Richard Ben Bath, 80

Richard Ben Bath: Husband - Father - Pastor - Cowboy - Grandfather - Friend.

Born Jan. 1, 1931, in an old ranch house in Ash Valley, Calif., 20 miles outside the ranching and lumber town of Adin, Rich grew up chasing cows and rigging hay derricks on the family ranch with a little rodeo, riding, roping and branding thrown in for fun. Rich attended a one-room schoolhouse in Ash Valley, then rode horseback to town each week to board with cousins and family friends while completing high school in Adin.

Rich then attended UC-Davis, studying agriculture for a year, served his country in the Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Mt. Fujiyama, Japan, during the final years of the Korean Conflict, and, after coming to know the Lord as his Personal Savior at the age of 20, continued his studies and ultimately completed his masters of biblical studies from Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Ore.

A lifetime of ministry began in 1960 in Paulina, Ore.; continued in his little home town at the Adin First Baptist Church while working full-time on the family ranch, then full-time at the First Baptist Church of Crescent, Ore.; and then on to a 30-year association with The American Missionary Fellowship that included service as camp director of Cocolalla Lake Bible Camp in Bonner County, area missionary of Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington, and finally pastor at Morgan Acres Community Church in Spokane. Rich went to be with his Savior at 3:55 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, in Coeur d'Alene.

Rich is survived by:

• His wife of 32 years Rhoda Jean Moore Nagle Bath of Post Falls, ID

• Son John Willard Bath of Chula Vista, CA

• Daughter Kathleen René Bath of Seattle, WA

• Son Paul Nathan Bath and wife Meagan of Cambridge, ID

• Step-son Paul Anthony Nagle and wife Beth of Novi, MI

• Step-son Timothy Alan Nagle and wife Michelle of Coeur d'Alene, ID

• Nephew Danny Paoff and wife Roxcella of Salem, OR

• Grandchildren Amanda Marie Bath Mayor of Portland OR; Kristine Ashlee Nichols of Seattle, WA Sariah Virginia, Rachael Grace, and John Thomas Bath of Cambridge, ID; step-grandchildren Rita Aileen Nagle of Novi, MI and Eden Grace Nagle of Coeur d'Alene, ID

• Great-grandsons Evan James and Colin Wesley Mayor of Portland, OR

• Sister Grace Bath DeForest of Marysville, CA and brother John Oren Bath of

Bonanza, OR

• Nieces, nephews, "adopted" kids, campers, and friends too numerous to name.

Preceded in Death by:

• His wife of 24 years Virginia Belle Mason Bath in 1978

• His eldest son Vernon Wesley Bath in 1979

• Step-Granddaughter Lyla Grace Nagle in 2007

• Brother Fred Bath and Sister Martha Bath McNeall

Rich never lost his love for his savior, spreading the good news of salvation, his home ranch, the great outdoors, his family and friends; and was always ready, even into his final year, to climb up on a horse and help with a little cowboyin'.

Services will be Sunday, June 26, at 3:30 p.m. at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made in memoriam to Cocolalla Lake Bible Camp or Morgan Acres Community Church. In keeping with his request, Rich's remains will be returned to Ash Valley at a yet to be determined time.