Rev. Val Rich was born August 16, 1947 in Long Beach, California to Walter and Beth Rich.
Scripture tells us that very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb. The tomb was empty. Jesus’ body was not there. The angel said, “He is not here, He has risen.” (The first Easter.)
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, on April 4, 2021 (Easter Sunday), Jesus welcomed Pastor Val into Heaven! What a special homegoing befitting a pastor!
Val was the oldest son in a military family. He lived in many states and in Panama where he began early missionary work. He attended Simpson Bible College in San Francisco, California where he met Carrie, the love of his life. They were married on September 9, 1967. He enlisted in the Army in 1966 and served in Viet Nam in 1968-1969.
Carrie and Val lived in California most of their married life. He was a life insurance agent for 21 years while pastoring and serving in several churches. He also taught 6th grade at Hueneme Christian School in Port Hueneme.
Val was an avid fisherman. He owned and operated a sportfishing business on the California Coast with his son, Paul, in Ventura County.
In 2006, Val suffered total kidney failure. In 2007, he and Carrie moved to West Linn, Oregon to be near the VA Hospital while waiting for a kidney transplant. After several years of treatment, he received a transplant in 2012 at the VA hospital in Portland.
After moving to Oregon he became a chaplain with Love Your Neighbor Ministries in assisted living homes and with Marketplace Chaplains in various businesses.
Val and Carrie moved to North Bend, Oregon in 2013 where Val got to enjoy being back fishing again, this time on the Oregon Coast. He served in both Nazarene churches in Coos Bay and North Bend. Over the last few years he flipped houses in the Bay Area with several good friends.
Val was preceded in death by his father, Walter Rich. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carrie; his mother, Beth Rich; son Paul Rich (Sally) and daughter Angela Scott (Ray); 4 grandchildren, Richard, Raymond, Andrew and Tiffany; 6 great-grandchildren; brothers, Randall and Daniel and sisters, Marcia, Sheila and Tamara.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 17th at Bay Area Church of the Nazarene, 1850 Clark Street, North Bend OR 97459. At Val’s request, please wear bright colors.
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