Kenneth Ray McCullough

Kenneth R. McCullough, 89, passed away in Richland, WA. on January 28th, 2025.

Born in Leavenworth, WA, in 1935, to Edith and Claude McCullough. His childhood was spent in Leavenworth and Wenatchee, WA and later they settled in Seattle, WA where a brother Darrell and a sister Cheryl joined the family.

Ken graduated from Lincoln High School. While there he met his first wife Joan Stedman (later known as Iona) and married after graduation. They went on to earn degrees in Education from Western Washington University. His first job took them to Oak Harbor, WA on Whidbey Island as an art teacher. There they welcomed a daughter, Lani and a son Shawn. 

Then in 1967 he and his wife took jobs working for the DOD, teaching the dependents of military personnel overseas. This eight-year chapter took the family to Goose Bay Labrador for 1 year and then 7 years in Augsburg, Germany. While living in Germany they traveled extensively throughout Europe and had many great adventures. 

After returning to the States, he eventually settled in West Richland, WA where he met Kirsten (Sig) Rislov and they married in 1978. With their union he welcomed into his life a son, Jason. He joined the Richland School district first as an art teacher and later as a school counselor and finally earning his principal certification. Ken had a career he loved as a lifelong educator and touched many students’ lives through his love of all forms of art.

He was a gifted artist, amateur photographer and a licensed private airplane pilot with a passion for airplanes. 

He is survived by his wife Sig McCullough; daughter Lani McCullough; sons Shawn (Julie) McCullough and Jason (Brenda) McCullough; grandsons, Forrest Smith & Teagan McCullough; siblings Cheryl McCullough and Darrell (Judy) McCullough.

He is preceded in death by parents Claude and Edith McCullough.