By Ken Robinson

Managing Editor

When my Dad, Jerry Robinson, came to White Center in 1951 to own and operate the local newspaper, The White Center News,  Yarington’s Funeral Home was a prominent business on the main drag. The paper carried a front page ad for a Seattle competitor, Home Undertaking.

Dick Yarington didn’t like the weekly reminder on page one.

Dad quickly became involved in community affairs, including attendance at the Kiwanis Club meetings in the basement of the Epicure Restaurant. Dick Yarington was a long-time member there.

When the upstart newspaper publisher showed up at the meetings, Yarington squirmed. When dad was proposed for membership in the club, Yarington ‘blackballed’ him and dad never became a Kiwanian.

I was reminded of this event when I saw a notice this week that Yarington’s will no longer be Yarington’s and has been sold to a chain funeral home company.

Dick Yarington died years ago, taking with him the memory of exacting revenge.