Frederic Paul Stoddard was born on Nov. 12, 1939, and died Dec. 12, 2008, after a brief illness.

Stoddard lived his entire life on Vashon Island, spending much of his youth at the Vashon Island Golf and Country Club, which his grandparents owned.

He attended Vashon High School, as did his parents, daughters and now his granddaughters.

Stoddard entered the Coast Guard in 1956, where his interest for marine engineering was piqued.

He attended the Calhoun School of Engineering and the MEBA School of Engineering and attained the Coast Guard rank of chief marine engineer.

Stoddard was employed by Washington State Ferries, Black Ball Ferries, Alaska Ferries and the Doric Shipping Company.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara, his daughters, Betsey Goodfellow and her husband Don, Melissa Stoddard and her partner Erica Martin, Jenny Bredice and her husband Mike and Norma Pancake.

He also leaves his grandchildren, Paul Goodfellow, AnnaBeth Bredice, Kellie Bredice, Lauren Bredice, Gabriel Stoddard and Noa Stoddard.

In lieu of a funeral, it was Stoddard’s wish that friends and family have a party in his memory.

Those who knew him are invited to celebrate his life with an old-fashioned Dockton picnic-style potluck at the Sportsmen’s Club at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. It was also Stoddard’s wish that a donation to the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank be made instead of flowers.

A guestbook is available at www.islandfuneral.com.