Anton “Tony” Wentz passed away on July 27, 2017 after a long illness, he was 79 years old. Tony was born in Toppenish, WA to Sebastian and Catherine Wentz on September 14, 1937. He married his high school sweetheart, Emily Alair Sutton, in 1956. After serving in the National Guard and the Army, Tony joined the police department in Toppenish in 1963. In 1967, Tony moved his family to Yakima, where he joined the Yakima Police Department and began college. He somehow managed to work full-time while taking college classes and raising 4 children, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from CWU. Tony worked his way through the ranks to Captain at YPD, which included working both patrol and detectives, both at the officer level and supervisor. Tony was instrumental in the creation of the Yakima Police Patrolman’s Association and served as the president of the association for many years. After retiring from YPD in 1989, Tony continued to serve the public, first as the Public Safety Director for Union Gap, and then as Director of Emergency Services for Yakima County, finally retiring in 2001. Tony and Alair then moved to their new retirement home at Horn Rapids golf course in Richland.
Tony enjoyed camping and fishing with his family, along with playing and coaching slow-pitch softball for many years. He and Alair maintained close friendships with several of their high school classmates, and wintered in Palm Springs for a few years with their good friends Larry and Kay. Tony took up golf in his later years, and enjoyed putting in the courtyard even as his health failed.
Tony lost Alair, the love of his life, who was taken too soon when she passed away unexpectedly in 2009. Devastated, he moved back to Yakima in 2010 to be closer to family.
Tony is survived by his and Alair’s children, Nolan (Brenda) Wentz, Brian (Julie) Wentz, Denise (Don) Plath, and Jan Wentz, as well as 8 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and his siblings Goldie, Betty, and William. Tony was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Mary and Jim.
Tony spent his last years at the Fieldstone in Yakima. We can never thank the staff enough for their selfless care and loving kindness to him and his family, especially in his last days. He will be truly missed, but loved and remembered always.
A memorial service will be held at Rainier Memorial Center in Yakima at 2 pm on Friday, August 4th. Donations in Tony’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. To share a memory of Tony, please visit www.keithandkeith.com
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