AHERN, Clifford Raymond Clifford Raymond Ahern died May 21, 2009, at St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center in Spokane. He was born April 28, 1920, to Lawrence and Evelyn Ahern. Cliff's early school years were spent at the Marcellus School, and he attended Ritzville High School, where he graduated in 1939. With America's entry into World War II, Cliff enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served as an aircraft mechanic and then as a pilot in the Air Transport Command, where he flew B-24 and C-54 aircraft, ferrying planes and transporting cargo and personnel over the Himalayas ("the Hump") in the China-Burma-India theatre. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with three bronze battle stars. In 1946, he separated from the service with the rank of Captain but remained in the reserves for a total of 26 years of active and inactive service. After the war, he returned to Ritzville where he started Ahern Electric in 1950. On October 15, 1950, he married Elma (Perry) Heimbigner and in 1954 they moved back to the farm that Cliff's father and grandfather had homesteaded in the 1880s. In addition to the electrical business, Cliff and Perry built up the farm, adding irrigation in 1974 and diversifying the type of crops they could grow. Of all his activities over the years, Cliff most enjoyed being with people, and was known to hit a golf ball around the course just to enjoy the company of his friends. Most recently, a highlight of his day was reminiscing with his buddies over coffee each morning and going to Moses Lake to meet his friends for dinner and a card game. He was preceded in death by his wife, Perry, and by his brothers Ernest and Orville. Visitation will be Friday, May 29 from 12 Noon to 5 PM and Saturday, May 30, 2009 from 9 AM to 11 AM at the funeral home. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 30, at 1 PM at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 107 W. Second Avenue, Ritzville. There will be a graveside service and reception at the church following. Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, is handling arrangements.
Published by Spokesman-Review from May 27 to May 28, 2009.