Chester Joseph Prudhomme

Chester Joseph Prudhomme passed away at home June 6, 2025.

Born January 25, 1943 in Kennewick, Washington, Chester (known as “Prudy" to friends and family) was the oldest of four sons born to Chester Joseph Prudhomme and Patricia Neil Prudhomme. He grew up working in the family business, Prudhomme Hardware.

After graduating from high school Chester traveled across the United States and abroad. During the Vietnam war he served in Vietnam in the US Army. After his military duty, Chester attended San Francisco State College, then transferred and graduated to the University of California.

Interested in helping those with addictions, he worked at one of the first methadone clinics in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco.

Later, while working for a stock broker, while on vacation, he visited Port Townsend and fell in love with the town. He called his boss and told him he wouldn’t be coming back to work.

Chester was a counselor for the Jefferson County Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program.

After retirement he volunteered for Ecumenical Christian Helping Hands Organization (ECHHO), providing rides to medical appointments for those needing to go to Seattle and other places. He was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2015 and the ECHHO Bruce and Jeanette Travis Award in 2014. When interviewed about his volunteer service, Chester said, “I’m a child of the ’60s so I was raised to know that helping people is the highest form of human activity.”

Friends remember Chester as a person respectful of and helpful to others, always curious of other people’s interests, and who had many stories to tell from his own life.

With a passion for music, Chester collected vintage records, did appraisals of record collections, and once worked as the music editor for DISCoveries, a magazine for record collectors. He collected, and wore, Hawaiian shirts, collected vintage watches, vintage guitars and unique vintage books. He loved and followed team sports.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers, Patrick, Michael, and Brian.

Chester is survived by his long time sweetheart Marsha Hollingsworth; his nephew Brian Prudhomme and his partner Leslie Camacho; and nephew Chester Prudhomme and his wife Theresa and their children Jazmine, Chester, Avianna, and Charles.

A celebration of Chester's life will be held at a date to be announced.

Family and friends are invited to share memories of Chester and sign the online guestbook.