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Charleton , Charles F. 'Curly' Tuesday, 08 Apr 2008
Charles F. “Curly” Charleton passed away suddenly on April 8, 2008, at Providence Medical Center, Everett. He was born on March 23, 1939 in Springfield, Ill., to Charles and Ruby Jane Charleton.
Curly enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1963. He was transferred to NAS Whidbey Island in 1966. He served several tours in Vietnam during the war and received numerous honors and medals. He retired from the Navy on March 31, 1985, as an AQCS with more than 22 years of service. With all the places he had traveled to and seen in this world, Whidbey Island was the place Curly decided to call home.
Over the next 23 years Curly continued to serve his community. He was a Reserve Officer for the Oak Harbor Police Department and the Island County Sheriff’s Office. He was a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician with Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue and worked as an EMT for Wallin Ambulance and Whidbey General Hospital Emergency Medical Services. He was a lay instructor for Skagit Valley College, assisting with the EMT training program.
Curly served Island County as the Emergency Services Director for several years, coordinating emergency services and disaster preparedness and was also a deputy coroner for Island County. Curly’s final career choice was serving as a Marshal for the Town of Coupeville from June of 1991 to July 2001 and for a time in 1995, as Acting Marshal.
Curly was a true lifelong learner. In his late 50s he returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree.
Curly is survived by his children: Tanja Charleton of Greenbank; Charles “Chuck” Charleton III of Snohomish and Rachael (Quin) Clements of Langley. Six grandchildren: Jesse, Hope, Boyd, Lucy, Greyson and Cauldwell and two brothers: Jerry and Dick and two sisters, Donna and Linda also survive. His parents and one sister Dorothy preceded him in death. His family in Bellingham and his companion Mary Lou will also miss him.
Curly leaves behind many beloved friends in all of the agencies he was associated with. He was truly a pillar of his community and leaves this world a little less brilliant in his absence.
A memorial service for Charles “Curly” Charleton will be celebrated at the Coupeville High School gym on Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. with Chaplain Rick Karjalainen of the Island County Sheriff’s Office officiating. Full military honors will follow under the auspices of the NAS Whidbey Island Honor Guard. Cremation was held with burial
at sea to follow with the U.S. Navy. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
Duzan, William 'Billâ?ť Ora
Saturday, 05 Apr 2008
William “Bill” Ora Duzan, TDCS, USN (Retired), age 82 of Oak Harbor, died April 5, 2008, with family and friends at his side. He was born Sept. 5, 1925 in Lowry City, Mo., to Raymond F. and Pearl M. (Feaster) Duzan.
Bill enlisted in the Navy on August 23, 1943 at Kansas City, Mo., as an Apprentice Seaman. He was called to active duty on Nov. 23, 1943. When he got out, Bill went back home to the Midwest to rejoin his high school sweetheart. On Sept. 4, 1946, he was united in marriage to Virgina L. Frazier in Drexel, Mo.
With Virginia at his side, he re-enlisted in the Navy. During this time, he was stationed in Hutchison, Kansas, Great Lakes, Illinois, Pensacola, Florida, Fallon, Nevada, Olathe, Kansas, Agana Guam, Memphis, Tennessee, Whidbey Island, Olathe, Kansas, Texas, Barbers Point, Hawaii, and back to Whidbey Island, where he and Virginia have lived ever since. Bill retired on June 17, 1968, but went back to do the same job as a civilian with the Civil Service.
Bill is survived by his wife Virginia F. Duzan of Oak Harbor; daughter Dana Lee Duzan of Spokane; son Robert Ray Duzan and wife Jill of Scottsdale, Ariz.; granddaughter Dena Sokoll and husband Walter of West Chester, Penn.; and grandchildren Nicholas and Grace Sokoll of West Chester.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Dr. Kenneth Ray Duzan.
A memorial service with Military Honors was held April 8 at Burley Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor with Linda Haddon as the Celebrant. Memorials have been suggested to the American Lung Association or the Retired Chief’s Association. Condolences or personal reflections may be left for the family at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com.
Burley Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.
(Eyler) Kelly, Janice E.
Saturday, 05 Apr 2008
Janice E. (Eyler) Kelly, 51, of Bellingham, died unexpectedly on April 5, 2008, in Las Vegas with her family by her side. Jan was born in Bellingham on June 14, 1956, to Earl and Rita Eyler. Jan was raised in Oak Harbor, where she graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1974. Jan made her home in Bellingham where she was employed for 17 years by Puget Sound Power & Light Company.
She was blessed with two daughters, Kimberly Sterkel and Courtney Sterkel, and one grandson Mason Myers, age 3. Jan is remembered for her giving spirit, love of animals, and sense of humor and will be forever missed.
Jan was preceded in death by her father, Earl Eyler.
