Christopher Boston

Christopher C. Boston, 98, passed away peacefully with family at his side on December 19, 2017 at Cottage in the Meadow Hospice in Yakima, WA. Chris, one of 9 children born to George W. Boston and Rosa E. (Pearson) Boston, started life in Pikeville, Tennessee on November 14, 1919. In 1940 he left home and went to Orlando, FL where he worked in a restaurant for a year. He returned to Pikeville to sign up for the draft, but ended up enlisting in the Marines on October 3, 1941. After boot camp, he was sent to Washington DC where he served as a guard at the Navy Department for a little over a year. While in DC he met the girl who would later become his wife. From DC he was sent overseas with the Anti-Aircraft Battalion to the war in the South Pacific. He was on the islands of Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, Guam, and the Marshall Islands. After the war he was honorably discharged, with the distinction of 'Expert Rifleman' on December 12, 1945. He returned to Pikeville for a brief visit with his parents before traveling to Washington State to marry the girl he met in DC. On February 22, 1946 he married Mary I. Wheeler at St. Peter Claver Church in Wapato, WA. He graduated from Perry Trade School in Yakima, WA and operated a service station in Wapato for several years. From there he went to work full-time for the Post Office in Wapato until his retirement in December of 1980. Chris and Mary raised a family of 5 children, and were the proud grandparents of 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. They moved to Yakima in 1992 where they remained until their passing. Chris had a wonderful sense of humor, and was a great story-teller. His memory was impressive, and he would captivate everyone with tales of his childhood adventures and military exploits. He was very social, and made friends easily. He and his faithful dog, Daisy, were a familiar pair as they walked the neighborhood and fields behind his home in Terrace Heights. He was an avid reader, skilled carpenter, and an amateur wine maker. He loved listening to music of all genres, and playing his guitars, singing, dancing, and jamming with his grandsons. He enjoyed family barbeques, camping, fishing and traveling. He and Mary took many trips throughout the US and Canada with their travel trailer, exploring the country and visiting friends and relatives. He was very hard to beat at the card game 'Spite and Malice' and equally formidable at Scrabble. One of the special highlights of his life occurred in June of 2014. Accompanied by his son, he was able to take the Honor Flight for WWII veterans to see memorials in DC. Despite the limitations brought on by failing eyesight and hearing loss in his later years, as well as the death of his beloved wife last December, he never waivered in his faith, and maintained a positive attitude. He continued to ride his exercise bike, play his guitar and sing, and lived in his own home up until his stroke on November 3, 2017. His love for his family, for God, and for his country, made him a very special man indeed. He will be missed by many. He is survived by his children: Christine (Jon) Bachtold of Walla Walla, WA; Susan Peltonen of Clarkston, WA; Robert (Shirley) Boston of Olympia, WA; Kathleen Perrault of Yakima, WA; and Janice (Mike) Walker of Longview, WA. and by his brother, Kenneth L. Boston of Dayton Ohio. He was proceeded in death by his parents George and Rosa Boston, his sisters: Lucille, Venia, and Novella, his brothers: James, Willis, Garland, and Lewis, and his beloved wife, Mary. Viewing will be held on Friday, January 5, 2017 at Valley Hills Funeral Home (2600 Business Ln., Yakima) from 4:00pm – 7:00 pm with a Rosary at 5:30pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am Saturday, January 6, 2017 at St. Paul's Cathedral (15 S. 12th Ave., Yakima). Concluding services and burial will be at Calvary Cemetery (1405 S. 24th Ave., Yakima) followed by a luncheon at St. Paul's School. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Christopher Boston, please visit our flower store.