Royal Hale Biles

Royal H. Biles, 81, a Wenatchee Valley resident for over 60 years, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at RiverWest Retirement Community in Wenatchee. He was born on April 8, 1930 at Gid, Arkansas to the late Sanford and Zada (Moser) Biles. He was raised in the Gid and Melbourne area and attended school at Mount Pleasant. During the late 1930's and through the 1940's, he made the seasonal trips to Wenatchee, along with his family to work the seasonal fruit jobs. In 1950, he went to work at Keokuk smelter in Rock Island and was employed there at the time he entered the U.S. Army in May of 1952. Royal served as a M.P. and motor pool mechanic with the Occupational Forces in Europe in Austria and Italy during the Korean Conflict and received his honorable discharge in May of 1954. He was married to Freda Bernice Johnson on May 15, 1954 at Portageville, Missouri. They made their first home together in Wenatchee and Royal returned to his job at Keokuk. He continued working through the ownership and name changes to Hannah Mining and Silicon Metal Tech. He retired in 1992 as a Control Room Operator. After he retired, they moved to his family's homestead near Melbourne, Arkansas, until injuries received in an automobile accident forced his return. They returned to make East Wenatchee their home in 1994. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Freda on August 22, 2006. He has since made his home in East Wenatchee. Royal was a former member of the Wenatchee Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie # 204. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, playing the slot machines, growing tomatoes and feeding the birds and squirrels. He was a self-taught musician that played the guitar, piano and harmonica and was widely known as a good "Backyard Mechanic". One of Royal's greatest joys was being surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and he immensely enjoyed the backyard barbecues with family and friends. He is survived by three children and their spouses, Freda & Mike Houle, Benton City, WA, Mike & Jean Biles, East Wenatchee and Patricia "Trisha" Osborn and her fiancée, Tony Rosa of Wenatchee; 9 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife; Freda, his parents, sister; Angelea Eakes and three brothers; infant Pal Biles, Edmund and Ephraim Biles. The family sends "A special thank you to hospice nurses Debbie & Ginny, Dr. Toby Long and Royal's wonderful neighbors." A commemoration service will be held on Saturday, April 7th at 1:00 p.m. at Heritage Memorial Chapel, with Chaplain Scott Langager officiating. Memorial donations in his name are suggested to the Hospice Foundation of N.C.W. c/o P.O. Box 3406, Wenatchee, WA 98807, for the Future Hospice House. Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com . Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Royal Hale Biles

April 8, 1930 - March 31, 2012