Former Kirkland Councilmember, and owner of Kirkland Hardware, Dick Ekins has died at the age of 87. Born Sept. 1, 1927, he passed away Dec. 14.

For 30 years, he ran the Kirkland Hardware store at 424 Kirkland Avenue with his wife, Sandy Ekins. An active member of the community, he was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Kirkland and served as its president from 1976-77. He also served as the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce president.

Ekins was elected to the council in 1985, eventually serving as deputy mayor. He supported plans by Costco to build its second store in Kirkland, where it eventually relocated its headquarters in 1987 and adopted the “Kirkland Signature” brand for its products.

Ekins first met his wife, Sandy, in 1949 during a fraternity social at the University of Washington. They were married in 1953 and initially lived in Seattle, where Sandy was working as a school teacher and Dick as a traveling sales representative for General Electric. The Ekins moved to Houghton in 1972 after buying Kirkland Hardware. They closed the store in 2000 after the property was sold.