On September 15, 2017, Richard Louis Ackerman, 86, of Gresham, Oregon, peacefully passed away at Hospice House in Kennewick, Washington. He went to be with the Lord he loved, the wife he missed and his 11 brothers and sisters.

Richard was born in La Grande, Oregon, to Ernest & Elsie (Stilson) Ackerman on February 20, 1931. He was the 12^th and final child of a large and close family. In 1932 the family migrated to Portland, Oregon to look for work due to the Great Depression. He graduated from Washington High School in Portland, Oregon in 1948, and then went on to earn a degree from Northwest Bible College in Seattle, Washington. He enlisted in the Navy in 1956 and served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ticonderoga. On September 17, 1960, he married Eleanor Cade and they had their first and only child, Steven Ackerman in 1964. He worked for the State of Oregon Employment Division for 31 years earning many awards for his management skills and was honored by then Governor of Oregon, Vic Atiyeh. He was a good and honest man and a loving father, grandfather and uncle. He was an avid reader, always filling his head with new knowledge. He enjoyed the simple and meaningful things in life like a beautiful sunrise or the laughter of his grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by; his wife Eleanor Ackerman, mother Elsie Ackerman, father Ernest Ackerman and 11 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by; his son Steven Ackerman, daughter-in-law Melody Ackerman, grandchildren, Jared Ackerman, Miranda & Josh Standridge, Christopher Ackerman and multiple nieces and nephews.

A celebration and remembrance of his life will be held at Charbonneau Retirement Community, 8264 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick, Washington on October 21, 2017 at 2:00pm.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Einan’s Sunset Memorial Gardens, Charbonneau Retirement Community, Bethel Church and all their family and friends.