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Barbara Marie Whitney, 68
Barbara Marie Whitney died unexpectedly in her sleep Jan. 25, 2004. She was 68 years old.
She was born Dec. 9, 1935.
For many years, she and her husband Dick Whitney raised their family near Tahlequah on Vashon Island.
Since her retirement in 1988, they lived between Gold Bar, Wash. and Pacific City on the Oregon Coast. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 40 years, Dick, of Gold Bar, daughter Nicole of Snohomish County, son and daughter-in-law Jim and Stacey Whitney of Vashon and step-daughter and son Chris and Scott, who often referred to her as their real mother. Her eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren, whom she loved to spend time with, also survive her, as do her father Mal Andersen of Seattle and brothers Larry of Bellingham and Don of Lake Stevens and their families.
Remembrances are suggested to the Barbara Whitney Memorial Fund at Bank of America on Vashon Island.
All donations will be used for the purchase of a public access defibrilator to be donated to the Gold Bar Nature Trails Rangers.
Donations can be sent to Bank of America, P.O. Box 857, Vashon, Wash. 98070, or call the bank at (206) 463-3653.
Huntsberger, Margaret Kroener Friday, 02 Jan 2004
Margaret Ruth (Kroener) Huntsberger of Vashon Island, passed away following a long illness on Friday, January 2, 2004, at Eastside Hospital in Redmond, Wash. She was 83.
Margaret was born in Orange, Calif. to Dr. William and Evangeline (Hull), Kroener, on February 14, 1920. She grew up in Whittier, Calif., and, graduated from Stanford University. She married
Ralph Huntsberger on, February 21, 1942 in Palo Alto, Calif. Following Ralph’s death in 1965, Margaret lived in Palo Alto until 1974 when she moved to Vashon Island, Wash.
Throughout her life, Margaret was engaged in a wide variety of civic and charitable causes. Active in PEO chapters in Palo Alto and Vashon, she demonstratted a lifelong commitment to creating educational opportunities for women. She enjoyed the performing arts, including Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Repertory Theater. She was active in the Seattle Arboretum and other garden clubs, and found particular joy in the gardens at her home. Margaret will be remembered for her humor, dignity, generosity, and compassion for others.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen Huntsberger of Redmond, Wash. and Diane O’Leary, Poulsbo, Wash.; three sons, James of Cupertino, Calif., Thomas and Michael of Eugene, Oregon; seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Memorial services will take place at the Vashon Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, 15429 Vashon Hwy SW, at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 14. The family suggests memorial donations to the church, the Seattle Arboretum Foundation, or Cottey College c/o PEO Chapter HU.
Kirschner, Evelyn "Gigi" Thursday, 01 Jan 2004
Imagining she was on a pleasant ferry boat ride, Gigi passed peacefully to her new world on New Year’s Day, 2004. She had moved to Issaquah last year to be closer to family. But “home” was Vashon Island.
Born August 20, 1915, to Frank and Anna Zorn, Gigi had lived on Vashon since 1942. She was preceded in death by husband Don Kirschner in 1988. Don and brother Bill Kirschner were principals in Kirschner Manufacturing Co., the forerunner of the K2 Ski Corporation.
On Gigi’s Vashon, no one was a stranger. She was a friend to all and known for her exuberant personality, twinkly eyes and mischievous air. To her four children, she was a “fun Mom” who never missed a school play, PTA meeting, or Christmas program, and was always there to pick them up at the school bus stop during bad weather. To their high school friends, the Kirschner beachfront home was a favored gathering place. Gigi prided herself on being a fair disciplinarian (“let the punishment fit the crime”) and heaven help anyone who dared feed the sea gulls close to the house!
Volunteerism was an integral part of her life, particularly the Red Cross. Gigi was a fixture at the first aid stations at Husky games and hydroplane races, as well as the Well-Baby clinic in Seattle. She was an active volunteer and golfer at the Vashon country Club into her 80s. In her later years, Gigi enjoyed the stimulation of composing the Club newsletter, volunteering at Granny’s Attic thrift store–and feeding sea gulls from her deck.
Gigi is preceded in death by her husband Don and son Ralph. She is survived by her identical twin Edna Dodds (Bellevue), daughters Jean (Gus) Hansen of Huntsville, Utah, Patti (Roger) Trepanier of Redmond, and Pinky (Mike) Hamilton of Seabeck, in-laws Bill and Barbara Kirschner of Vashon, and four grandchildren.
