Wesley William 'Wes' Firch, 90, died Monday, July 23 in Sacramento.
He was born in Green River, Illinois on April 21, 1922. His family moved to the Escalon area in 1936. He worked on the family farm after high school graduation. Early in 1945, he joined the Army Air Corps and was sent to the Pacific. He received the Victory in the Pacific medal.
After the war, he returned to farming. He married Rae Sturzl in 1957 and the couple moved to the Oakdale area. He then went back to school.
Mr. Firch earned a Bachelor's Degree from Stanislaus State, and then obtained a Master's Degree in Business from U.C. Berkeley in 1964.
He taught at Stanislaus State for a while prior to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. In 1977, he started his own firm, Firch Accountancy Corporation in Riverbank, retiring in 1986.
In retirement, he entered politics, running as a Democratic candidate for Assembly in 1998 and for State Senate in 2006. He served a term as President of the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce, and was active as a leader in the Oakdale Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for nearly 50 years.
Survivors include his sons, Ted (Vickie) Firch, Tim (Nancy) Firch; daughter, Tammy Firch; sister, Gladys Cosens; two grandchildren, Bethany and Bart; and one nephew, David Cole.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rae.
Services will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3 at Sacramento First Christian Church, 3901 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento.
Remembrances may be made in his memory to the Sacramento First Christian Church Discretionary (benevolence) Fund, or Outreach Fund, 3901 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 1, 2012
He was born in Green River, Illinois on April 21, 1922. His family moved to the Escalon area in 1936. He worked on the family farm after high school graduation. Early in 1945, he joined the Army Air Corps and was sent to the Pacific. He received the Victory in the Pacific medal.
After the war, he returned to farming. He married Rae Sturzl in 1957 and the couple moved to the Oakdale area. He then went back to school.
Mr. Firch earned a Bachelor's Degree from Stanislaus State, and then obtained a Master's Degree in Business from U.C. Berkeley in 1964.
He taught at Stanislaus State for a while prior to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. In 1977, he started his own firm, Firch Accountancy Corporation in Riverbank, retiring in 1986.
In retirement, he entered politics, running as a Democratic candidate for Assembly in 1998 and for State Senate in 2006. He served a term as President of the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce, and was active as a leader in the Oakdale Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for nearly 50 years.
Survivors include his sons, Ted (Vickie) Firch, Tim (Nancy) Firch; daughter, Tammy Firch; sister, Gladys Cosens; two grandchildren, Bethany and Bart; and one nephew, David Cole.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rae.
Services will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3 at Sacramento First Christian Church, 3901 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento.
Remembrances may be made in his memory to the Sacramento First Christian Church Discretionary (benevolence) Fund, or Outreach Fund, 3901 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 1, 2012
