Carl Gene Ketchie, 84, of Pullman, died on Monday November 15, 2021 at his Pullman home.
Carl was born on November 25, 1936 in San Fernando, California, to Earl and Agnes (Staggs) Ketchie. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from high school there. Carl was President of the Winter Class for his senior year. He was a gifted football player and formed teams for the whole city and the whole valley. Carl was recruited to Washington State University, where he played football from 1957 to 1958. He was drafted in the 1959 NFL draft. He decided to return to California and worked as a delivery driver for an Anheuser-Busch dealer. At this time he also joined the US Air National Guard and served as loadmaster until his honorable discharge. Carl married Grace DelGiudice on July 30, 1960 in Santa Maria, California. They lived in Mission Hills, California until the family moved to Pullman in 1968. Carl and his business partner Larry Myers ran several taverns: Charlie Brown’s and The Wooden Nickel, and owned and operated C&L Vending. Carl worked as a custodian at Washington State University in the Compton Union Building (CUB) and later moved into facility maintenance, where he retired as custodian manager in 2000.
Carl loved woodworking and made many things, including horse-drawn carriages. The “farm” on Rose Creek Road was the focus of his leisure time and often for the whole family. He spent some time in nature over the years and was particularly fond of hunting and fishing. In the early years raising hunting dogs, he also enjoyed taxidermy. Carl was an avid cougar soccer and basketball fan; he was Crimson and Gray through and through.
He is survived by his son Kevin Ketchie from Moscow; his daughter Kelli Mehlman of Pullman; his two grandchildren, Michelle Mehlman and Joel Anderson; and his nieces and nephews. Carl preceded his wife Grace, parents, and brother Kenneth Ketchie in death. The family will greet friends on Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for a visit to the Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman. The memorial service will be held at Pullman Presbyterian Church on November 30th at 1:00 p.m. Carl is buried next to his wife Gracie in the Pullman Cemetery after the funeral service. A meeting with friends and family will follow at Zeppoz in Pullman.
Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman was entrusted with the arrangements. The family suggests making memorial donations to the Pullman Presbyterian Church and Pullman Fire and Ambulance Services. Online condolences can be sent to kimballfh.com.
Comments are closed.