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Bob Smeltzer
July 23, 1941
rasges@localnet.com
Retired - Banker
Married
2
2012-07-11 22:27:48
Spouse: Geneva (Blue) Wa-Hi Class of '62Children: 1 Son and 1 Daughter Activities/Hobbies: Fishing, target shooting, cooking, BBQ, remodeling I moved from Zillah, WA to Walla Walla in 1952, attending Green Park, Pi-Hi and Wa-Hi. After graduation, I enlisted in the US Navy, leaving WW in October of '59 for the Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA. After completing basic, I was transferred to Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, for 16 weeks of intensive hospital corpsman training. Upon graduation, I was assigned to the USS Henrico (APA-45), a troop transport, where I remained until September of 1963. The first year and a half was spent working in the sick bay and operating rooms. For the remainder of my time on board, I was in charge of the pharmacy, shipping and receiving of all medical supplies, and the medical storerooms. Nine months of every year were spent sailing the Pacific, from San Diego to Hong Kong, with stops in Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, Korea and Japan - except for 1962 when we sailed through the Panama Canal to Jamaica during the Cuban Crisis. My service was up before the end of the 1963 cruise, so I was flown from Okinawa to Tokyo to Anchorage to Treasure Island-San Francisco, for separation. I returned home the end of September, 1963 and began working for Safeway. In March of 1964, I married Geneva Blue (class of 1962), whom I first met when I moved in across the alley from her in 1952. During all our "growing-up-together years" we were part of the "Alley Rats", as her mother termed all the neighborhood kids living in the blocks encompassed by Isaacs, Walla Walla, Roosevelt and Wellington Streets, who played together in the alley between Isaacs and Portland. (Remember "Peggy", "Kick the Can" and "Spud"?) We're still together after 45 years (57 if you count the "friendship" years). In September of 1964 I joined the consumer finance business, beginning with Cascade Industrial Loan in Walla Walla. Through acquisitions, I worked with ISC Financial House and Beneficial Finance, starting out as a collector and ending up a branch manager, and substituting for the regional manager in his absence. In 1976 I left the finance company to work with Old National Bank, and joining Columbia Bank in the Tri-Cities in 1977. Columbia Bank was acquired by People's Bank, which later became US Bank. From 1977 to 1995, I progressed from loan officer to Finance Center Manager. During these years, I was transferred from the Tri-Cities, where my staff and I were responsible consumer lending decisions for 13 branches; to Yakima, where my staff and I were responsible for consumer lending decisions for 27 branches, and I traveled throughout central Washington teaching consumer lending in the branches; and then to Portland, where I handled the large home equity and all large marine mortgage loans for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Northern California and Utah. After being through several acquisitions, I foresaw US Bank being sold, so opted to transfer back to Walla Walla and find something else to do. I was credit manager for a local oil company for a short time before starting at Banner Bank as a loan officer and then becoming Consumer Loan Center Manager until my retirement in 2003. While in the Tri-Cities, I decided to fulfill my lifelong desire to become a law enforcement officer, applying for the Benton County Sheriff's Reserve Unit. I passed all the required exams and was accepted. After working 8 hours days at the bank, I spent my evenings and most weekends for the next 16 weeks in the law enforcement academy. After the completion of those 16 weeks of intensive study and training and passing the final exams, I graduated and became a commissioned deputy sheriff. I served many nights and weekends from 1978 through 1985, attaining the rank of Sergeant, before I had to resign my commission when the bank transferred me to Yakima. In 1998, we bought a cabin at Kooskooskie to use on the weekends. We liked it so much we sold the property in town and moved up to the woods. We began enlarging and remodeling the cabin in 1999, doing all of the interior work ourselves, including building the cabinetry. It's a never ending project that we can take our time doing. We don't care to travel much, and both enjoy the challenge involved with the improvements. Geneva is still employed, as Executive Assistant to the WW County Prosecuting Attorney, so I'm the "house husband", honing my culinary skills, as I do most of the cooking, which I enjoy.  Send Bob a Message
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Wilbur Smith
 
September 30, 1941
wilbursmith@altig.com
Consultant, Altig International
Altig.com
Married
5
2014-03-20 18:42:28
Spouse: SharonChildren: 3 Sons & 2 Daughters Grandchildren: 6 Grandsons & 3 Granddaughters Activities/Hobbies: Woodshop, RV, Spending time coaching grandkids Sharon and I have been married 25 wonderful years. We are surronded by a beautiful family and great friends. As Andy Rooney say's, I've learned when you are in love it shows. Send Wilbur a Message
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Donna Smith (McKinnon) (Cox)
December 17, 1941
2012-07-12 00:24:27
