Obituary for Gary Wayne Effinger, Sr

1941 - 2013

Gary Wayne Effinger Sr., 71, of Walla Walla, died Jan. 20 in Spokane.
He was born in Walla Walla and lived there most of his life. He played on the Jefferson Pee Wee team in 1951 and the Birdseye Little League team having many bases-loaded triples and home runs as a pinch hitter. His favorite football team was always the Dallas Cowboys and favorite baseball team was the Yankees. He joined the Navy on Nov. 5, 1959, served his country for 30 months and was honorably discharged May 28, 1962. What he held most important in his life were his children, and he was a loving and devoted father.

He is survived by his siblings, Sharon Phillips of Springfield, Mo., Sandra Thorn of Spokane, Snookey Leffingwell of Burleson Texas, Ronald Woo of Richland, and David Seel of Walla Walla; his children, Daniel Brown of Watford City, N.D., Rhonda Effinger of Castle Rock, Wash., Juanita Anspach of Walla Walla, Linda Downing of Mansfield Ill., Gary Wayne Effinger Jr. of West Lebanon, Ind., Angela Effinger of Walla Walla; his beloved niece, Debra Fladung of Phoenix, Ariz.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Benedict; father, Francis Antone Effinger; brother, Leonard Effinger; sister, Connie Effinger; and daughter Tammy Effinger.