DOLPHIN, Anthony "Tony" (Age 78)
Holding his beloved wife Ida's hand, his children beside him, at 7 p.m., on Saturday, March 14, Tony Dolphin completed the circle of life at the place where he was born.The cause of his extremely sudden and unexpected death was a highly virulent and exceedingly fast spreading cancer of the liver. Born August 12, 1930, to Andrew Wilford and Verna Octavia Dolphin, Tony was the third of four children. After graduation from West Valley and service in the U.S. Air Force, he graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1958. A career as a teacher, coach ? 1968 State Champion cross country team, individual state champions in 1965, 1968, and 1969 ? mentor, and role model followed. He was a longtime member of the Spokane Mountaineers, chair of its Conservation Committee for 14 years, and was elected an Honorary Member in 1986. An original member of the Lands Council Board of Directors, he spent countless hours tirelessly working to conserve the specialness of nature found in the Inland Empire. His 1985 retirement saw travel, gardening, and more time in the outdoors, volunteer work, a passion for good books about serious subjects, continued interest in cartography and cartographers ? especially of the Northwest, and woodcarving as a member of the Spokane Carvers Association. But above all was his love and commitment to family and his passion for conservation. Proceeded in death by his parents, brother Will, and brother-in-law Tom Rawlings, he is survived by, in addition to his wife, Ida, of Spokane, his brother Howard (Mary Floy) Dolphin, Liberty Lake, sister Gwen Rawlings, Kennewick; sister-in-law, Lola Dolphin, Spokane Valley, and children: Florence (John) Townsend, Newman Lake; Jerel (Karen) Rowe, Newman Lake; Janell (Greg) Cox, Manassas Park, VA; Jody Rowe, Coeur d' Alene; Cory (George) Juniel, and Melanie Rowe, both of Las Vegas, NV. He is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews ? all of whom he cared for and loved. A celebration of Tony's life will be held at Spokane Valley Baptist Church, 1222 S. McDonald Road, Spokane Valley on Friday, March 20 at 1:00 p.m. Reception immediately following. Private interment at Spokane Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Tony's memory to the Spokane Mountaineers, PO Box 1013, Spokane, WA 99210; the Lands Council, 25 W. Main, Suite 222, Spokane, WA 99201; or the Nature Conservancy. 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.
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Kirk Hanson (1970)
Tony was a great coach of our cross country team!