DeceasedFormer Walla Walla resident, Donna Marie Smith Cox, 55, died Feb. 14, 1997, at the Washoe Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. Donna was born Dec. 17, 1941, in Miles, Mont., to Howard and Lillian Zeihen Smith. She lived in this area for more than 10 years and attended Walla Walla High School. Mrs. Cox was a substance abuse counselor for 18 years with the Northern Area Substance Abuse Council and a volunteer for the Committee to Aid Abused Women and Crisis Intervention Hotline in Reno. Surviving are a daughter, Tracie McKinnon-Williams of Tri-Cities; two sons, Craig McKinnon of Walla Walla and Douglas McKinnon of Sun Valley; her mother, Lillian Batty of Mesa, AZ; two brothers, Greg Smith of Seattle and Richard Smith of Walla Walla; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Her father preceded her in death. (note: obit dated 2-23-97) |
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Gary Snyder
 
agsnydes@aol.com
Retired - Physician
Married
2
2013-07-10 10:12:24
 Gary Richard SnyderDr. Gary Richard Snyder passed away suddenly on July 8, 2013, in Bellingham, Washington, surrounded by his family. He was born on March 1, 1941, in Olympia, WA to Ruth (Cohn) and Charles Snyder and grew up in Walla Walla, Washington. Gary attended the University of Washington and graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. He married his college sweetheart, Alix Ann Grinstein, in 1964. He served in the Public Health Service at Johns Hopkins University and worked for 30 years as a family physician in Ferndale, WA. Beloved by his patients and those who knew him, Gary devoted his life to helping others and serving his community. He was a member of Whatcom North Rotary, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians and was honored to serve as a member of the St. Luke's and Peace Health (St. Joseph's) Hospital Boards. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, gardening, boating and skiing. He is survived by his wife Alix Ann, son Adam (Janna), daughter Elizabeth (Marc Weinstein), grandchildren Aviva, Xan and Sylvan and sister Carole Lea Raugust. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2013, 1:00 p.m. at Butterworth Funeral Home - Arthur A. Wright Chapel, 520 West Raye St., Seattle, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to St. Luke's Foundation, 800 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Published in The Seattle Times from July 9 to July 10, 2013
Spouse: AlixChildren: 1 Son & 1 Daughter Grandchildren: 1 Grandson & 1 Granddaughter After leaving high school, I attended U of W for three years and then went to Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. I spent a year at King County Hospital during my internship and did my military service as an Epidemic Intelligence Office assigned to John Hopkins University in Baltimore. Then it was on to Portland for Residency at Oregon Health Sciences. After residency we ended up in Bellingham where we have stayed for the past 38 years! I practiced Family Medicine in a clinic in Ferndale, which is just 12 miles from Bellingham. I retired in April of 2001 after having a stroke.
I have been married to Alix for almost 45 years. Our anniversary is the weekend of our reunion! We have two children; a boy and a girl. Our son, Adam, is a health lawyer in Bellevue and our daughter, Elizabeth, is a mental health therapist here in Bellingham. They are both married and have one child each. We get to see our granddaughter a lot and spend as much time as we can with our son’s family in Bellevue. We’ve only been grandparents for a little over two years. Now we know what everyone else has been saying – grandchildren are so much fun.
My time in Bellingham (other than practicing medicine) has been spent with family and friends doing the same activities I did as a kid. We’ve had great times with our kids boating, skiing, fishing, etc. I still go to Husky football games when I can.
In the past 30+ years I served on both our hospital boards. I have also been an active member of Rotary. I served as president ten years ago and went to Singapore for the convention. I sat in this huge hall with thousands of people; I looked at the person sitting next to me and it was Fred Moore! We hadn’t seen each other in years and spent time catching up. I’ve also spent time with Tom Nunn and see Bob Adams whenever we are in town. Hope to catch up with many of you at the reunion.
Send Gary a Message
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Diane Soper (Cottam)
 
cotkit2@comcast.net
Interior Designer
Widowed
2012-07-11 22:37:27
Activities/Hobbies: Reading, Bridge, Attending Cultural ActivitiesAfter graduating from Wa-Hi, I earned a BA in Education at the University of Idaho and was hired to teach in the Richland School District. I was fortunate to be able to spend the following summer on a ten-week student tour of Europe. Over the next four summers, I earned my Masters Degree in Education at Walla Walla College.
My next accomplishment was hiring a contractor to build a house. I continued to be a world traveler visiting Asia and the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and South America. I met, then married, Alfred E. (Bill) Cottam, mechanical/nuclear engineer and retired British Naval Intelligence agent. After remodeling my home, we designed and had built a condominium overlooking the Meadow Springs Gold Course. We continued to travel both to Europe and Asia – especially enjoying our time in China.
