anyway. The parking brake, which worked off of the driveline, overheated and caught on fire. People yelled at them and when they finally stopped they were in front of the fire station and they were able to quickly put the fire out.

When Sandy was 19, she was able to travel to New York City with her mom and sister Janet. They stayed with her Aunt, Irene (Topsy) Vite and her husband in Brooklyn and saw all of the sites including attending an “I Love Lucy” show. They traveled by train. On the way home the train collided with an oil tanker. They were not hurt, but it delayed their trip by 4 hours.

Del and Sandy graduated from Lewiston High School in 1953. They married nearly a year later on April 18, 1954, a marriage that would last over 72 years. For the next 4 years they lived in 3 or 4 different apartments in Lewiston. Del continued to work at the M & K Grocery Store, where he started as a box boy at 15. He worked 60 t0 70 hour weeks to make ends meet. Their first child, Doug, was born on May 4, 1955 and then Cindy was born on May 6, 1957. In April of 1958 they purchased their first home in the Lewiston Orchards. It was a small 3 bedroom 1 bath home, only 900 square feet. It was new and they were so excited to be in their own home. We live in that home for the next 14 years.

Because of their busy schedules with the railroad, skating rink and civic responsibilities, Mom's parents weren't able to be a part of Sandy’s life when it came to supporting them in school or

other curricular activities. So when she had her own kids she was all in. She had a subscription for several years where Cindy and I were photographed at least annually by a professional photographer. She was an active member of the PTA, my Cub Scout Den Leader and Cindy’s Blue Bird Leader. She and Dad attended Ball games and concerts. Mom was always there to

support us.

Some of the field trips she organized and took us on while she was my Cub Scout leader and Cindy’s Blue Bird leader include the Lewiston Morning Tribune, Hoslum Bakery, Golden Grain Dairy, Pulp Mill and many others. We had a 1959 Desoto. It was a big car and before seat belt laws. She would pile all of the kids into the car and away we would go. Mom was so short that she could barely reach the gas pedal with her big toe.

As we got older we started getting into motorcycles. Just small ones. Mom had a Honda 50 and Dad a Yamaha 80. Before I could drive, I would sit on the back of the Honda 50 and shift the gears for my mom as she drove. Later, I purchased a Yamaha 125, and Mom rode on the back and Cindy rode with my dad. We would take the motorcycles camping with us and ride around on mountain roads and trails. We had a dog named Pugsley. When he would get tired of running alongside us, he would get on my mom’s lap and ride with us. Those were fun times.

We also spent time as a family water skiing at Coeur d’Alene lake. However, Sandy’s one and only attempt was on the Snake River. She never learned to swim, but we talked her into trying.

She put on two May West life jackets and a couple of ski belts to give her confidence. We got her all ready to go and told her to let go of the ski rope if anything went wrong. Well, the boat took off and she went head first into the water. She didn't let go of the rope. She apparently went down pretty deep. When she finally let go she stayed underwater a little longer than expected.

When she came to the surface she popped out like a cork briefly clearing the water. It was hilarious.

The spring of 1972 was the beginning of a lot of change in our lives. In May, Dad accepted a job in Anchorage Alaska. Mom, Cindy and I stayed behind and cleared out our home and sold the

house. I had just turned 17 and Cindy was 15. About the 1st of July Dad came back and we drove our cars to Seattle and put them on a boat to ship to Anchorage. I believe it took about 6 weeks for them and some of our furniture to arrive in Anchorage. After about 7 weeks I returned to Lewiston to attend my Senior year of High School and live with my grandparents. Cindy started at Diamond High School in Anchorage. At Christmas time Cindy went back to Lewiston for the Holidays and I flew up to Anchorage. Things didn’t work out as hoped with Dad’s job. So on Christmas Eve of that same year we all moved back. Dad accepted a job in Sunnyside

Washington. During his interview, Cindy and I picked out their next home.

They lived and worked in Sunnyside for the next 11 years. During that time Mom worked at the Old National Bank and then at Washington Mutual. In 1983 they purchased a Kits Camera franchise and operated the store in the Yakima

Mall.They had a very successful business. In 1984 they moved to Yakima and within a couple of years bought a new home on N. 57th in Terrace Heights. In 1991 they purchased the home they currently live in. They received numerous performance awards within the Kits Camera Organization. In 1998 they sold the business and retired.

Our family vacations have evolved over the years. Early on the family vacations consisted of trips to Fresno California to see my Dads family. Every other year we would travel there with my

Dad’s parents coming to Lewiston the other years. In California we visited and camped in Yosemite and Dinky Creek. We also went to Disneyland, Marine Land, and Knotts Berry farm.

When they came to Lewiston we spent most of our time camping on the North and South Fork of the Clearwater River. After moving to Washington Cindy and I started our own families and their vacations often meant traveling to Texas and Utah. Later we were able to make trips together to England, Hawaii, Canada and the Eastern Caribbean on a cruise. They also traveled to Virginia and Washington DC to spend time with her uncle, Dick Williams, who spent most of his career at the Pentagon. I know that Sandy would have liked to have traveled more, but I think she was able to see more than she had ever dreamed of when they were first

married.

Sandra will be remembered for her strong devotion to her family. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Delbert Allen Newcomb, Brother Thomas Lee Williams (Mary), Son Douglas Allen Newcomb (Cheryl), Daughter Cindy Lynne Lien-Kessner (Dennis), 8 GrandChildren and 25 Great Grandchildren and counting. She is preceded in death by her Sister Janet Willams Ivey.

In 3 John 1:4 It says: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” Godly mothers are truly blessed when they know their children are following the Lord. My mom often commented on how pleased she was with her children because we are striving to walk in truth. We loved our mom. We will miss her and I know that we will be together again.

Services will be held on September 28, 2026 at the Langevin Funeral Home, 1010 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, Washington. A visitation (viewing) will be held from 9:00 - 11:00 AM and Celebration of Life from 11:00 - 12:00 noon with a reception following. A brief graveside service will be held at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Dr. in Yakima. The family is grateful for the support of their wonderful neighbors, Valley Memorial Hospice, Keith and Keith Funeral Services and the care givers from Family Resources, especially Lizbeth Castellanos, her personal care giver, who became a member of the family, and Dorothy Harmon, Sandy’s good friend and hairdresser for over 40 years. Flowers can be sent to Keith and Keith Funeral Home or in lieu of flowers donations can be sent to Terrace Heights Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 4303 Maple Court, Yakima, Washington.