Frederick Charles "Bobo" Brayton passed away on March 28, 2015 at the age of 89 at his Pullman home surrounded by his family.
Bobo was born on October 20th, 1925 in Vancouver, WA to Herbert and Hazel (Miller) Brayton. He was one of six children. He grew up in Skagit County, in Birdsview. At Hamilton High School he lettered in varsity sports. Bobo attended Washington State University, where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. He graduated in 1949. During this time, Bobo served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.
He began his coaching career at Yakima Valley Community College. After 11 years, he moved to WSU. In his 33 years of coaching baseball at WSU, he had 1,162 victories and several of his players went on to the big leagues. As a coach he would use his passion for baseball to teach the life lessons that would help his players to achieve excellence on and off the field. He became a second-father to many of his players, shifting from a coach to a mentor and friend. Bobo touched many lives.
He married Eileen Lyman on December 21, 1947 in Kirkland, WA. Together they made their home in Pullman since 1961 where they raised their family.
Bobo was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for fishing and hunting. Every November you could find him elk hunting. He loved his home overlooking the South Fork of the Palouse River, where he spent each morning counting deer and watching wildlife. Anywhere Bobo went around the world or in remote wilderness, he would run into someone he knew.
Every day he reminded his wife of 67 years how much he loved her. His family of three sons and six grandchildren were central to his life.
He is preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Swettnam and Bertha Sue Monroe, and by his grandson Herbert Charles Brayton. He is survived by his loving wife Eileen, three sons Herb (Jennifer), Fritz (JoAnne) and Tom (Kris) and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The memorial service will be held Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 11 AM at Concordia Lutheran Church in Pullman, WA. Private family graveside services will be held at the Pullman Cemetery. A celebration of Bobo's life will be held at Washington State University at a later date. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman is caring for the family. Memorial donations are suggested to the Bobo Brayton Endowment Fund at Washington State University; the Parker Youth Sports Foundation, 6 South 2nd St., Yakima, WA 98901 or to a favorite charity.