She is survived by her two daughters, Kimberly Sterkel of Bellingham, Courtney Sterkel of Silver Spring, Md., one grandson, Mason Myers of Bellingham. She is also survived by her mother, Rita Eyler of Bellingham, two brothers, Gary (Yvonne) Eyler and Mike Eyler and three sisters, Dianne (Wayne) Buehner, Marsha (Rob) Wanamaker and Gayle (Dave) Elkins and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall, Ave., Bellingham, Wash., 98225.
The family requests that remembrances be made in Jan’s name to Whatcom County Humane Society, 3710 Williamson Way, Bellingham, Washington, 98226.
Tant, Robert B.
Friday, 04 Apr 2008
Robert B. Tant, 82 of Oak Harbor, died April 4, 2008 at his home. He was born Sept. 20, 1925 in Tallassee, Ala., to John Edmund and Fay Ruby (Durden) Tant.
Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, just after his 17th birthday. He went through basic training in San Diego and then entered World War II assigned to the aircraft carrier Wasp. While on a mission in his TBM Bomber on July 4, 1944, his aircraft was shot down off Iwo Jima. He was able to bail out and make his way to the island. He was the first American to arrive on that island, this being seven months before the invasion. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese until the end of the war.
Bob retired from the United States Navy in 1970 after serving a total of 28 years there, garnering three Air Medals, two Purple Hearts, a Congressional POW Medal and many others. He had served in three different wars during his career: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. After his retirement, he worked for the United States Postal Service and retired from there.
On Dec. 11, 1970, he was united in marriage to June Imakita in Los Angeles.
Bob served on the Oak Harbor City Council for a total of eight years starting in 1986. He was an active member of the Fleet Reserve, American Ex-POW Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, boating, and just being outdoors.
Bob is survived by his wife June Tant of Oak Harbor; daughter Linda Tant Miller and husband Dick of Buckley, Wash.; step-daughter Mari Sasaki and husband Jody of Oxnard, Calif.; step-son Wesley Kanamori and wife Kimberly of Irvine, Calif.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters Patricia Reed of Houston, Texas, and Jenny Lumpkin of Opelika, Al.,; nieces and nephews; and beloved dog Ichiro.
He is preceded in death by his parents, son Robert Tant, Jr., and daughter Shelea Thurston.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Burley Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., at a later date. Memorials have been suggested to the National Heart Association. Condolences or personal reflections may be left for the family at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com.
Burley Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.
Truex, Jr., Jeff L.
Tuesday, 01 Apr 2008
Jeff L. Truex, Jr, age 27 of Oak Harbor, died on April 1, 2008, from heart failure. He was born on April 17, 1980, in Coupeville. Jeff grew up and lived his life in Oak Harbor. He was a 1998 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. In 2004, Jeff became a journeyman electrician, and in 2005, Jeff began his business, Truex Electric.
Most days, you could find Jeff spending time with his wife, Zecret, and their daughters Zailee and Zaiana. As a family, they enjoyed horseback riding and playing on their jet skis and boat. Jeff also enjoyed working out.
A member of a close-knit family, Jeff could often be heard cracking jokes and laughing at family gatherings.
Although Jeff’s life was a short one, it was one in which he fostered many friendships and created a beautiful family.
Survivors include wife Zecret and daughters Zailee and Zaiana; grandparents Jack and Mary Truex; parents Jeff and Donna Truex; brother Jack Truex and significant other Beth Eno; nephews Nicholas, Zane, and Zayden; nieces Rylee, Laurielee, and Zierra; brother-in-law Zeb Foster; and sister-in law Zara Foster.
A graveside funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Maple Leaf Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the family at Whidbey Island Bank. Condolences may be left for the family at www.burleyfu
neralchapel.com.
Taylor, General W.
Tuesday, 01 Apr 2008
General Taylor was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on July 17, 1936, to the union of Nellie and General Taylor, Sr.; both preceded him in death. He attended St. John’s Elementary School and Castle Hill High School in Tuscaloosa before joining the Armed Forces at the age of 17. A veteran of the Vietnam War, General served honorably around the world in the United States Navy until his retirement. At that time, he chose to take up residence in the city of Oak Harbor with his wife, Maggie Taylor. She preceded him in death in 1997.
To further his education, General attended Skagit Valley College and received his GED with completion of many other courses. He was active with the Civil Service as a fireman until his health began to fail. Due to his failing health, he made the choice to retire, giving him more time to explore his hobbies. They include painting, drawing, fishing, working on cars and purchasing tools.
General enjoyed the constant companionship of his “adopted” sister Elizabeth Richardson Harris. She preceded him in death in 2005.
