A long time resident of Vashon Island, Washington, Howard Lincoln Willsie died on May 25, 2010, after a brief illness. He was 96 years old and had been living in Renton, Washington, at the time of his death. The son of Oliver and Ruth (Anway) Willsie, Howard was born in San Francisco, California, on Oct. 31, 1913, but spent most of his life on Vashon Island.
Howard’s earliest childhood memories were of living on the island at Ellisport before moving to Mosier, Oregon. The family returned to Washington around 1918 and lived in Poulsbo for a few years, then in South Park, moving back to Vashon when Howard was a teenager.
In the spring of his freshman year at the old Burton High School, he left Vashon to work for the Charles R. McCormick Lumber Company, at a planer mill, in Port Ludlow, Washington. During the Great Depression, Howard traveled to California with nothing but a bedroll, a few necessities, $10, and a bus ticket. There he worked a gold claim, as a helper to an old prospector, and later in an underground mine. After hitchhiking back to the island, he held several jobs, including sorting roses at the Beall Greenhouse Company, and worked for Bill Garvin Sr., while boarding with the Garvin family at Ellisport.
On May 17, 1936, Howard Willise married Rosalie Therkelsen, daughter of Otto and Hazel Therkelsen, of Center, on Vashon Island. The marriage lasted for nearly 58 years, until her death in 1994. During that time the couple lived at Center, had seven children, immersed themselves in family and community life, and built strong bonds of friendship. For the first 6 ½ years, he drove a freight truck, a vital industry during World War II, and also volunteered as an Air Raid Warden on night shift, watching for enemy planes. Next he worked as a butcher at Kimmel’s grocery store, before getting a job at Kirschner Manufacturing Company.
Howard served the island’s Boy Scouts as Scoutmaster for many years, helping to bring about the creation of Camp Thunderbird. He was involved with the PTA, school board, and water district, which he served for 41 years, was an active member of the Vashon United Methodist Church and the Odd Fellows lodge. In addition to his enjoyment of the people who surrounded him, travel, photography, gardening and a good game of cribbage were some of his pleasures in life. He will always be remembered lovingly by his large family and many friends.
Howard is survived by all seven of his children. They are his three sons, Howard, “Dan” Willsie (Carol Ferch) of Vashon, Washington; David Willsie (Linda) of Woodway, Washington, and Bruce Willsie (Marcia) of Princeton, New Jersey; four daughters, Eileen Hoene (Gerald) of Quincy, Washington, Kathleen Rose of Bellingham, Washington, Mary Ann Dickhoff (Robert) of Seattle, Washington, and Candace Brown (David) of Tacoma; two brothers, Gordon Willsie of Colinton, Alberta, Canada, and LeRoy Willsie of Caroline, Alberta, Canada. At the time of his death Howard had 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2010, at the Vashon United Methodist Church, Vashon, Washington. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association.
(paid obituary)
