Vincent Alexander Gish, Jr. (AKA Rick), of Yakima, WA, passed away on February 11, 2018 from a long battle with cancer.
Vince was born Jan. 14, 1951 in Lynnwood, CA to Dorothy and Vincent Gish. He was the third of four children. He was raised in West Covina, CA and attended Sacred Heart grade school and Damien (Pomona Catholic) High School, graduating in 1969. He went on to graduate from Cal Poly (California Polytechnic University) earning a BA degree in Behavioral Science and a minor in Business.
Soon after graduating from college, he moved to Gig Harbor, WA and began a career in the insurance business. Over the next 35 years, he held various positions in the marketing and claims department with Farmers Insurance. Positions that he held were Special Claims Representative, Branch Claims Supervisor and Manager, Regional Auto Physical Damage Manager, and Division Agency Manager. These positions took him to several locations within the state of Washington, finally settling down in Yakima and retiring in May 2014.
Vince married Maxine Baptiste in 1980 and they were blessed with two wonderful children, Darren and Emily; both were joys of his life and he was so proud of them.
Vince enjoyed classic cars and motorcycles, often showing his ‘67 Mustang GTA convertible at car shows, and going on rides on his Harley and cruises in his Corvette that included a 6000 mile cruise to Bowling Green, KY to the Corvette Museum and factory.
Vince also enjoyed the game of golf and looked forward to his weekly outings with his golf buddies.
Vince later met and married his true love/soul mate Kathy Stinson in 1997 and they were married in 2011 in Moxee, WA. They both loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking and snowshoeing in the cascades with their family and friends and traveling the country side.
Vince was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy (Barker) Gish and his father Vincent Gish, Sr. Vince loved and cherished his wife and all of his children. Survivors include his wife, Kathy Gish of Yakima, WA; son, Darren Gish of Spokane, WA; daughter, Emily Gish-Benefield and husband Russell, granddaughter, Marika of Salt Lake City, UT; stepson, Aaron Stinson and wife Brandy and five grandchildren, Annalise, Evangeline, Emery, Lira and Torren of Post Falls, ID; stepdaughter, Sara Stinson-Baugess and husband Kenny and three grandchildren, Ryan, Konner and Kaliegh of Selah, WA; sister, Cynthia Cockrell and husband Paul of Walnut, CA; sister, Elaine Quinn and husband Bill of Pomona, CA; brother, Ronald Gish and wife Belen of Covina, CA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of Vince’s life will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Rainier Memorial Center, 2807 Terrace Heights Drive, Yakima, WA. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Kidney Cancer Association at P.O. Box 515381 #38269, Los Angeles, CA 90051-6681 or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Rainier Memorial Center of Yakima.