He is survived by three sons: Anthony Lott of Oak Harbor, John Ford of Maple Valley, and Morgan (Alicia) Taylor of Freeland; two daughters: Suzie Best of Oak Harbor, Myrna (Robert) Collins of Renton, Wash.; five grandchildren: Aishia Ford of Renton, Johnny Ford and Jerome Ford of Oxford, Ill., Jordan and Camrin Taylor of Freeland; professed adoptive son: Alfred (Clara) Johnson and his family of Seatac, Wash.; longtime friends and confidants; Ozell Jackson and Tony Hall; one brother: Michael (Cynthia) Richardson; two sisters: Linda (Jerome) Dunn and Emma Savage, all of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; one aunt: Mollie Holman; cousins: Thomas Holman, Emma Holman, and Brinson Terry (Agnes) of Cincinnati, Ohio; and a host of nieces, nephews, other adopted children and their families, many special friends and acquaintances. The whereabouts of a second brother, Louis Taylor, has been unknown for several years.
General will be remembered for his jocular sense of humor, frugality, congenial personality, charitable spirit, and profound commitment to his family and friends. He was definitely a Man of Honor.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 at Burley Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor with Reverend Ozell Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Leaf Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from noon to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at Burley Funeral Chapel. Memorials have been suggested to Relay for Life. Condolences or personal reflections may be left for the family at www.burleyfuner
alchapel.com.
Beggs , Richard Jamison
Tuesday, 01 Apr 2008
Richard Jamison Beggs was born Nov. 4, 1919, in Greensburg, Pa., to Robert Clark Beggs and Helen Coleman Beggs. He learned auto mechanics working in his father’s garage as a boy. In 1936 he joined the Army and was sent to Hawaii for training. Dick spent all of World War II in the South Pacific, heading up maintenance facilities. After the war he stayed on to serve in Germany and Korea, retiring in 1957 as a Chief Warrant Officer.
After several different retirement careers Dick graduated from Butte College in California in 1973 with a degree in respiratory therapy. He often said the 12 years he spent working in hospitals in California, South Carolina and Oregon were the best work he ever did.
Dick was a member of Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church.
He is survived by his wife Phyllis, brothers William of Florida and Harry of South Carolina, sons Richard, of San Francisco, Edward of Oakland, Robert of Oakland, Michael of Santa Rosa, Calif., Timothy of Seattle, and Jonathan, of Kapchorwa, Uganda; daughter Susan Beggs-Putkowska of McKinleyville, Calif.; and step-children Paula Parks of Portland, Ore., and Gerald Griffith of Fairfax, Va; five grandchildren and five step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, two sisters, and two grandchildren, Samantha Beggs and Lance Beggs.
A memorial service will be held at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church on Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m.
Jordan, David Lee
Monday, 31 Mar 2008
David Lee Jordan was born Nov. 28, 1948, in Goodland, Kan., to Floyd M. and Esther L. (Samuell) Jordan. He returned to his Heavenly Father on March 31, 2008.
He spent his youth in Salt Lake City, Utah, Star Valley, Wyo., and Oak Harbor. He enlisted in the Army after school and served proudly during the Vietnam conflict. He spent several years at North Pole, Alaska, before returning to Whidbey after the death of his wife Cindy. He was also preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Esther, and a sister Debra Jo Ward.
He is survived by his children, Bryon Jordan, Dawn Jordan of Washington state, Stephanie Jordan, Betsy Jordan, Floyd Jordan, and Emily Jordan of Alaska, his sister Mary L (Clinton) Dunn of Dayton, Idaho, brother Randy Alan Jordan of Oak Harbor and eight grandchildren. He was know for his wit and humor and will be missed by his family and all who knew him.
Bushman, Harrison Doyle
Saturday, 16 Feb 2008
Harrison Doyle Bushman, 85, passed away Feb. 16, 2008, in Tacoma, where he had moved in September with his cherished wife of 65 years, Gloria Siegalkoff Bushman. For the past 30 years they had resided on their beloved Whidbey Island, where they were members at Useless Bay Golf Club, making many friends and enjoying golf. They had moved recently to be nearer to family.
Doyle was born in Chico, Calif., and grew up in nearby Lodi. As a boy he picked cotton and worked in local vineyards. In high school, he was a record setting freestyle swimmer for the Lodi Flames. He met Gloria in school and proposed to her in one of Lodi’s vineyards as she sat perched on a grape box. They then eloped to Reno in April 1942.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943, and served in some of the most difficult battles of the South Pacific Theater, emerging in 1945 as a tech sergeant. He then took his wife and two daughters, Sharon and Claudia, to Fairbanks in 1949 to begin a career in electronics engineering with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (later FAA). Moving from Fairbanks to the Tlingit Indian village of Yakutat, and three years later to Anchorage, then a town of 15,000. He held progressively responsible positions in FAA, retiring in 1978 as Sector Manager of the Alaska Region Air Traffic Control Center. His work often took him to chilly and remote areas of the state in all kinds of weather. He was dedicated to his family and spent the summer weekends fishing and camping with them.