At her request, there will be no services. “Just carry on as if I’m on a long, long trip.” (On a ferry, no doubt.)
The family thanks the people of Vashon who helped make Gigi’s life voyage fun and rewarding.
Memorial donations in her name may be made to Children’s Hospital, PO Box 5371, CL-04, Seattle, WA 98105.
Dahl, Thad M. Monday, 19 Jan 2004
Thad M. Dahl passed peacefully at his Vashon Island home on January 19, 2004, with family and friends at his side following a two and a half year battle with esophageal cancer.
Thad was born in Sedro Woolley, Washington on April 5, 1965, to Loren and Joan Dahl of Bow. He graduated from Burlington-Edison High School and obtained his AA from Skagit Valley College. In addition, he attended many schools for firefighting, including the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
In January of this year, Thad was promoted the the rank of Fire Chief on Vashon Island. Previously, he had been Battalion Chief of Training and Safety for Vashon Island Fire and Rescue where he had served for nearly six years. He began his fire service career at Skagit County Fire District 5 (Allen) where many of his immediate family still serve or have served. He was active in the fire service for over 20 years, having served as EMS Coordinator, MSO, Director of Disaster Planning and firefighter for Snohomish County Airport Fire Dept.; as a Lieutenant with the Sedro Woolley Fire Dept. Thad was the past Chair of the Washington State Fire Training and Safety Officers Group and served on numerous fire training and educational committees. His credentials allowed him opportunities to instruct fire science at all levels in the State system including the Washington State Fire Academy.
Thad traveled to the United Kingdom as a Rotary International Ambassador, representing the fire service from the Northwest and Canada in 1996. He was invited by the New York State Assn. of Fire Chiefs to teach a class on thermal imaging at their 96th Annual conference in 2002 and was again invited to speak in 2003.
Thad was a member of the Washington State Fire Chiefs Assn., King County Training Officer’s Assn., and was a very active member of Gilda’s Club of Seattle as well as many other service organizations. Thad was widely recognized for his fire service leadership in both the Skagit Valley and on Vashon Island.
Thad displayed boundless energy and enthusiasm for his two life passions–family and the fire service. Even his devastating illness could not hold down his desire for teaching. He remained active to the very end. His unsinkable spirit will be an inspiration to fire service leaders for decades into the future.
Thad leaves his parents, Loren and Joan Dahl, his brothers and sisters, Loren Jr. and Karin Dahl, Londa and Mike Damon, Terry Dahl, and his beloved niece and nephews: Anna Dahl, Kirk Damon, Steven Dahl, Ryan Dahl and Jason Olson. He also leaves a very dear friend, Mike McEvoy, who kept everyone posted during Thad’s long battle with cancer as well as many wonderful friends on Vashon Island and in Skagit County. His extended family also includes his firefighter colleagues throughout the State of Washington, the U.S. and England.
Thad was confirmed in the Catholic church by Father Paul Magnano on Christmas Day. Two memorial services will be held. The first will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2004 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church on
Vashon, the second on Saturday, January 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Burlington. Friends may call on Thursday, January 22 from 7 to 9 at Island Funeral Service Chapel.
Thad was especially passionate about providing opportunities for preparing enthusiastic volunteer firefighters for a career in the fire service. In observance of his final wish and in lieu of flowers, Thad requested a donation to the Thad Dahl Memorial Firefighter Training Fund. Donations may be sent to the fund at Vashon Island Fire and Rescue or deposited directly into an account at Washington Mutual Bank, Account #488-235375-2 or wired to 325070760.
The family would like to thank everyone who has so generously given of their time to assist Thad and his family through this trying time.
Hoffman, Dorothy 'Dot' May Gresser Thursday, 12 Jan 2006
Dorothy “Dot” May Gresser Hoffmann, of Yelm, Wash. died on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, due to congestive heart failure, at Rosemont Retirement and Assisted Living Center. She was 86 years old.
Mrs. Hoffman was born on April 29, 1919, in her maternal grandmother’s home in Norwich, Conn. She was the daughter of William and Ida Gresser.
Mrs. Hoffmann lived on Vashon Island from 1955 to 1973 and in the Yelm/Olympia area from 1973 to 2006.
