Ernest Richard "Ernie" Telford, known to his family as "Bud", passed away December 26, 2009, in Seattle at Harborview Medical Center, following a sudden illness. Ernie was born December 15, 1923, in Opheim, MT to Ernest R. "Barney" and Christina Victoria Telford. Upon graduation from Opheim High School in 1941, he enrolled in a Boeing sponsored sheet metal trade school in Helena, MT. After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Seattle on December 13, 1941. Ernie was employed at The Boeing Company and then Seattle Tacoma Shipyard building destroyers, until drafted to serve his country and inducted into the U.S. Army on April 13, 1943. There, he served with the 119th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion and entered into active combat duty in Western Europe, assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army. Ernie was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. As part of the Army Specialized Training Program, he attended Loyola University. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, he came to Plain, WA, where his family had moved to during his period of serving his country. He and his brother, Frank, bought a little one-horse sawmill, which was located near Nason Creek in the Lake Wenatchee area. They operated this mill just long enough to know that this was not their call to life. Ernie entered the University of Washington and, whenever he had time off, he returned home to Plain. Ernie received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgy. He was employed for 29 years, as a Metallurgical Engineer for The Boeing Company, leaving in 1969, to work on the space program for Brown & Root in Houston, TX. Upon returning to the Seattle area, he began his consulting business, ETCO Engineering, where he specialized as a consultant in legal matters involving metal failures on ships. Ernie married Margaret Cline on November 3, 1951, "his one and only" life and dance partner for nearly 50 years. They resided in the Seattle area, primarily in Innes Arden, Lake Tapps, Redondo Beach and Poulsbo, often in homes designed by Margaret. Upon Margaret's death in 2000, he moved to Puyallup, where he continued his consulting business and enjoyed time spent with his children and family in Wenatchee.

Ernie is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Pam Telford; and daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Jo and Burke Williams, all of Puyallup; four sisters and brother-in-law, Hazel Hawken, Marilyn Crollard, Marlys Parsons and Delta and Ken Wood, all of East Wenatchee; brother, Jim Telford of Wenatchee; sister-in-law, Judi Telford of East Wenatchee; and six grandchildren, Scott, Larisa, Steven, Josh, Don and Rick. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.

A Celebration of Ernie's Life will be held Monday, January 4, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., at Telford's Chapel of the Valley, with Pastor Kel Groseclose officiating. Concluding Services and Interment will follow at Wenatchee City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.