Donald F. McBride

Donald F. McBride died at the age of 74 on June 10 at his home in Deer Meadows, Wash.

He was born in Juneau, Alaska, on June 11, 1939, to Ralph and Muriel McBride. He attended school on the west side of Washington.

The McBride family moved to Spokane in 1955. After graduating from Rogers High in 1958, he joined the Navy. He was assigned to serve aboard the USS Warrington, stationed out of Newport, R.I.

On June 2, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Houger in Spokane. They traveled the east coast for the next three years, while he was in the Navy and before making their home in Washington.

After completing his education for repair and restoring vehicles, he began his career as an auto body repair man. He retired in December 2012 from his long-loved work of restoring vehicles. He was owner and operator of Herb’s Body Shop in Ritzville since 1976.

As a young boy, he loved to build and fly model airplanes; a hobby he continued to enjoy throughout life. Speed was his passion. He started racing bicycles in his early teens, then racing go-carts with his sons.

His love for speed continued and took him to the Bonneville Salt Flats. He and his friend Terry built a 1000 cc streamliner; he was able to attain and hold a record of 228 mph.

He also enjoyed racing sprint cars in the northwest with his son, Dennis. His love for speed even took him to the air and he obtained his pilot’s license in the 1980s.

He enjoyed flying with family and friends.

He had many hobbies that he enjoyed including restoring hot rods and touring with the Ritzville Classic Car Club. He enjoyed life and was active with his family: hunting, boating, fishing, camping and road trips.

He bowled on many bowling leagues over the years. He never met a stranger.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sharon; three sons, Ron, Dennis (Trena), and Steve; daughter, Sherri (Ed) Clark; nine grandchildren, Rob (Kamee), Jennifer, Johnathan, Joe, Kevin (Katey), Jason, Steven, Janina and Lydia; two great-granddaughters; brother, Michael (Lois); mother, Muriel; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service was held June 18 in Ritzville. Interment was at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Danekas Funeral Home of Ritzville was entrusted with arrangements.