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Martin, Michael P. Thursday, 07 Oct 2004
Michael P. Martin of Seattle died after a year-long illness, on Oct. 7, 2004, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 86.
Michael was born Feb. 7, 1918, in San Francisco, California. He served in the Army during World War II, from 1941 to 1945.
He was employed at Lockheed Shipbuilding, and K2 Ski Corp. An avid gardener, he had his own landscaping business. He worked for Betty McDonald before she moved to California.
Michael belonged to the Chrysanthemum Association; he raised prized blooms and received many blue ribbons. Roses were his favorite flower, and gardening was his favorite hobby.
He is survived by his wife Vera, son Paul, daughter Jackie Thurston, brothers Vincent, Leo and Joe, and sisters Clara and Isabel.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2826 Vashon. The memorial service will be private.
Remembrances can be made to Hospice Association Home Care Services 12844 Military Road South, Tukwila, WA 98168.
Callaway, Jean Stone Roen Tuesday, 09 Nov 2004
Jean was born in Tacoma, Washington, March 31, 1911 to Elmer and Cora (Turner) Stone. Her grandparents were pioneers of Burton on Vashon Island. She attended Burton schools and graduated from the first class of the consolidated high schools in 1929. She also attended the University of Washington.
In August of 1942, Jean married
Alfred Roen. They had three children, Craig, Jill, and Bradley. Al passed away in September of 1977 after a short illness. They lived on Vashon all of their married
lives, first in Cove and then Sunrise Ridge.
After being a widow for 11 years, Jean married
a former high-school classmate, Baxter Callaway. They enjoyed retirement by traveling as often as possible until he passed away in May, 1991. Jean felt fortunate to have had two such wonderful men in her life.
Jean was a member of the Burton Community Church, the Vashon Orthopedic Auxiliary and a charter member of Vashon Ryther Four and Twenty Auxiliary. She enjoyed playing bridge and belonged to several bridge clubs over the years. She also belonged to the Vashon Island Golf and Country Club.
She is survived by her son Craig of Chehalis and wife Shirley, daughter Jill Rudek and husband Dennis of Edmonds and Moses Lake, her son Bradley of Bellingham and wife Regina. She also leaves two step-daughters Shirley and Patricia, daughters of Baxter Callaway. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Dale, Connie, Dean, Peter, Randy, Kenlynn, Megan and Katie as well as several great grandchildren.
Jean spent the past two years with her daughter Jill her family in Edmonds and was enjoying time with them at their summer place on Moses Lake when she became ill. She was moved to the LifeCare Center of Bothell in October and passed away Nov. 9. She was 93. At her request, there will be no service. Her ashes will be laid to rest next to Al’s at the Vashon Island cemetery.
Scott, Elizabeth Saturday, 25 Dec 2004
Elizabeth Scott died Christmas day, Dec. 25, 2004. She was 69 years old.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, in the Island Funeral Service Chapel.
A visitation will be from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, at the funeral home.
Cremation will follow.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Church of the Holy Spirit. A full obituary will be published later.
Morrow, John William Wednesday, 22 Dec 2004
John William Morrow of Vashon Island died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. He was 49 years old.
Mr. Morrow was born Aug. 18, 1955, in Chicago, Ill., to John (Jack) and Joan Morrow. He attended school on Vashon Island. He had worked in the landscaping business. He also had a great interest in history, especially the Civil War era.
Survivors include his parents of Vashon, a sister, Kathleen Doubt of Seattle, and a brother, Evan Morrow of Vashon.
A service is being arranged by Island Funeral Service. Call 463-9300 for time and location.
Meisner, Linda Gail Clements Tuesday, 07 Dec 2004
Linda Gail Clements Meisner, died Dec. 7, 2004, at Harborview Hospital in Seattle. She lived in West Seattle. She was 50 years old.
Linda was born Sept. 21, 1954, and grew up on Vashon.
She married
Ed Meisner on Vashon, and they became owners of the Radio Shack years ago.
As an adult, she was very active in Vashon theater and enjoyed working on make up and sets. For several years, she was the pitcher for Vashon’s women’s baseball league and played on the mixed team as well.
Survivors include her sisters Leah Daniels of Federal Way, Wash., Lynn Brooke of Belfair, Wash., and Terri Beall of Vashon.
Her husband and son Sean LeCompt died earlier.
A celebration of her life was held on Saturday, Dec. 11, on Vashon. Memorials can be sent to the family at 17017 135th Lane, S.W., Vashon, Wash. 98070.
Evans, Norman Edward Saturday, 13 Nov 2004
Norman Edward Evans, formerly of Vashon Island, died Nov. 13, 2004, at his home in Washoe Valley, Nev. He was 74 years old.
He was born March 6, 1930, in Gillette, Wyo., to Edward Marshall Evans and Nina Mae Cooper.
He was home schooled until he was a teenager and then graduated from Principia, a private school in St. Louis. After graduating, he enlisted in the Army in 1949 and achieved the rank of corporal.