Doyle set a wonderful example for his children and colleagues with his integrity, hard work, intelligence, respect and love for his friends and family. He loved to recite and write doggerel, and friends celebrating events frequently called on his poetic talents. He had a wonderful incisive sense of humor and a quick wit. And he was a talented caricaturist and tinkerer.
Doyle leaves behind him his wife Gloria, daughters Sharon Manning of Anchorage and Claudia Ellsworth of Tacoma, and their husbands, Bob Manning and Lewis (Lynn) Ellsworth; four grandchildren and four great-grandsons; two sisters, Eileen Rabusin and Jeanne Paoletti, both of Lodi.
A memorial service will be held at Langley United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22. The family suggests that any remembrances be made to the American Cancer Society or the Multicare Health Foundation.
Hasbrouck Jones, William
Friday, 15 Feb 2008
William Hasbrouck Jones went to be with God on Feb. 15, 2008, at the age of 92. Born in Seattle on Aug. 10, 1915, he lead a long and full life.
After graduating from high school in Seattle, he attended a business school studying accounting and began working for Kenworth Motor Trucks, where he worked for 37 years following duty with the Army during World War II.
He enjoyed hiking, camping, and sailing with the Mountaineers. Bill owned his own plane and flew for a while, traveling around the United States as a young, single man.
He met and married Margaret Mae McLellan on Aug. 28, 1947. They had two daughters, Barbara and Audrey. His hobby was building a summer cabin, which brought the family to Whidbey Island most weekends and summer vacations for many wonderful years.
Bill and Margaret moved to Whidbey Island, to a home in Clinton when he retired in 1973, where he lived for 34 years. He and Margaret traveled together while Margaret was still with him. He traveled to over 53 countries.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Jones of Clinton; and by his companion, Dorothy Westcott of Seattle. His daughters, Barbara Jones of Lake Forest, Calif., and Audrey Smith of Oak Harbor, his grandson Michael Smith of Bellingham, and nephew and wife, Scott and Gail Smith of Paso Robles, Calif., survive him.
He was a wonderful father and friend and will be much missed.
Wetherbee, Bill
Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008
Bill Wetherbee, 60, died Feb. 12, 2008, at home after a four-month battle with leukemia. He was living in Texas at the time.
Bill was born in Wellsboro, Penn., on Feb. 20, 1947. After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Navy. Bill served his country as a front line corpsman in Vietnam and as a survival instructor. He was in Oak Harbor at the same time his wife-to-be, Nancy, was visiting her sister Gay Fakkema. Because of their love for this area they moved here after they were married.
Bill is survived by his wife Nancy; daughter Dana; sons Jeremy and Justin; stepdaughter Valerie Armstrong; and stepsons David Covert, Donald Covert and John Covert.
A funeral was held Feb. 19 at Kaiserhof Church in Tomball, Texas, and a memorial is planned at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent where his ashes will be interred.
Ellison, Sterling Jackson
Monday, 11 Feb 2008
Sterling Jackson Ellison, 70, an 18-year resident of Oak Harbor, died at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon on Feb. 11, 2008, following a lengthy illness.
Mr. Ellison was born Oct. 13, 1937, in Tarrant, Ala., to Joseph Ellison and Margaret Babba Ellison. He was raised in Tampa, Fla., where he graduated from high school. Following high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps, and served his country during the Vietnam conflict. On June 26, 1964, Sterling married Yoshiko Kabe in Tokyo. They lived in Cherry Point, N.C., Santa Ana, Calif., and moved to Oak Harbor in 1990.
Sterling retired from the Marine Corps in 1990 with the rank of gunnery sergeant (E-7). He attended the University of California at Fullerton, graduating with a BA degree in Gemology. Sterling worked as a gemologist for several years before failing eyesight forced him to leave his chosen avocation. He enjoyed the outdoors, and especially rock hunting.
Sterling is survived by his wife Yoshiko K. “Jeannie” Ellison at home in Oak Harbor; one sister, Margaret Trimbath and husband Blair of Las Vegas; also, numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Joseph.
Recitation of the Rosary was held Feb. 15 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A Memorial Mass will be Saturday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m., with Father Philip Raether as celebrant. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at Maple Leaf Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the St. Mary’s Altar Society, P.O. Box 1443, Coupeville, WA 98239. Family and friends may sign the online guest register at www.whidbeymemo
rial.com. Arrangements by Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service, Inc., Oak Harbor.
Kirshner, Michael A.
Sunday, 10 Feb 2008
Michael A. Kirshner, 72, passed away Jan. 3, 2008, in Everett. He was born Feb. 10, 1935, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Memorial service was held Jan. 19 at Maltby Christian Assembly. The family had property in the Maxwelton Valley for many years and their children went to school on the island. Arrangements by Evergreen Washelli at Bothell Funeral Home.
