Fallen workers from Tri-Cities to be honored at state ceremony

More than 20 workers who lost their lives on the job and have ties to the Tri-Cities will be honored at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ Workers’ Memorial Day service on April 24.  

Some died recently while others died years ago but only were recently added. 

The names of each of the workers who died will be read aloud during the ceremony. Afterward, families are invited to ring the brass bell in the Worker Memorial Garden on the grounds of L&I’s headquarters and speak about their loved ones.

Of the workers recognized this year, 33 died from exposure to toxic chemicals, the leading cause of death. Thirteen of those had worked at Hanford. Others worked as firefighters, pipefitters, or in other industries that work with hazardous chemicals.

“We work so hard to prevent the dangers we can see,” said L&I Director Joel Sacks in a release. “These tragedies remind us that we cannot ignore the hazards we don’t see – what we breathe and what gets on our clothes can also be deadly.”

Motor vehicle accidents also took the lives of more than a dozen of the workers being recognized, including two men from the Tri-Cities area.

“These deaths are tragic, and many are preventable,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a release. “We will remember these lives lost too soon, and honor them by working to ensure every workplace is safe for all Washingtonians.”

Local workers honored included: 

Benton City

• Philip Bramson, 65, of Benton County, a radiation protection manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Jan. 8, 2001, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Karl Christensen, 78, of Benton County, a millwright for Lockheed Martin Hanford Corp., died Jan. 2, 2024, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• James Stull, 72, of Benton County, a pipefitter and welder for the U.S. Department of Energy, died March 4, 2016, from exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials.

Kennewick

• James Prescott, 71, of Benton County, a reactor operator for Energy Northwest, died April 8, 2020, from lymphoma caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Dwight Schneider, 88, of Benton County, metal handler and fabricator the U.S. Department of Energy, died Feb. 14, 2017, from complications due to Alzheimer’s caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Ferman Stubblefield, 90, of Benton County, a chemical engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Feb. 14, 204, from Parkinson’s disease caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials.
• Daniel Zarate, 25, of Benton County, a landscaper for Trugreen, died June 13, 2024, in a motor vehicle accident. 

Mesa

• Justin Jepson, 48, of Franklin County, a farm equipment operator for Kaleca Inc., died March 2, 2024, in a motor vehicle accident. 

Pasco

• James Dean, 47, of Franklin County, a truck driver for the U.S. Department of Energy, died April 21, 1993, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Robert Dupuy, 73, of Franklin County, a field service engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy, died May 18, 2019, from leukemia caused by exposure to radiation and hazardous materials.
• Earl Louderback, 78, of Franklin County, a carpenter (no listed employer), died Feb. 18, 2020, from a heart attack caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Viktor Voloshin, 56, of Franklin County, an independent truck driver, died June 7, 2024, due to toxic fumes.
• Michael Owens, 79, of Franklin County, technician for A-One Refrigeration and Heating, died Dec. 29, 2024, from diabetic ketoacidosis and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Richland

• Robert Preston Sr., 75, of Benton County, a pipefitter for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Dec. 5, 2011, from cancer caused by exposure to radiological materials.
• Scott Richey, 64, of Benton County, a project manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Feb. 10, 2022, from cancer caused by exposure to radiological materials.
• Wayne Ruby, 69, of Benton County, a Washington state patrolman, died July 11, 2016, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Jerome Skinner, 66, of Benton County, a senior contract specialist (no employer listed), died May 31, 2012, from cancer caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Randall Strickland, 69, of Benton County, a nuclear chemical operator for the U.S. Department of Energy, died June 27, 2023, from a brain tumor caused by exposure to chemicals and hazardous waste.
• Richard Slocum, 80, of Benton County, a vice president for Hanford site operations for the U.S. Department of Energy, died Jan. 20, 2023, from cancer caused by exposure to radiation and hazardous materials. 

West Richland

• Michael Munson, 63, of Benton County, a security officer for Babcock Services, died Feb. 16, 2017, from ALS caused by exposure to hazardous materials.
• Amber Rodriguez, 31, of Benton County, a paraeducator for Richland School District, died April 22, 2024, gunshot wounds.

The public is invited to attend the memorial in person or watch live online. It starts at 2 p.m. April 24 at the state Labor & Industries’ headquarters building, 7273 Linderson Way SW, in Tumwater.