BOMBER MEMORIAL

SUSAN GALE WARD GONZALES ~ Class of 1965
December 21, 1946 - April 21, 2026



Susan Gale (Ward) Gonzales, 79, of Richland, died April 21, 2026, in Kennewick.

She was born to Charles W. "Chuck" Ward and Eileen H. Ward in Richland on December 21, 1946.

Susan attended Marcus Whitman and Jason Lee Elementary Schools, Chief Jo Junior High School, was a 1965 graduate of Richland's Columbia High School and went on to attend Columbia Basin College.

She married Joe H. Gonzales on November 18, 1968.

Susan worked several jobs, probably the longest was Amera, the natural nails company, where she was in charge of purchasing. When she and Joe moved to Mesquite, NV, she worked at a casino spa until her retirement.

She is survived by her daughters, Joni Gonzales ('89) (Jeff Perkins) and Sara Gonzales Lapeyre ('96); four grandchildren: Michaela Gonzales (`11), Tyler Lapeyre, Liam (LJ) Gonzales Perkins (sophomore at RHS) and Jaaskela Perkins; along with her sister and brother in-law, Sherri Ward Johnson ('63) and Kurt Johnson ('63).

Susan is preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her father, Chuck; her mother, Eileen; and her sister, Sandi ('66).

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Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).