Dennis Lee Fischer of Umatilla passed away on March 6, 2020 in Umatilla at the age of 75, surrounded by the love of his family and God’s grace.
Dennis was born on Aug. 15, 1944 in Portland to Herbert and Sarah Fox Fischer.
Dennis lived in Sunnyside, Wash. throughout his childhood, where he attended Granger High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1962 at the age of 17. Dennis married his best friend and the love of his life, Ruth Gregory in Union Gap, Wash. on Aug. 22, 1964.
Dennis’s time in the Navy included stations in Alaska during the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake; Thailand, where he performed computer searches assisting in the return of military soldiers who were MIA and KIA; Rota, Spain, where he and Ruth welcomed their son, Michael Dennis, and two years later a daughter, Arlene Elaine; and then San Diego, Calif., where they welcomed their third child, Michelle Dennise. Dennis retired from the Navy after 20 years of service as a chief in the computer programming field and moved his family to Washington state.
Dennis worked for Boeing Computer Services in Richland, Wash. as site security manager of computer technology, retiring after 20 years. Dennis and Ruth owned and operated a small family business, F&P’s NW Mailing Systems, for 10 years before going into full retirement.
Dennis and Ruth were best of friends and enjoyed many activities together, such as traveling in their RV, snow-birding to Arizona for several years, and serving as camp hosts for several Oregon state parks, including Emigrant Springs and Hat Rock. While Dennis enjoyed yard work and woodworking, spending time with his family was his first love.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth; daughters, Arlene Peterson, and Michelle Wilson and her husband Mike; grandchildren, SarahAnne, LeeAnne and husband David, Mikhail, Celicia and Miles; great grandchildren, Haegon, Vienna and Kamden; mother, Edith Fischer; and several brothers and sisters and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Sarah; son, Michael; and son-in-law, Eric Peterson.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at South Hills Church, 3700 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick, Wash.
Family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Franklin Graham Samaritan’s Purse.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
