Obituary of Edward Loren Schuoler

Edward “Loren” Schuoler passed away peacefully at home on Monday, June 10, following a two-year battle with gastric cancer. He had been living at the home of his son, Jack, and daughter-in-law, Heather, in Everett, Washington, where he had been lovingly cared for since the passing of his wife, Ann, in 2018. Loren was born on November 28, 1933, at his grandparents’ farm in Outlook, Washington, the firstborn child of Edward and Ruth Wagner Schuoler. He grew up in Yakima, Washington, attending Yakima schools and graduating from Yakima High in 1952. Loren met and dated his future wife, Ann Deaver, at Yakima High. They married during their sophomore year at Washington State University, on January 30, 1954. Loren and Ann were happily married for 64 years and lived in Pullman, Colfax, Steilacoom, and St. John before settling in Ritzville in 1964, where they raised their family. They retired to Mill Creek, WA, in 2005. Known for his strong work ethic, Loren started working for Jordan Drugs in Yakima at eleven years old, continuing through high school. He developed a passion for the field and pursued his degree from the College of Pharmacy at Washington State University. At WSU, Loren was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Loren graduated from the College of Pharmacy at WSU in 1956 and, after a 15-minute interview, was hired as a registered pharmacist for Tick Klock Drugs in Colfax, Washington. His career was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army in 1957. Loren served as a pharmacist at the Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. After completing his service, he returned to work for Tick Klock as the pharmacist/manager at St. John Drug. In 1964, Loren was promoted to run Ritzville Drug. Over the years, Loren became a business partner with Tick, resulting in ownership stakes in pharmacies in St. John, Harrington, Wilbur, Lind, and Ritzville, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Loren loved being a small-town pharmacist and caring for his community. He was always happy to open the store after hours if someone needed medicine or even batteries for a child's toy on Christmas Day. Loren was also active in the community, as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, various economic councils, the Ritzville Lions Club, and Emanuel Lutheran Church. Outside of work, Loren enjoyed sports throughout his life. He captained the Shrimps Basketball team at the YMCA in Yakima and played football and basketball in high school. He loved playing golf with family and friends, supported the Ritzville Broncos, and followed the Washington State Cougars with passion. Professionally, he supported the New York Yankees, Boston Celtics, and the San Francisco 49ers. Though his family teased him for being a bandwagon fan, Loren insisted he simply had an eye for talent. While not a musician, Loren was an ardent fan of good music, especially from the Big Band era. Artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller were regularly on the stereo at home. Loren enthusiastically supported the famous Sunday afternoon musicales in the Schuoler home, where friends would drop by with instruments for impromptu jam sessions. His favorite song was Ellington’s “Take the A Train” with Ella Fitzgerald on vocals, and he loved to jitterbug, especially with his wife, Ann. He had a unique triple-time step not everyone could follow. Loren was predeceased by his wife, Ann; daughter, Kathleen; parents, Edward and Ruth Schuoler; sister, Carolyn Tyrrell; sisters-in-law, Georgia Dinnetz, Mary Jordan, and Jane Simmons; and brothers-in-law, Wilds Deaver, John Deaver, Don Simmons, and Douglas “Duffy” Deaver. Loren is survived by his daughter, Liz Pritchard (Dan) of Harbor Springs, Michigan; son, Jack Schuoler (Heather) of Everett, Washington; grandsons, Tim Pritchard (Alyssa) of Boston, Massachusetts, and Alec Schuoler of Everett, Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will take place at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville, Washington, on Friday, June 28, at 3PM. The Schuoler family will receive guests at an open house at the Ritzville Golf Course Clubhouse Grill immediately following the service, from 4-7 PM. Condolences can be left online at www.danekasfh.com or sent to the Schuoler home at 13607 56th Avenue SE, Everett, WA 98208. Donations in Loren’s memory can be sent to the College of Pharmacy at Washington State University via the website: https://foundation.wsu.edu/pharmacy/ and selecting the Dean’s Endowed Professorship Fund.