Richard A "Dick" Granger, 87, a longtime resident of Leavenworth, died early Tuesday morning December 20, 2005. Born October 22, 1918 to Franklin Elijah and Mary Ophelia(McKay) Granger at the town of Blewett, near Peshastin. Dick grew up there and received his early education there and was awarded his diploma from Peshastin High School. On September 16, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and during World War II he served in New Guinea and later the Rhineland in Europe. On March 7, 1942 he married Elsie E. Malone in Seattle. While Dick was serving his country, Elsie made her home at Peshastin Creek. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Peshastin Creek and in 1949, they moved to Leavenworth to raise their family. Dick was employed as a mechanic at the Yes Sir Chevrolet and later for Clyde Ferguson at Cascade Motors. He later worked for Joe Williams and then he owned and operated Dick's Texaco Automotive for 35 years. He then was employed by the City of Leavenworth retiring in 1990. He was very active in the VFW, Norman E. Douglas Post and for many years served as Boy Scout Master and Explorer Scout Master, he devoted many years to the molding of many boys through his involvement as scout master with camping trips, winter survival trips and suoervising the construction of one-man boats and taking 12 boys on a 10day float trip from Kettle Falls down river to Fort Spokane. The Grangers believed that "kids help keep you young:. He was a man of many talents, playing the violin for family functions, carving gunstocks, using a scroll saw to make wall hangings, and doing delicate wood inlay. Dick took pride in his beautiful tulip flower and vegetable garden. Dick was a life member of the VFW, Cashmere-Leavenworth, Post #10445 of which he was a past post commander and district commander and a member and past Master of Washington State and National Grange. He is survived by his wife Elsie, sons and daughter-in-law, Ken and Sharon of Wenatchee, Tom of Ferndale and Jim of Peshastin; 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 sisters, Reva Williams, Margaret Kerr and Gertrude Peterson; 5 brothers Coleman, Jess, Wes, Bill and Tuffy Granger; and 1 grandson Jason Granger.He was a man of great character and integrity, humble, proud and giving, loved by all who knew him, how can we say goodbye, we will always hold him in our hearts.