After I retired from 30 years of teaching fifth and sixth graders, we sold the condo and moved across the state so that I could attend the Art Institute of Seattle. I earned my AA Degree in Interior Design and then worked in showrooms as a kitchen and bath designer for the next ten years.
My husband had a massive coronary during his second by-pass surgery so we sold our Bellevue home and bought a condo in Kirkland with a view of Lake Washington, Seattle and occasionally the Olympics.
Although I am now widowed and semi-retired, I still am enjoying my condo and am active. I enjoy reading, playing bridge, and attending many of the cultural activities in the area with friends and family. I also go to water aerobics, kick boxing and yoga classes.
Send Diane a Message
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Bobby Spencer
September 07, 1941
2012-07-12 00:32:32
DeceasedWenatchee -- Former Walla Wallan Bobby Jean "Tin Man" Spencer, 55, died July 26, 1997, at Central Washington Hospital here. Bobby was born Sept. 7, 1941, in Warrensburg, MO, to Alvin and Irene Huffman Spencer. He grew up and attended school in Walla Walla, graduating from Walla Walla High School in 1959. He joined the U.S. Navy when he was 17. Following his discharge, he returned to Walla Walla and was employed by the Boise Cascade. His love for hunting and fishing led to a job in the sporting goods department at Payless Drug. He later transferred to the Payless store in La Grande and then to one in Union Gap, WA. While living in Yakima, he joined his brother, Tony Spencer, in Spencer's Heating. He later moved to Wenatchee to open a second branch. Following his brother's unexpected death, he began working for Far West Heating prior to opening his own business, Affordable Heating. He operated the business for 11 years before retiring due to his health. His son, Bobby Spencer Jr., took over the family business. Bobby had a sense of humor and the ability to make people laugh. He spent his last year of life doing volunteer work at Parkside Rehabilitation and Care Center. He is survived by his wife, at the home; three sons, Bobby, Joel and Jeff Spencer, all of Wenatchee; three daughters, Michelle Knapp of Milton-Freewater, Barbara Meneho of Pueblo, Colo., and Gina McMullen of Boise; his father and step-mother, Alvin and Leona Spencer of Pasco; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother. (note: from obit dated circa July 27, 1997) |
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Barbara Stelzel (Greco)
 
February 07, 1941
fabt@charterinternet.com
Exec. Dir. Community Outreach Initiative
Married
3
2012-07-11 22:27:50
After reading about the number of retirees we have in our class, I think you all must have managed your 401K's a lot better than I did!! I continue to work as executive director of a community program in Yakima, WA focusing on quality of life issues, improving education and economic development. Prior to that I was with our local PBS TV station for 20 years. Husband Ben is retired and works part-time as a Mariner host when Seattle has home games.
We've combined households with one of our daughters and her family--living with grandkids keeps us young and running--and a son-in-law who does the hard stuff we no longer can/want to do. Spare time is pretty tame: gardening, reading, crossword puzzles; love art, but am more dilettante than artist. Interests include: community activism, political campaigns--somebody else's, and at-risk, abandoned kids.
All in all . . . Life is good! We're blessed with three very career-oriented daughters who all found perfect husbands, and eight grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 13. If I could do anything over, it would be to value my classmates more and fast forward a generation to when women had more choices and opportunities.
Send Barbara a Message
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Rick Stevens
July 19, 1941
2012-07-11 22:27:50
DeceasedRichard Allen Stevens Friday, November 17, 1978, at Palouse Nursing Home, Colfax, Washington. Graveside funeral services for Richard Allen Stevens, 37, were held at Mountain View Cemetery with the Rev. Emrys P. Thomas officiating. Rick died Friday at a Colfax nursing home, reportedly from natural causes. He was born in Walla Walla on July 19, 1941, the son of Dr. Ralph and Bernice Hogenson Stevens. Rick was a Walla Walla High School graduate and he also attended Whitman College, Columbia basin College and Walla Walla Community College. He had been active in Boy Scouts and was a member of the First Congregational Church, Elks Lodge 287 and the Blue Mountain Ski Club. Stevens is survived by his parents; a sister, Karen of Yakima, and two brothers, Lt. Col. John Stevens in Germany and Paul, of Portland, Oregon. Eight nieces and one nephew; also uncles and aunts, including Dr. Clifford Hogenson of Walla Walla. |
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Michael Stewart
2012-07-11 22:27:52
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Dale Sticka
2012-07-11 22:27:52
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