Richland Cemeteries Staff Pictured above, back row (left to right): Thomas Bock, Patrick Hollick and Linda Roberts. Front row (left to right): Jane Smith, Mike Grace and Terry Bock. Thomas Bock, General Manager Patrick Hollick, Grounds Superintendant Linda Roberts, Family Service Jane Smith, Accounting Mike Grace, Community Service Terry Bock, Office Manager HISTORY OF THE RICHLAND CEMETERIES Resthaven Cemetery, located at 700 Williams Blvd., is a recognized historical site holding the history and memories of a small farming community called Richland. In 1909 the community made its first burial, a child, whose headstone memorializes this momentous event. At that time the cemetery was operated and maintained by the Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF). The lodge continued to operate the cemetery throughout the First World War and on through the Great Depression of the 1930's. Historic Resthaven Cemetery is alive with the memories of the earliest pioneers, names like Compton, Dam, Davidson and many others, fulfilling the cemetery's promise to record the history of the community and preserve for all time the memory of those who lived and worked to build our community's early foundations.Richland's fame would ultimately stretch from Washington State to Washington DC. Soon the whole world would know about Richland and the "Manhattan Project". In April of 1942 the city was evacuated to make way for a vast Defense Department Project. Before Richland became a ghost town, the Richland Woman's Club as one of its last official acts, purchased daffodils to be placed on the graves at Resthaven Cemetery, lest the dead be forgotten. This loving act was re-enacted 46 years later, in 1988, by the Women's Club of that day. Through the Second World War the city of Richland was United States Government property. Resthaven was not immune. The Government, looking for a way to handle the burial needs of a changed community turned to the one remaining independent entity, the Richland School District. Under the District's supervision and the daily volunteer management provided by co-owner of the old Richland General Merchandise Store, John Dam, the cemetery continued to serve the needs of the community. In 1957 Duaine L. and Rosemary "Bobbie" Einan started Richland's first funeral home just a short distance from Resthaven Cemetery. As part of their community service work, Einan's Funeral Home volunteered their services to help with the management of the cemetery. As the Government relinquished control of the community back to the people in the late 50's, an election was held and the community supported a bid by the newly formed Richland Cemetery Association, a non-profit organization formed through the untiring efforts of the Einans and a small group of dedicated individuals. The Association's only purpose would be to serve the burial and memorial needs of the Greater Tri-Cities area. An elected board of directors, who serve without compensation, still govern the organization today. As the community grew, the Association secured 70 acres to develop a second cemetery in Richland, Sunset Memorial Gardens, located at 915 By-Pass Hwy (State Route 240and Swift Blvd.). As its name suggests, the Association's newest cemetery offers a park like setting with open gardens containing central works of art and numerous locations for burial, entombment and inurnment. For the public convenience the Einans relocated their funeral home and crematorium next to Sunset Memorial Gardens in 1970. An historic event occurred in the fall of 2004, the community owned Richland Cemetery Association's Board of Directors began working with Gary Weible and Thomas Bock, owners of Einan's Funeral Home and Crematorium, to transfer ownership of the funeral home corporation to the Richland Cemetery Association. The transfer took place in January of 2005. This very significant change in ownership has set in place a unique opportunity for the Greater Tri-Cities Area; a non profit, community owned association now owning two cemeteries and a funeral home all dedicated to providing the finest of care. Today the Association's cemeteries offer a wide variety of choice from traditional to modern memorial designs, meeting the changing needs of the community. The Association believes that cremated human remains are due the same respect as casketed human remains. The Association has created and will continue to create areas and unique features for that purpose. Those wishing to contribute to the historical knowledge of Richland's cemeteries are encouraged to do so. Not many early pictures exist of Resthaven Cemetery and the Association would appreciate sharing any that are available. The Association can be e-mailed at info@richlandcemeteries.com. MAIN | ABOUT US | EVENT | MAPS & DIRECTIONS | SERVICES | PROPERTIES |
