Pullman Obituary Records Database

Pullman obituary and death records are held through Whitman County Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health. If you need a death certificate for a Pullman resident, want to search historical death indexes, or are researching a Whitman County family, this page covers the main sources and how to access them.

Whitman County Vital Records in Pullman

Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County. Death certificates for Pullman residents are handled through Whitman County Public Health at whitmancountypublichealth.org. The health department is located at 1205 SE Professional Mall Blvd, Pullman, WA 99163, and can be reached at (509) 332-6752. Whitman County Health Department has all death certificates on file since 2013. Death certificates issued before 2013 can be ordered from the Washington State Department of Health.

Death certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Processing time is typically 2 to 3 weeks when applying through the county. Applications can also be submitted directly to the Washington State Department of Health in Tumwater with similar processing times. Expedited service may be available for an additional fee.

Only qualified applicants can receive a certified copy under RCW 70.58A. Eligible requestors include the subject of the record, spouse or domestic partner, parent or step-parent, child or stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal representative, authorized representative, or government agency conducting official duties. Valid photo identification is required with all requests. For recent death records, the office recommends waiting until the funeral home says the records are ready before applying.

The Whitman County public records page also notes that the Whitman County Auditor's Office at 400 N Main Street, Colfax, WA 99111 (phone 509-397-6200) issues marriage licenses with a fee of approximately $64 and a three-day waiting period. Divorce decrees are court records maintained by the Superior Court Clerk, not vital records.

Washington Digital Archives Death Index

The free Washington State Archives Digital Archives Death Index covers Whitman County deaths from 1907 to 1960 and from 1965 to 2017. The index holds over 2.3 million statewide records. The 1907 to 1960 entries were transcribed by volunteers and generally contain more detail than the 1965 to 2017 data extract. Images of actual death certificates up to 25 years ago are available in the Department of Health Death Certificates collection on the same site.

The Washington State Archives also holds the Whitman County Auditor Miscellaneous Recordings collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov. This collection covers 1987 to the present and includes indexes of documents recorded with the Whitman County Auditor. Document types include death certificates, birth certificates, name changes, trusts, and wage liens. The collection is open for research. For best search results, search by name or by year. Related records inquiries can be directed to the Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch at (509) 235-7508 or eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov.

Whitman County was formed in 1871 from part of Stevens County and is named after Dr. Marcus Whitman. The county seat is Colfax. Researchers searching for early Pullman records should note that the Whitman County Courthouse in Colfax holds the County Auditor birth and death records from 1891 to 1907. The County Clerk has marriage records from 1872 to 1891, probate records from 1870, divorce and court records from 1864, and naturalization records from 1862 to 1942.

Whitman County Public Health at whitmancountypublichealth.org is the primary local office for Pullman death certificates and explains the eligibility requirements for certified copies under Washington's 2021 vital records law.

Historical Pullman Death Records

The Washington State Library holds the Register of Deaths for Whitman County on microfilm (GEN MICRO 979.739 DEATH 1893-1907). This microfilm covers the Whitman County Auditor register of deaths from July 15, 1893 through June 12, 1907 and is available at the Washington State Library in Olympia. The library's Vital Records LibGuide at washstatelib.libguides.com explains that anyone can request a copy of a Washington death certificate from the Department of Health without proving a family connection for records outside the restricted period. Specific lookup requests can be submitted via the Ask-A-Librarian page with a date range included.

FamilySearch at familysearch.org provides a detailed Whitman County Genealogy page for Pullman researchers. It lists the Whitman County Auditor Death Records, 1891-1907, at the Washington State Archives with index and images. The Department of Health Death Certificates from July 1, 1907 to 1997 and the Death Index, 1907 to 1960 and 1965 to 2020, are also available at the Washington State Archives. The page notes that the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Fatal Accident Cards, 1915-1928, may contain records of workplace deaths in Whitman County. There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Washington County Death Registers, 1881-1979, are available on FamilySearch with index and images. Washington County Deaths, 1891-1907, are also available with index and images. These broader statewide collections include Whitman County records and are searchable by name, making them useful for Pullman obituary research when you do not know the exact certificate number.

The Whitman County public records guide at publicrecordcenter.com outlines fees, processing times, and office locations for Pullman death certificate requests through both the county health department and the state DOH.

Pullman Library and Genealogy Resources

Pullman is home to Washington State University, which has a large library system with genealogical holdings. The WSU Libraries maintain historical newspaper archives and special collections that may include Pullman-area obituaries. Public library branches in Whitman County also provide access to Ancestry.com and other subscription databases for genealogy research.

The Social Security Death Index is a free resource that can help identify death dates for Pullman residents who died after 1935. FamilySearch also offers Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960, as a free indexed collection. Both are searchable by name. The Washington State Library accepts specific death index lookup requests via the Ask-A-Librarian service; include a date range when submitting your request.

The Washington State Library and obituary indexes are also referenced at sos.wa.gov/library. This page lists tools and methods for finding obituaries statewide, including newspaper microfilm collections, library catalogs, and genealogical society resources that cover Whitman County and Pullman.

Ordering Pullman Death Certificates

To order a certified death certificate for a Pullman resident, start with Whitman County Public Health for deaths since 2013. For older records, apply to the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov or order online through VitalChek. Mail orders from the state start at $25 per copy. Online or phone orders through VitalChek start at $40.50. State mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek orders ship in 3 to 7 business days.

What to include in your order:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date or approximate date of death
• City or county of death (Whitman County for Pullman)
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of qualifying relationship under RCW 70.58A

All fees are nonrefundable. If your application lacks required documents, the request will be cancelled after 30 days. Noncertified informational copies are available for genealogical purposes and do not require proof of relationship. They cannot be used for legal purposes.

Whitman County Obituary Records

Pullman is part of Whitman County, and all death records for the city are handled through Whitman County systems. For more details on county resources, the Whitman County Courthouse in Colfax, and the Whitman County Health Department, see the Whitman County obituary records page.

View Whitman County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Pullman. Each has its own obituary records page covering local sources.