in MeMOriaM

Diane T. Johnston, 73, owner and manager of Golden State Reload, Perris, Ca., passed away May 16 of a brain hemorrhage.

She was selling for Edwards Wood Products, Marshville, N.C., in 1999 when she relocated to Southern California to marry Dennis Johnston, then president of Peterman Lumber, Fontana, Ca. In 2008 they launched Golden State on Peterman property.

Jack Leroy Martin, Sr., 87, longtime veteran of Setzer Forest Products, Sacramento, Ca., passed away April 11. Jack worked for Setzer for 55 years until retiring in 2008. Starting in 1953,

Johnnie Brian Dell, 70, retired co-owner of Shuel’s Lumber, Union Gap, Wa., died May 7.

He started in lumber sales at Cashway Lumber before joining Shuel’s in 1989. In 2009, Bill Shuel decided to retire and sold the company to three longtime employees—John, Bob Velasquez, and daughter Dayna Shuel. John helped run the company until retiring in 2018.

Roger William Wulf, 91, longtime Colorado yard manager, died April 23.

Roger began his 46-year career in the lumber business in 1952 when he was hired by his uncle to work at J.F. Anderson Lumber, Fairmont, Mn. In 1972, he became manager of Independent Lumber Co., Cortez, Co., and in 1978 moved to manage Boise Cascade, Aspen, Co. He retired in 2001 from BMC West.

In 1979-1989 he served as a director for the Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and president of the National Lumber Building Material Dealers Association.

Diane Ekrem Webb, 83, matriarch of Ekrem Hardware Do it Center, Burlington, Wa., died March 13 from Lewy body dementia.

After a seven-year teaching career, Diane received a master’s degree from the University of Washington.