EX-99.906CERT



                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



     JEFFREY L. STEELE, President and PEO, and Howard L. Kitzmiller, Senior Vice
     President,  Secretary and Treasurer of Washington  Mutual  Investors  Fund,
     Inc. (the  "Registrant"),  each certify to the best of his or her knowledge
     that:

1)       The Registrant's periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended
         October 31, 2004 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
         requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended; and

2)       The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         the Registrant.


Chief Executive Officer                     Chief Financial Officer

WASHINGTON MUTUAL                           WASHINGTON MUTUAL
INVESTORS FUND, INC.                        INVESTORS FUND, INC.


Jeffrey L. Steele, President                Howard L. Kitzmiller, Senior Vice
                                            President, Secretary and Treasurer


Date:  December 29, 2004                    Date: December 29, 2004


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to WASHINGTON MUTUAL INVESTORS
FUND, INC. and will be retained by WASHINGTON MUTUAL INVESTORS FUND, INC. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or its
staff upon request.

This certification is being furnished to the Commission solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with
the Commission.