Wenatchee World - Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ronald M. Trimble, 77, a longtime Cashmere and Wenatchee resident, past President and Chairman of Cashmere Valley Bank, died Thursday, September 18, 2008, in Wenatchee. He was born October 3, 1930, at Mt. Carmel, IL, graduated from high school at Kokomo, IN and attended Indiana University. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1953, mostly at Larson Air Base in Moses Lake, WA and a short time in Texas, South Carolina and Germany. He married Lily Jo Hammans on July 6, 1952, and began working for the National Bank of Commerce in February 1954. From 1954 to 1959, he studied correspondence courses in banking with the American Institute of Banking, while working for N.B. of C. He started working for the Cashmere Valley Bank on June 1, 1959, was elected President in January 1969, and was also elected Chairman of the Board in January 1985. Ron's banking vision fostered the growth of Cashmere Valley Bank and the development of new branches. While at the same time, he made sure the bank kept its commitment to caring for customers, remembering that the bank's most important goal was supporting people. "A Little Bank with a Big Circle of Friends." After serving 26 years as President, he retired in 1995. He continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank until 2002. He returned to Wenatchee to live in 1983. Ron Trimble had served as President of the Cashmere Chamber of Commerce, Board Member and President of the Cashmere Rotary Club, was on the Cashmere Town Council for 11 years, and served two terms of the Board of the Leavenworth Golf Club. Ron was Chairman of the Cashmere Combined Effort Committee, which developed the Early-American theme and the off-street parking and covered crosswalks. He served two terms on the Board of the Washington Bankers Association and was Treasurer of that organization as well as State Chairman of the American Institute of Banking. While living in Cashmere, he was an Elder, Trustee, or Treasurer for 17 years, of the Cashmere Presbyterian Church. In Wenatchee, he was a member of the United Methodist Church and then recently, the Wenatchee Free Methodist Church. He was a Board member of the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club and loved the game of golf; some of his favorite memories were of golf games with friends. He was the Treasurer for the Salvation Army for 25 years. Ron had been a horse lover all of his life. He purchased two Arabians, Cindy in 1968, and Ralph in 1972, who brought him much joy and riding pleasure, which he shared with his daughters. He met Bonnie Blair of Wenatchee, who also was a lifelong equestrian. On November 13, 1999, Ron and Bonnie married. Together, they bred and showed registered Morgan horses in the disciplines of Saddle Seat English Pleasure, English Pleasure Hunt Seat In Hand, English Pleasure Driving and Western Pleasure, having won National, Regional and Canadian Championships. Ron loved the shows. He became a social butterfly, meeting many new and lasting friends. Horses were in his blood. He and Bonnie traveled across the United States, visiting many famous Morgan horse farms. Ron was a loving and generous man who was instrumental in the lives of many people in the Wenatchee Valley. He was grateful for his many blessings, a man of humility and integrity with a wonderful sense of humor. He loved family, the beauty of God's creation, Autumn, hiking, animals, travel and he loved the Lord. Ron is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughters and sons-in-law, Laura and John Waldren of Wenatchee, Sue and Dean Johnson of Mill Creek, Ginny and Collin Davidson of Cashmere; stepchildren, Jim and Scarlett Blair of Port Townsend and Jennifer and Bob Chaney of Spokane; six grandchildren; step-grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren; and a brother, Russ Trimble of Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, C.R. and Ruth Trimble; and one sister, Shirley Good. A Celebration of Ron's Life will be held on Friday, September 26, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at Wenatchee Free Methodist Church, with Pastor John Clark and Reverend John Rogers officiating. A private Graveside Service was held. Memorial contributions many be made to the National Parkinson's Foundation or Wenatchee Spurs and Spokes, an Equine, Child and Adult Disability Program.