Union-Bulletin

Dec. 13, 1985 - July 7, 2010

Joshua Zahl, known to his friends as "Z", died in a swimming accident on July 7, 2010. He was born Dec. 13, 1985.

Josh loved to play all sports. In Milton-Freewater he played soccer, T-ball, and Little League baseball where he became an All Star at 12 years old. Josh and his family moved to Touchet, where Josh attended Touchet school from 1998 through graduation in 2005. Josh played school sports as well as Babe Ruth baseball in the summer during which Josh and his Touchet teammates won two different Walla Walla championships. In 2003, Josh played in the B-8 football state championship game at the Tacoma Dome. In 2004, he made All-Conference as a pitcher for Touchet High School baseball team. His senior year Josh was chosen to play in the state B-8 football All-Star Game. Josh loved to play basketball with his friends and ride his skateboard.

The graveside funeral service will be at Mountain View Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2010, followed by a celebration of life at Fort Walla Walla Park starting at noon. Viewing and visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, July 15, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Herring Funeral Home Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Touchet Educational Fund through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. We hope all of Josh's friends and family will come to help us honor him and share our special memories. Please dress casually.

Josh is survived by his father, David Zahl of Walla Walla; mother and step-father, Doug and Kristi Gay of Richland; grandfather, C.R. "Bud" Schubert; grandmother, Sherlen Roseboom; his extended family, Trevor Gay, Leslie Gay, Kathy Vanderpool, Nancy Boudreaux, Stacie McLean, Laura Eder, Matthew Boudreaux, Sharon Hartman, Dani Boyles and Connie Barrs; several aunts and, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Clinton Zahl; and grandmother, Stella Zahl.