Harold C. (Jim) Boulé
Jim Boulé, more formally known as Harold C. Boulé, died peacefully June 15th at the Island Elder Care Home on Vashon Island, WA. He was 85 years old.
Jim was born November 3rd, 1923 in Walla Walla, WA and was raised along with his four siblings on the grounds of the Veterans Hospital in Walla Walla, in a house reserved for the chief engineer, his father, F. J. Boulé. His mother, Mary Maher Boulé, worked as a nurse at the hospital. Many fascinating childhood adventures occurred on the hospital grounds, including driving the Model A, as a ten year old, to milk the cows. Another favorite story involved bowling balls from the Vet’s Hospital lanes and a long, steep paved entrance to the hospital. Also on the grounds of the hospital, Jim remembered watching Charles Lindberg land a plane on the long grassy lawn.
After serving his country honorably during WWII, doing intelligence work in the Asiatic Pacific Theater, he found himself back in Walla Walla, ready to begin life again. Jim claimed a buddy suggested he register at Whitman College using the GI Bill, because the girls out numbered the boys three to one. That fateful decision led to finding the love of his life, Mary Jean Null Boulé, also a student at Whitman. After marriage, five children in six years, and launching a career in the transportation industry, Mr. Boulé and family landed in Claremont, CA in 1961.
Jim found success in the business world, working in top management in the trucking industry for Consolidated Freightways and Transcon trucking lines, and later working around the world for the publication Transport Topics.
Upon retirement, Jim and Mary picked Vashon Island, WA to live out the rest of their lives.
Jim was often seen in Claremont with his trademark stubby pipe, puffing intently, or walking his dog, Flynn, to the high school field carrying his wedge and a bag of golf balls to work on his game. He was a devoted member of the Vashon Country Club, serving a term as its president and overseeing the expansion of the clubhouse. He played golf almost until the last month of his life and said to his daughter just two days before he died, “Honey, when I’m not playing golf, I’m thinking about golf.”
He loved his family and friends without condition and everyone who knew Jim has a wonderful story to tell about an experience they had with him. But his truest expression of love may have been his last.
Upon hearing the words, “Your father is actively dying today …” one of his children began a desperate trip to be by his side. Hampered by traffic and a missed ferry, a call was made to Jim’s room. The nurse held the phone up to his ear and he heard, “I’m on my way, be there soon”
As he saw his beloved Mary Jean move towards him with outstretched arms, Jimmy said, “One of the kids is still on his way. Hold on a minute.” Five minutes after the last child arrived, he passed gently away.
Jim waited for him.
Jim Boulé is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Null Boulé, who died in 2007. He is survived by his daughter, Margie Boulé, and her husband Dave Beck, of Portland, Or; by his son, James (Buzz) Boulé, of Vancouver, WA; by his son, Pete Boulé and his wife, Jan Boulé, of Vancouver, WA; by his son, Charlie Boulé, of Vashon Island, WA, and by his daughter, Martha Boulé Arneson and her husband, Dale Arneson, of Spokane, WA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Alexandra Boulé-Buckley of Washington, D.C., Matthew Boulé of Tokyo, Japan, Ken Arneson of Spokane, WA, Emily Arneson Kelly (Matthew) and twin Great Grand Daughters of Kent, WA, Jenna Boulé of San Francisco, CA, Pete Arneson, of Spokane, WA., Chas Boulé of Huntington Beach, CA, and by his sister, Mary Ann Boulé Barclay and her husband, Max Barclay, of Walla Walla, WA.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday June 24, 2009 at 2pm at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit Vashon, Washington.
Charitable contributions may be made in Jim Boulé’s name to Whitman College.
