To the union of Bill & Anne (Larner) Couch were born three sons – Scott (& his wife Nancy), Bob (& his wife Joan), and Dave (& his wife Kolleen), who survive him, as well as two step-sons, Jay Leo (wife Jennifer) and Ben Leo (wife Lauren). Eight grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren survive (with a 12th great-grandchild on the way in December 2016!), as well as several nieces & nephews and his sister, Lois (Couch) Healy and her husband Lou Healy. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Anne, two older brothers (Floyd & Albert) and two older sisters (Violet & LilyMae). 

To a Life Well Lived! 

After Bill then retired to Portland, sadly, Anne passed away there on November 29, 1994.  But, Bill met Gaila (Constant) Leo at Valley Community Presbyterian Church and they were married on September 8, 1996 at Valley and celebrated their 20th Anniversary before Bill passed on. She was a patient, wonderful, and loving companion to Bill in his last years and is appreciated greatly by his sons and their wives and children. They lived in a beautiful home in Sherwood, Oregon before Bill had a terrible fall in June of 2013, hitting his head on a shelving unit and this eventually led to his brain-trauma-induced dementia, which after a couple years of living in a Memory Care Unit at The Springs at Tanasbourne, this eventually led to Bill's death. Bill will be buried next to Anne at Skyline Memorial Gardens, overlooking the stunning, scenic West Hills of Porltand, Oregon.

Bill & Anne and Dave transferred from Tokyo, Japan to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1977 (and lived in West Vancouver on the north shore across the Lion's Gate Bridge from downtown Vancouver) and were "landed immigrants" in Canada for many years, before moving to Lewiston, Idaho, where Dave attended high school (and eventually college at the University of Idaho - "go Vandals" - in Moscow, Idaho).  They had a beautiful home in the hills of West Vancouver, complete with a swimming pool in the backyard and a wonderful, loving German Shepherd mix named "Misty," which they "inherited" from the previous owners.  They had an equally incredible home in Lewiston, Idaho for different reasons - it was located right on a golf course and had incredible views of the surrounding area, including overlooking the Snake River gorge. From there, Bill retired and they moved back to Portland, Oregon in the early 1990's.

Bill & Anne were transferred from northern California to Ogden, Utah and then to Portland, Oregon, which became their "de facto" hometown for theirs and their children's lives for many years to come.  Bill & Anne were then transferred from Portland to Great Falls, Montana on the banks of the muddy Missouri River.  Great Falls and the surrounding area was a big adventure, but they longed to return to Portland, so Bill took a postion with Continental Grain in 1967, which was the largest privately owned company in the world at the time, and it was here in Portland where their third son, David, was born.  In late 1975, Bill was presented with the opportunity to take over management of the Continental Grain office in Tokyo, Japan. So, Bill, Anne and Dave packed up their things and moved to Tokyo.  Bob was attending the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon and Scott was living in Provo, Utah, not yet married to his future wife, Nancy Humphries.  Bob was struggling with his living arrangements in Eugene (flooded basement apartment!) that winter and decided to pack up and visit his parents in Tokyo.  He liked it so much, they made arrangements for him to travel to Seoul, South Korea to get his Visa extended, and he stayed for almost 2 years, attending Sophia University's International School in Tokyo for 3 terms in 1976-1977.

Bill attended Whitman College in Walla Walla and it was there that he met Anne Larner (Mildred Anne Larner, but she only ever went by "Anne"), who grew up in Wenatchee, Washingon, where she was born. They were married in the First Presbyerian Church in Wenatchee, Washington on August 23, 1952.  Nine months later (to the day!) their first son, Scott, was born in Walla Walla.  After graduation, Bill took a job with General Mills, selling flour to bakeries in and around the Bay Area and it was here, in San Francisco, where they had their second son, Bob.

William La Verne Couch was born in Pomeroy, Washington on March 18, 1929 to Albert ("Al") Patterson Couch, Sr. and Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Blanche (Storms) Couch. We don't know where his middle name came from, but Bob Couch has a theory. While Elizabeth was pregnant with Bill, they visited Al's brother Joe Couch's family in Fallon, Nevada.  In looking at a map, the main street that heads out to the Joe Couch property passes through the intersection of Hiway 50 and LaVerne Street - this may have just caught Lizzie's eye and stuck with her when it came time to name their new son. William was the name of Bill's grandfather, William R. Storms, and was probably the inspiration for Bill's first name.  Bill grew up in Pomeroy, Starbuck, and finally, Walla Walla, Washington and attended Wa-Hi (Walla Walla High school).  He was into sports and played football, basketball, and track & field (and held a number of Washington state high school records in the hurdles for many years). He was also a lifeguard at the "Natatorium" (public swimming pool) on Wilbur Avenue near the Mill Creek in Walla Walla.