She was a homemaker her entire life and gracious caregiver for her mother-in-law for many years. Friends and family say she was a caring and loving mother and will be missed.
Mrs. Hoffman was involved in her church activities and continued to put together shoeboxes of gifts for underprivileged children.
Her husband, Oscar, son Edward Robert and daughter Dale Lorraine died earlier.
Survivors include her sons Daniel Paul and his wife Karen, Ronald Steven and his wife Christine, and Ricky Douglas and his wife Penny and daughter-in-law Joann. Additional survivors include her 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services were at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Yelm last Saturday.
Contributions can be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 206 3rd St. S.E. #D, Yelm, Wash. 98597, or to the Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanah, Utah, 84741.
Calhoun, Theodore 'Ted' Scott Monday, 09 Jan 2006
Ted Calhoun, formerly of Vashon Island, died Jan. 9, 2006, at Providence-Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Calhoun was born on July 8, 1927, on Vashon to Clyde and Mary (Bourgeois) Calhoun.
He attended Dockton Grade School and Vashon High School.
He married
Esther Schmidt on Dec. 12, 1956.
Mr. Calhoun began working for the Vashon Packing Company at age 15.
He left there in 1943 and began working for Vashon Theatre and Vashon Sand and Gravel until being inducted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 4, 1945. He served as a private first class and drove supply transport trucks. He received an honorable discharge from service on Nov. 20, 1946.
After serving, he returned to work at Vashon Sand and Gravel and the Vashon Theatre and continued there as the projectionist. He also worked for Pioneer Sand and Gravel.
In 1957, Mr. Calhoun began driving dump trucks all over the Puget Sound area on various construction and highway projects. He worked on the Tolt Dam, Sea Tac Airport, the Howard A. Hanson Dam and Interstate 5. He had some harrowing stories to tell of working on the building of the “new” bridges up on 1-90 near Snoqualmie Pass.
Mr. Calhoun moved to Seattle in 1970 and lived in West Seattle for the past 25 years. He enjoyed poker, Keno and cribbage, his trips to Reno, and a “spirited” debate.
Both of his parents and his brother John died earlier.
Survivors include his son Scott Calhoun and wife Christy of Vashon, son Ron Calhoun of Vashon, grandchildren Aaron, Chelsey and Justin Calhoun of Vashon, brothers Dick Calhoun of Vashon, Bob Calhoun of Huntsville, Ala., Les Calhoun of Bremerton, and Bill Calhoun of Centralia, Wash., and Esther Calhoun of Vashon.
At his request there will be no public service.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Akers, William "Bill" Scott Sunday, 08 Jan 2006
William ‘Bill’ Scott Akers died Jan. 8, 2006, on Vashon. He was 41 years old.
Mr. Akers was born May 17, 1964, in Seattle and raised in Berkeley, Calif.
He moved to Vashon to experience quality of life rather than focusing on quantity. He loved life on Vashon, just skipping from business to business visiting with friends, working on his home, and being with his family.
Bill understood the meaning of “Island time.”
Friends and family say he was generous and caring and that he chipped in to help whenever he could and was always available. He also loved riding his motorcycle, tinkering with mechanics, dancing, and listening to music.
After studying the arts at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz in the early 1980s, he became a stone carver and traveled around Europe studying various traditional styles. In Italy he was introduced to blown glass and returned to California to study glass with renewed interest at the California College of Arts and Crafts. He moved back to Seattle in 1994 to set up his own art glass shop.
He’s best known for his creation of whimsical goblets and candlesticks, but he also made aquatic-like chandeliers, botanical fountains, garden art and table ware.
Akers’ work is displayed at Terrance McBride Designs on Vashon, Vetri in Seattle and Tacoma, Glass House Studio in Seattle, and was included in numerous glass exhibits nationwide.
In his spare time, he was a production designer for the Glass Eye Studios in Seattle.
Survivors include his wife Emily Burns of Vashon and step-daughter Mára of Vashon, surrogate parents John Malork and Mary Laird of Berkeley, and their children.
There will be a public celebration of Akers’ life at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Grange Hall (north end parking lot).
The funeral and burial will be private on Vashon.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be sent to Vashon Youth and Family Services or the Vashon Island Pet Protectors.
Funds for the family can be deposited in the benevolent account set up at Washington Mutual under Emily Burns and Family.
