Richard Lee Balash passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the age of 78 at Good Samaritan Hospital. He graduated from the University of Illinois with an electrical engineering degree.

He retired from a 33 year career at Boeing as a Flight Control Engineer, which included working on all five successful lunar orbiter missions and moon mapping. These missions included obtaining the first images of the earth from the moon. He also took up world traveling, kite flying and comic book collecting.

After retirement, he became a lifetime member of the Covington Chamber of Commerce, serving as an Ambassador, photographer and Head of the Education Committee. He also served on the Board of the Kent Community Foundation, was a member of the Friends of the Covington Library and was a lake steward for King County for 10+ years.

He and his wife, Ina, created the RIB scholarship in 2003 for graduating Kentlake and Kentwood High School seniors.

He enjoyed many hobbies and sports, including hiking, fishing, hunting, sailing/canoeing and tennis.

Richard received the Covington Honorary Citizen of the Year award in 2011 and was inducted into the Friends of the Library Hall of Fame in 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Ina, his sister, Sharon and his two children Zina and Scott.

A Celebration of life will be held on Friday, September 9 at 11:30 am at the Edline-Yahn & Covington Funeral Chapel in Kent, WA

Memorials may be made to: The Richard & Ina Balash (RIB) Scholarship by using the following link. http://www.kentcf.com/donate/kentcfscholarships.html

To sign the guestbook visit www.edline-yahn.com