BOMBER MEMORIAL

DANIEL WESLEY "DAN" WERRY ~ Class of 1972
June 27, 1954 - June 15, 2025



Daniel Wesley Werry, 70, of Richland, WA passed away peacefully at his home on June 15, 2025. He was born on June 27, 1954, in Pasco, WA to Ellwood Vines Werry and Marilyn Joy Ramey. Dan was the oldest of three children.

Between 1958-1966, the family moved multiple times: to Moscow, ID; Bakersfield, CA; Antioch, CA; and finally back to Tri-Cities, WA. As a child and teen, Dan loved to camp and fish at the North Fork of the Lost River in Southern Idaho. He also enjoyed snow and water skiing with family and friends, as well as slow pitch softball and golf. Dan was an avid sports lover and was involved in many sports in his youth, including football, baseball, wrestling, and cross country.

Dan attended Carmichael Junior High, and graduated in 1972 from Columbia High School (also known as Richland High). He ran cross country at State as a Bomber.

In 1972, after graduation, Dan enlisted in the United States Army. Following basic training, Dan took medical training to become a United States Army Medic. He then completed Paratrooper training with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Benning (Columbus, GA).

Dan was assigned to Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks, AK) where he served two winters at 40-50 degrees below zero. While stationed at Fort Wainwright, Dan made 20-25 paratrooper jumps as a US Army Medic. Some of these jumps were made with United States Allies in Norway. This was during the Cold War, when Alaska was classified as overseas military duty.

For his fourth year of service, Dan reported to Fort Lewis (Lakewood, WA) as an Army Medic, where he was assigned to a military helicopter. This ‘copter and crew were dedicated to civilian rescue only. On a number of occasions, they flew to California to transport a medical patient to a Seattle hospital. Numerous times, Dan risked his life rescuing mountain climbers off of Mount Rainier. Since a helicopter could not land on the mountain, Dan would go down by rope to retrieve the climber and then transport them to hospital care.

Discharged from the Army in 1975, Dan returned to the Tri-Cities where he met his first wife, Martha Nash. They were married in December of 1976. Dan and Martha had two sons, Bryan and Joseph. He was a proud father. Throughout his sons’ youth, Dan had a real passion for coaching sports. “Coach Dan,” as he was known to the community, spent countless hours coaching Little League and Grid Kids football. He inspired youth to play hard and have fun.

Dan became a journeyman carpenter in 1984 through Carpenters Local and worked doing both residential and commercial projects. He later began his own construction company, Werry Construction, with his brother. Scott Werry. In 1987, he went to work on the Hanford Site as a Material Coordinator and worked there for thirty years until his retirement in 2017.

In August of 1993, Dan married his second wife, Charlene Gire, and gained two stepsons, Beau and Willie.

In retirement, Dan especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He always had a construction project or two ongoing, and he golfed regularly with his lifelong buddies, many of whom he made playing softball in his 20’s and 30’s.

Dan had a kind-hearted nature and a generous spirit. He was loved deeply, and left this world too early. We miss you.

Dan is survived by the following:

Father, Ellwood Werry

Brother, Scott Werry ('74HHS) (Felicia)

Sister, Jill Loftus ('84HHS) (Vince)

Son, Bryan Werry (Mary)

Son, Joseph Werry

Grandchildren, Easton Werry and Autumn Werry.

He is also survived by two nieces and five nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Marilyn Werry.

Dan’s life will be celebrated on Sunday, July 13, 2025. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM. This will be followed by a reception at the West Richland Golf Course.

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