Verlyn Reed Geriene

Verlyn Reed Geriene died in his sleep in the morning of April 8 at the age of 83. He was born on Aug. 26, 1930, in Ritzville to the late Lucille Wellsandt Thom and her first husband, Andrew Geriene.

He was raised by his mother, Lucille, and his stepfather, the late Edward Thom, on a wheat farm just outside of Ritzville next to the local airport.

Verlyn suffered from polio as a young boy, but that did not stop him from following his dream of flying. He learned to fly early completing his first solo flight at age 15.

He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1948 and, at the age of 21, went on...