He married
Barbara Lewis on May 13, 1951, in Burton.
He lived in Washoe Valley, Nev., for 33 years and was a rancher there. He founded and operated the Black Gold Arabian Ranch in Washoe Valley. He was a past member and director of several Arabian Horse Associations in Washington and Nevada. His deepest passion was breeding and showing of his Arabian horses.
He was an artist in his teen years and then worked as a commercial artist for Boeing for 15 years. He continued to paint throughout his life. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding horses.
Survivors include his wife Barbara of Washoe Valley; son Ed Evans of Carson City; daughter Claudia Evans Quarisa of Washoe Valley; brothers Richard of Carson City and Robert of St. Peters, Miss.; and three grandchildren.
A celebration of his life was in Washoe Valley earlier. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Foundation Hospice Fund, 520 W. 6th St. Reno, Nev.,
Shride, Ronald "Ronnie" Dyer Monday, 15 Nov 2004
Ronnie Dyer Shride, formerly of Vashon, died Nov. 15, 2004, at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif., from complications from an infection. He was 52 years old.
Mr. Shride came to Vashon Island as a foster child at the age of 3 and grew up on Vashon in what was probably the happiest time of his life.
He graduated from Vashon High School in 1971.
Several years later he moved to California to begin a new life and follow his dreams. He remained in California until his death.
Survivors include his father Frank Shride of Orting, Wash., and his mother Marie (Shride) Lillquist of Vashon. Other survivors are his five brothers and sisters: Carol Wingfield of Fairbanks, Alaska; Tanya Michaels of West Seattle; Mike Shride of Burlington, Wash., Brad Shride of Vashon and Kimm Shride, also of Vashon.
A private service for the family will be held on Vashon Island.
Ward, Andrew Martin O'francia Ward Sunday, 05 Dec 2004
Andrew Martin O'francia Ward died Dec. 5, 2004, in Irag by enemy fire. He was 25 years old.
Mr. Ward was born May 1, 1979, in Seattle, Wash.
His family remembers him as a beautiful, healthy baby, full of hair, truly a bundle of joy. His endearing nick-name “Poopong” followed him through his adult life by his many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He loved nature. He biked or walked on various trails in the surrounding area. He took bus tours to Mt. Rainier and ferry boats across the state of Washington and Victoria, British Columbia.
He worked seasonal jobs so that he could buy a ticket to go somewhere. In Dutch Harbor, Alaska, when work was slow, he hiked and back-packed to nearby mountains and hillsides and saw bald eagles soaring above and bears scrounging for food and salmon swimming and jumping up streams.
He photographed the beauty that surrounded him. He flew to Hawaii once with $100 in his pocket and stayed for half a year, where he lived and slept on beaches under palm trees.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 2003 to serve his country and to see more of the world. It offered him opportunities to broaden his horizons.
He went to boot camp training in Fort Leonard Woods, Mo. Upon graduation, he was a combat engineer with the 44th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, assigned for permanent duty in Camp Howze, South Korea. He was excited to see that part of the world. He learned to eat kimchee, because he said it was served at all the restaurants there. “And mom, ” he would say, “they eat so much noodles! No meat.” He bunked and trained with a Korean soldier, who was serving his two-year mandatory military service.
On August 2004, his unit was deployed to Iraq. He took his orders valiantly, re-assuring his family that they were all prepared and continuously trained.
On Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, his unit came under attack in Ar Ramadi, west of Baghdad, with small enemy fire. They were returning from a river mission.
Mr. Ward was killed in action.
His family says he lived a lifetime. He saw parts of the world most have not seen. He left a legacy, known and not yet known.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Donald L. and Mary Ward and his mother and stepfather, Estrella and Joseph P. Tankersley; four brothers, Donald Jr., Jason and Walter Ward and Sean Tankersley; three sisters, Angela and Wanda Ward and Amilia Tankersley; nephews and nieces and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. His grandparents Roscoe and Katherine Ward and Bert O. O’francia also survive.
Mr. Ward was buried Dec. 15 with military honors. He was buried near his grandmother Paz Soria O’francia in the Vashon cemetery.
Crawford, Ronald Wednesday, 01 Dec 2004
Ronald Chapman Crawford, formerly of Vashon Island, died at his home in Excelsior Springs, Mo., on Nov. 20, 2004. He was 82 years old.
Mr. Crawford was born Oct. 30, 1922, in Lincoln, Neb., and grew up in Fayette, Iowa. After a successful career of 30 years as a carpenter, he attended Kirkwood Community College and received his AA degree. He went on to Upper Iowa University where he received his bachelor of arts degree and received his master’s degree at Iowa State University. He then attended New Mexico State University where he worked on his PhD. He taught at Upper Iowa University and the University of New Mexico.
He abandoned the field of education to return to the construction trade. He moved to Vashon Island, where he was a successful remodeling contractor. Upon his retirement, he moved with his wife Carolyn to Kansas City, Mo. They moved to Excelsior Springs when Carolyn retired this year.
Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Carolyn Kay Crawford, eight children and their spouses, Gary and Evie Crawford, Dale and Katreena Crawford, Sheryl and Jim Sorenson, Ronald and Rosemary Crawford, Rebecca and Bill Barlow, Billee and Ed Molarte and Dr. Ruthe Crawford. Additional survivors include 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Mr. Crawford was cremated at his request. A memorial service will be planned at a time to be determined later.
Winebrenner, Nancy L. "Freddy" Sunday, 07 Nov 2004
Nancy Winebrenner passed away Nov. 7. Born March 8, 1941, Nancy was a long-time Island resident.
She is survived by her husband, Leonard “Curley” of Tahlequah; her sisters, Linda Fitzpatrick of Spokane and Esther Barton of Loon Lake, Wash.; brother Mike Varriano of Camano Island, Wash.; daughter Jody Schreven and son-in-law Steve Rubottom of Kent, Wash.; son Reid and daughter-in-law Dawn of Bonney Lake, Wash.; son Russell and daughter-in-law Shannon of Maltby, Wash., and eight grandchildren: Jacob Schreven, Joshua Schreven, Shelby Rubottom, Taylor Winebrenner, Trevor Harrison, Derek Harrison, Serena Winebrenner, and Samantha Winebrenner.
A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Eagle’s Club. Family and friends are invited to share a potluck meal and memories following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Nancy’s name to:
Eagles Jimmy Durante
Children’s Fund
P.O. Box 207
Vashon, Wash. 98070
Echeandia, Fred Wednesday, 14 Sep 2005
Fred ‘Wilfred’ Joseph Echeandia died Sept. 14, 2005, due to complications after a long illness.
Friends and family say he will be remembered for his graciousness, generosity, intelligence, courage and his sense of humor.
Fluent in three languages, he was educated in the U.S., Spain, Italy and traveled widely. As a noted educator he successfully directed a Montessori School in Eugene, Ore. for 16 years while managing two other businesses.
On Vashon Island he was active in the arts community and known for his dedication to EarthFair. Before he died he had a party as a celebration of his life rather than a funeral.
Survivors include his son Christopher, mother Esther of Vineland, N.J., brother Cecil Chianti and numerous relatives.
Donations in his memory can be sent to EarthFair or the Northwest Kidney Center.
Dunbar, Ruby Sunday, 18 Sep 2005
Ruby Griffin Dunbar, a long-ime Islander, died Sept. 18, 2005. She was 85 years old.
Born in Seattle on March 8, 1920, to Robert Louis Griffin and Ora Belle Barney, she spent her childhood in West Seattle.
The family moved to Vashon Island shortly after her graduation from West Seattle High School in 1937. Vashon remained her home for the remainder of her life.
One of the first things Ruby did was to transfer her church membership to the Vashon Presbyterian Church where she eventually encountered Walter Clifford Dunbar. They married
the following year.
A major highlight in their marriage was the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1993. More than 300 people attended.
Mrs. Dunbar was a member of the Senior Center, the AARP, and the Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association.
She participated in a local bowling group, led a Girl Scout troop for seven years, and was assistant counselor for social worker Marcia Arthur for more than 15 years.
Mrs. Dunbar and her husband traveled extensively, but always enjoyed returning to their Sylvan Beach home.
Her family says she was religious, and many of her activities centered around her church.
She was a choir member, played for summer church services, taught Sunday School for various ages, and was church photographer.
Music and writing were her main joys. She wrote many articles for The Beachcomber, including the text for the 1983 Island Life.
Mrs. Dunbar received a plaque for writing “I Married a Telephone Man” which was voted “the outstanding text feature article in Pacific Telephone Magazine for 1956, awarded by consensus of contributors and staff.”
The article appeared in telephone magazines throughout the U.S. and one in Canada that was translated into French.
In addition, she and her husband were featured in a large telephone company ad that appeared in newspapers throughout most of the Western states.
She also sold greeting card verse.
She helped establish the first volunteer group for the Vashon nursing home more than 50 years ago, remaining a volunteer for the rest of her life.
For more than 20 years, Mrs. Dunbar, her daughter, Sue Weston, and Al Weston conducted monthly Sunday services for nursing home residents. It was a a shortened regular church service, complete with prelude, call to worship, solo, and sermon.
Even a severe stroke shortly after 9/11 slowed but couldn’t stop Mrs. Dunbar.
After some months of recuperation and adjustment, she resumed playing the piano, presenting monthly 15 minute concerts for the residents of Vashon Community Care Center and members of Break Time, the daytime custodial care group.
Her husband died earlier.
Survivors include a daughter, Sue E. Weston, two grand-daughters, Caran Marie Zambo and Wendy Jo Weston, a great grand-daughter, Iris Dawn Spring, a sister, Mildred Boulton, and a brother, Robert Griffen.
Memorial services for Ruby Griffin Dunbar will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Vashon Presbyterian Church. A church reception will follow.
Memorials may be given to the Vashon Presbyterian Church or the Vashon Presbyterian Organ Fund.
