As many of you know Rich, our friend passed away this last Friday. His battle with Pulmonary hypertension among many other health challenges over the last 7 years took its toll. Rich was a local, from Carnation (ride or die), lake City, and Edmonds with his wife Aubrey. We have been neighbors for a couple of years and it’s been great getting to know them both. 

Rich showed incredible strength in his illness , all of his treatments, he shared openly on social Media and to anyone who was willing to be educated.  

Rich was an EXTREME car guy, loved bikes and massive gear head. He helped with the carnation 4th of July car parade, always jumped at the chance to help anyone he could. Rich loved hot rods and custom car building and he enjoyed the art so much he shared about it even if you didn’t want to hear it lol

Rich loved music, cared so deeply for his friends and family. Anytime he spoke of his son Noah or his wife Aubrey he lit up like a Christmas tree. So proud and full of love and joy for them. They were his ENTIRE world. Rich and his dad worked on cars even during his illness when he couldn’t do much he had extreme joy in just being around cars. 

My husband and I have had the incredible blessing of spending time with Aubrey, rich and Noah. Spending holidays together and adventuring when we could. Creating an environment at our home that would be great for rich that he was comfortable. Even though we lived right next door the opportunity to even leave his house was a huge event for him. He lights up every room!  And the way he looked at Aubrey and how she looked at him is something of an old time movie that seems out of this world. She was his EVERYTHING! Their humor was so genuine and unique. So many Inside jokes between the two of them. 

Rich and I had a common understanding….we both have chronic illness that is not curable. We talked often about what an incredible LOVE we get to experience in our spouses being so supportive. On the good days Aubrey is encouraging every one of his wishes and whims….regardless of how exhausted she was. (Let me tell you, some days she was flat out drained, but never let it hinder her care for rich)

On his hard days she would come home on every break from work to check on him and first thing she would do after a long 10+ hour day (which she did often to support their finances) she would

Tend to every one of his needs making sure in everything Rich came first. Not one time since Rich was sick did Aubrey take a vacation, use sick

leave for herself or PTO for herself. It was to help

Rich, to have time with him knowing his time was limited even tho they hoped and fought for his health like it he would never leave us.  And never did I hear her complain once. Her love for him ran deeper than many of us will have the blessing of experiencing in our lifetime.   

7 years Xs 365 days is a long time. No rest, no breaks. Let’s give her an opportunity to rest, grieve and have time to process. Bills add up. Any help is great! If you don’t know someone with chronic illness you don’t understand that the spouse and caregiver don’t have the luxury of processing the daily losses, the heartache or fall apart because they have to keep it together to provide. Aubrey has no PTO or sick paid time available. Can we give her the gift of some financial support so that she can have the moments and time she needs to work out this life shattering change? Her loss and her heartache ? 

Can we honor Rich’s memory by supporting his wife and his legacy? 

Rest in Honor Rich. You are so deeply missed. And will be forever in our hearts. 

If you know him in the car community please share this in those groups. Share with anyone you know. 

Also, please share a memory you have of him so the family can read it!

With Love, 

The Wilhelm Family