Middleton passes away after battle with ALS
Posted: Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 01:38:04 pm PDT
By Chrystal Doucette
Herald staff writer





Longtime council member, businessman, community advocate dies at 61

EPHRATA -- Ephrata resident Dave Middleton carried with him a positive attitude, even during his final days.

On Aug. 19, Middleton passed away after battling Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for more than two years. A funeral will be held Aug. 16 in the Ephrata High School performing arts center.

His wife, Billie Middleton, said her late husband felt humbled by the tremendous community support behind him.


"He touched a lot of people's lives, in business and sports," Billie Middleton said.

Dave Middleton was an active member of the Ephrata community. For 13 years, he tried to improve the community through his work as a city councilman. He was involved in little league throughout his children's' lives, umpired baseball games and broadcast the high school basketball games for more than 20 years on a volunteer basis.

"He liked to see the kids do well and how they progressed from one year to the next," Billie Middleton said of her husband's work as a sports broadcaster.

Before his death, Dave Middleton was presented with a lifetime membership to the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association and a local baseball park was named after him. He co-owned Lindsay Water, Pool and Spa with his wife, and enjoyed golfing, card-playing and traveling.

Billie Middleton remembered living in Alaska for nine months with her husband as they learned to rely on one another in the isolated winter months. She remembered when their car got buried beneath the snow and the way the snow reached their doorstep.

For an even briefer time, Dave Middleton moved to Australia where he was offered a job. Billie Middleton was seven months pregnant with their first child at the time, so she stayed behind.

"His parents (always) wanted him to have a round-trip ticket that he could turn in," in case he changed his mind, she said, and he did change his mind. In just four or five days, he was back in town, realizing they could survive in the country but would not afford the return home, due to Australia's different economy.

Although Dave Middleton and his family settled in Ephrata, their business allowed them to travel out of state often for conventions. Texas, New Orleans and Disneyland were just a few of their family's destinations.

Dave remained as active as he could until the end of his life.

"When his legs would no longer let him just walk all over town," he continued to get around with a power chair, Billie Middleton said. His spirits remained high.

"Dave was a very positive person," she said. "He knew where he was going."