Ruth Heggenes
Ruth Heggenes, also known as Grandma Hegge and later Greatgrandma Hegge, died July 15, 2002, of a stroke. She was 89.
Mrs. Heggenes was born Oct. 25, 1912, in Clinton to Petter and Pauline Anderson. She had six brothers and a sister.
On Oct. 20, 1934, she married Leif Heggenes.
She was a housewife and mother who had a deep love and devotion to her family and her faith. She was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, an active member of the Ladies Aid and served on the church council for many years.
Her greatest joy was taking care of and being with her family. She was a wonderful cook with the ability to put a large meal on the table for her five boys and their friends in a short time, with seemingly little effort. Grandma Heggenes was famous to family and friends for her excellent lefse, brown bread, and chocolate chip cookies. Her other interests included picking blackberries, taking care of her flowers, and rooting for the Seattle Mariners, and of course the football team of South Whidbey High School of which her youngest son, Mick Heggenes, was a longtime coach.
Her energy, spirit and love of life and her children and grandchildren and in later years, her great grandchildren, were amazing and a wonder to all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her six brothers and her sister, as well as her husband, Leif, in 1971, and a grandson, Brian, in 2001.
Survivors include her five sons and their wives, Lloyd and Vivian, Roy and Joyce, Mick and Christy of Clinton, Al and Mary Jane of Winthrop, Norman and Kathy of Sequim; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services are set for July 20 at 4 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Clinton. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Christopher, Garth, Donald, Mark, Bob, Jason, Joshua, and Jacob Heggenes.
Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Charles Sturkey
Retired Navy Cmdr. Charles M. Sturkey, 85, died in the early hours of July 14, 2002, at South Pointe Assisted Living Residence in Everett.
He was the oldest child of Charles and Rosa Sturkey and loving husband of Mary Minahan Sturkey.
Mr. Sturkey was born Oct. 17, 1916, in Mascot, Tenn. He graduated from North Carolina State University and earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering at Virginia Polytech. He was a radio operator on a ship to earn money for college, and was able to help pay for his sister Nelle’s college as well. His radio work started a life-long hobby as a ham radio operator, with call letters W7TNA.
When the United States declared war, Mr. Sturkey joined the Navy and was sent to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in marine engineering and naval architecture. During World War II he served on several carriers, including the USS Wasp. He worked in ship maintenance in Plymouth, England, and inspected ships used in the D-Day invasion.
Soon after VE Day he met the love of his life. He persuaded Mary Minahan to help him at the Office of Foreign Liquidation selling lend-lease watercraft. When the job was completed, Mary traveled to Vallejo, Calif., then to Seattle to meet his family. They were married Jan. 24, 1948. The couple’s first home was in Medford, Mass., then Staten Island, N.Y. The couple then lived at his duty stations in Turkey and Washington, D.C., followed by a move to Bremerton, where Mr. Sturkey was involved in building the USS Coral Sea.
The Sturkeys’ last duty station was Sasebo, Japan, where he was in charge of the Navy shipyard. In Japan he built the trimaran Chamaru. He retired from the Navy in 1968. Two years later the couple and Abraham Magpatoc left Japan on the Chamaru to circumnavigate the globe. During the trip, Charles kept in touch with friends and family through his ham radio.
After their world cruise, the Sturkeys built a home at Honeymoon Bay on Whidbey Island. Mr. Sturkey continued his sailing and ham radio hobby. Abraham Magpatoc also settled in the area, married Marina, and remained close to the family. The Sturkeys sold real estate for Marine Land, and later for Whidbey Realty.
Charles was preparing the Chamaru for another extended cruise when he fell, hit his head and suffered a stroke. He spent his last couple of years at South Pointe Assisted Living, where his sister, Nelle Willis, is a resident and Marina Magpatoc is the resident services supervisor. With the loving care given by the staff at South Point, daily visits by Abraham, Mary’s many visits, and friends and family stopping by, Mr. Sturkey got the most from his last years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, James Sturkey. He is survived by his wife, Mary; a sister, Nelle Willis; Abraham and Marina Magpatoc; and many nephews and nieces. Military services will be held at Bayview Cemetery at 1 p.m. July 18. The family suggests memorials in his name to the Boys’ Clubs.
James Todd Weber
James Todd Weber, 35, died June 26, 2002, in Chicago following a two-year battle with leukemia.
He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and received a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and a master’s degree from Kent State University. He and Rachel Jones of Langley were married on Whidbey Island in 1998. They moved to Chicago, where he was employed as a commercial real estate appraiser.
As befits a native son of Cleveland, Mr. Weber was an avid fan of rock and roll, baseball and Cincinnati chili. He was never far from his earphones, grew wonderful tomatoes, and had a subtle humor that kept friends and family laughing. He was a talented writer who was detailing his experience with leukemia. Although very aware of the gravity of his disease, Mr. Weber liberally demonstrated his sense of humor in his journal. Excerpts were read by his wife at his service.
On Feb. 6, 2002, he became the father of twins, Sean and Julia.
Mr. Weber was the cherished son of David and Barbara Weber, dear brother to Laura Weber and Jeffery Weber, all of Cleveland, Ohio. He was enthusiastically welcomed into Rachel’s extended family: Phil Groening, Cindy Smith, and Abe Smith-Groening of Langley; Bruce Jones, Maggie Sullivan, Kyle Sullivan Jones and Kate Sullivan Jones of Barnstable, Mass.; and Erika Stone of York, Pa.
Memorial gifts may be given to the College America Fund for the benefit of Sean and Julia Weber, c/o Kelly Weiderhold, 32 School St., Lexington, MA 02421, or to the Leukemia Society of America.
George W. Wood
George W. Wood, DDS, died July 8, 2002.
Born near Bigfork, Mont., in 1918, he spent his early years in Kalispell, Mont. He served five years in the Army and the Air Force in World War II. He married Grace Scearce in 1942 then attended Whitman College in Walla Walla and the University of Washington School of Dentistry, graduating in 1951. He practiced dentistry in Walla Walla for 30 years before retiring and lived on Whidbey Island. He and Grace recently celebrated thier 60th anniversary.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Cynthia Shelton and her husband, John, in Langley, Douglas R. Wood, DDS, and his wife, LaVonne, in Oak Harbor, George Stanley Wood and his wife, Marilyn, in Seattle; three granddaughters, Jill Winford, Allison Wood, Jami Belieu; a grandson, Kyl Wood; a great-grandson, Jack Winford; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He had a penchant to join good causes and served in leadership roles in many organizations. He was president of Washington Dental Service (first president of the first dental insurance for patients in the United States), Washington State Dental Association, Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce, Walla Walla Rotary Club, Walla Walla Community College (first president and board member for 10 years), and Useless Bay Golf and Country Club. He believed service is the rent you pay for the privilege of living in a community.
He was loved for his generous and loving spirit, sense of humor that delighted all who knew him, and his ability to touch so many lives in a meaningful way. He will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Useless Bay Country Club.
Arrangements under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.
Wayne Hawley
In memory of Wayne Hawley, a traditional community potluck picnic and celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. July 20, 2002, at Dave Mackie County Park at Maxwelton Beach. All those who knew him are welcome to come and share memories and photos.
