Obituary of Arthur Sunderland

Arthur Sunderland

December 17, 1920 - May 13, 2018

Arthur (Art) M. Sunderland, 97, passed away in Vancouver, WA on May 13, 2018.  He was born in Cheney, Washington December 17, 1920 to Samuel and Beulah Sunderland.  Art grew up on a farm, helping milk dairy cows and the many other chores of farm life that included being a 4-H club member. He attended schools in Cheney through High School.  For a period, Art worked in home construction in the Cheney area.  He graduated from Washington State University (W.S.U.) with a B.S. in Animal Science and was an active member (and later alum) of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.  While attending W.S.U. he met his wife, Jean (Dahl).  They were married June 5, 1945 in Chehalis, Washington.  Art and Jean continued living in Pullman, WA while completing their degrees.  After graduation, Art went on to work for the W.S.U. Cooperative Extension Service in various capacities. He served as War Foods Emergency Agent, state 4-H specialist, Agriculture Extension Agent in Whitman County, and from 1954–1979 as chairman agent in Columbia County.  After retirement Art continued to serve the agricultural community through working part time with the Columbia County Soils Conservation District, Washington State Fair Commission and Dow Chemical Company.  He was very active in the community throughout his time in Dayton and became a regular fixture at the Dayton Bulldog basketball games in later years.  

Art and Jean raised two children, Paul Sunderland (Dottie Koontz) and Pamela Catlin (Tom).  He loved his grandchildren Jon (Carmen) and Jenny Sunderland and his great grandsons Zachary and Ian Sunderland.  Skiing, fishing and cabin times were some of his favorite activities with family.

Art and Jean enjoyed traveling and were part of the Friendship Force International. With that organization they traveled internationally and nationally and also hosted families from around the world. Whether it was traveling afar or just going for drives around Columbia County, Art liked being on the move.  One of his favorite places to go was the family cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene.  Fishing was something he enjoyed and he caught big ones with his son, Paul and/or friends in WA, AK, OR, ID and Mexico. 

Art was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters who died in infancy, his brother Melvin and his beloved wife of over 71 years, Jean (Beck). 

Arrangements were made by Cascadia Cremation and Burial.  To view a copy of this obituary and leave a comment please go to INFO@CASCADIACREMATION.COM.   Services will be held in Dayton at a later date (to be announced).