Richard Allen Granger of Port Angeles passed away at home on May 21, 2021 at the age of 76 of complications of Interstitial Lung Disease. Richard (Rick) was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to parents Margaret (Granger) Crabtree and father, Richard Earl Granger. His mother married Carl Crabtree when Rick was 12 years old and he became big brother to the growing family when Ronald, Kermit, Kerry, and Margo arrived. Carl was career USAF and the family moved to each assignment and eventually settled in California. Rick joined the United States Air Force at age 18 and retired in 1984; shortly thereafter, he took a civilian job with Lockheed Aircraft in Saudi Arabia.

Rick and Sandy were married in 1990 In Calais, Maine. Rick became a school bus driver and told of going up Route 9 from Calais to Bangor, ME to pick up the students from a broken down bus in very cold winter weather. Maine winters were pretty challenging but they enjoyed their house on the lake and had many activities and trips back to Washington to visit. He received his associate degree from Washington County Community College while in Maine.

Retirement (or sort of retirement when one keeps on working) to Washington came in 2001 when they traveled back to Washington with a travel trailer and stayed the summer working in a campground in Yellowstone National Park, an experience that brought many good memories and new friends. Shortly after 9/11, they moved on to Port Angeles and searched for the perfect spot with a view of the mountains and built their home. Rick quickly joined the bus driving group and drove both for the school system and Queen of Angels School. He moved on to the Clallam Transit system as a driver and was a temporary fill in for the summers and as needed; he most probably had the reputation of Rick who always said yes to a call to "we need help". He eventually took a permanent job with Clallam Transit System and retired again in 2016.

Retirement included RV travel, sometimes for months and included a winter work camping in Branson, Mo., seven months on the road in a 32' fifth wheel. They decided to be snowbirds in Tucson, Az and bought a home in Tucson Estates, a busy 55+ park with a golf course, and many other amenities. Their life in Tucson Estates again brought more dear friends and enjoying the Tucson winters and activities.

Rick was a member of Port Angeles First United Methodist Church, the Strait Wheelers square dance club, and AMVets in Tucson. He had been a faithful volunteer at the Southern Arizona Veterans Healthcare Services and the American Red Cross in Tucson prior to his health issues.

Rick is survived by Sandy, his wife of 31 years, the Granger children, Shana Steele (Robert), of Mississippi, Chase (Sheila), of Florida, and Brent, of Mississippi, his sister Margo McDonald, (Jim) of Ohio, brother, Kermit of California, and stepfather, Carl Crabtree of Ohio. His wife Sandy's children, Tom (Deana) Humleker of Port Angeles and Peter Humleker (Annie), of Florida; and sister-in-law, Patty Seelye of Blaine. He was pre-deceased by his mother, father, youngest daughter, Sarah Granger Hughley, brothers Ron Crabtree and Kerry Crabtree, brother-in-law, Russell Seelye. There are many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

Sandy's sons described their step-dad, Rick, as a true example of how to treat your wife and they could not ask for a better husband for their mom. That is a beautiful tribute to describe who Rick Granger was. The family will have a "Memory Day" to honor Rick, share stories, and store memories in our hearts forever. A special thanks to the Volunteer Hospice Nurses in Port Angeles; they made Rick's life easier the past several weeks and were a wonderful support to both Rick and Sandy.

Drennan & Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles was entrusted with his arrangements. Please sign the online guestbook for his family at www.drennanford.com .