C. Warren Bibbins was born to Claude and Consuelo (Ramquist) Bibbins September 28, 1933 at their home in Burton, WA. Quartermaster Harbor, with Dr. McMurray in attendance. He lived all of his life on Vashon Island, where he died on September 20, 2013.

From his years as a toddler, he spent weather and seasons permitting, either in the water or on the water of Puget Sound. This inborn affinity occupied more of his life for many decades, having sailed around the world three times on multi masted sea going sailing ships as a crewmember or able seaman. These adventures were interspersed with years working for Boeing as a machinist in the Wind Tunnel.

While there, he saw areas where a simple machined tool would produce a better and time saving result. He designed and made several of these improvements, which Boeing recognized with awards.

When he was a young teenager he received his first boat and a 5 horsepower Evinrude outboard motor. He soon found his interest in and ability for understanding the mechanics of outboards, how to improve and repair them. By his junior year of high school, he graduated to a 33 horsepower Evinrude and a 16’ Reinell ski boat.

He spent many summer hours (when he wasn’t helping his parents in their greenhouses or working at Boeing) towing and teaching his two sisters, relatives and many neighborhood kids the art of water skiing. This sport he, along with Norman Stanley introduced to Vashon Island Inner Quartermaster Harbor. This took on a whole new advancement a few years later with a larger boat, which he built, and a more powerful Mercury outboard, making it possible to tow ten skiers at a time!

In his early twenties, on an “old fashioned” slalom ski, he skied around Vashon-Maury Island, an anonymous person driving his boat.

During his second year of college (now named Seattle Pacific University) he was drafted into the Army, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas for basic training. He served in the medical corps in Germany. While there, he bought a VW Bug, using leave time, along with several Army buddies to tour many European Countries. Several months before his enlistment period was completed he was returned back to the states, discharged, then home to Vashon Island and the waters of Puget Sound.

Not wanting to be far from the “Tall Masters” and his ocean going days behind, he served one summer as a tour guide on the Balclutha, which was part of the San Francisco’s Maritime Museum. He had a similar job aboard the Monte Cristo, one of the ships he crewed on a year before, while it was docked for a short time in Port Angeles.

He enjoyed celebrating July 4th with a sizeable fireworks display for all interested “Bay” residents to see and hear! For him the best part was waking everyone of the Inner Harbor at the crack of dawn to a stick of dynamite he would set off on a float in the middle of the bay.

With the immigration of some Seattleites to the bay waterfront not approving of this, it soon ended, but gave way to the introduction of modified exhaust systems above water level of 25 horsepower outboards on the sterns of small hydros, several he built. Along with his neighbor and friend Roger Stanley, this became what now continues to be the annual July 4th “Around the Island boat race.”

When he could no longer be a race participant, he always managed to make his way to the race launching area in the pre dawn hours to help younger race enthusiasts get off the starting line, waiting for the winner to return for the trophy.

In his advanced “senior” years, he was happiest helping friends with their outboard motors, always seeming to have a spare part or two that would solve a contrary

mechanical problem.

Warren, all of us who knew you, from youth to old age, from calm waters to the

surging waves of life, are sure going to miss you. We’ll remember all the good times. Look down on us July 4th 2014 when we rev up our motors for the next “Around the Island Boat Race”!

No services will be held at Warren’s request and he will return to his beloved Puget Sound waters.

Please visit our on line guest book at www.islandfuneral.com.

Paid Obituary.