Yesterday I drove downtown to take a few pictures. I hesitated to go out because I was cold but I figured if I got out on the sidewalk and actually walked in the fresh air, I would warm up. Nope. That didn't happen. I wanted to get a picture of the ice rink they set up during winter down on Front Street but Front is too busy of a road to stop on or find a parking place so I pulled around on the next block and thought I'd walk back. Took three pictures of the ships in the harbor.
Jenni texted me an invite for dinner so I jumped at that. She's a good cook. She made fried rice using brown rice and had this noodle dish (in a bag in the frozen section at the grocery store). It was delicious and I intend to go looking for that product myself.
I came home and browsed various things on tv trying to find something of interest but it was slim pickin's and I was tired anyhow. Went to bed close to ten and found myself yawning and yawning and yawning. Just worn out tired. Which seems to be happening more frequently all the time. Uh oh....am I aging too fast? Well, yes of course I am. I stayed in bed until almost six this morning but already, I'm yawning again. Maybe I need to up my vitamin intake.
I've got a jigsaw puzzle in the works so that will occupy a little time this week. I also set up my sewing machine and have an idea for a new project using quilt squares. Only chore on my agenda today is to make a pan of fudge. Again...are you bored yet?
Wish I had something more interesting to relate. Perhaps after the holidays. At least I'll be getting family pictures on Saturday when Catie comes, on Tuesday when Sue comes, and on Thursday when Mary comes. I've been surfing on Hulu to try and find some old tv shows to watch but so far, most of them are getting on my nerves. Shows I used to like. Now the canned laughter drives me nuts or the dialogue is phony, or the language is offensive.
I went back on coffee for a while because I found a bag of coffee at the Dollar Tree and some liquid creamer both for a buck. I used that up and now I'm back on green tea. This morning, however, it is not doing the trick and I'm finding I just might have to go back on coffee. Just no pleasing the taste buds sometimes.
Maybe I'll post the obits that were in the Leader yesterday for Ruth, Bob Blaurock, and Phil Raymond. At least it will be more interesting than the stuff you've been objected to so far in this blog.
Ruth Elaine Kvinsland
May 8, 1943 - December 2, 2019
When Ruth Elaine Kvinsland was born Saturday, May 8,
1943, in Bremerton, WA, gas was .21 a gallon. She died December 2, 2019, at
Harborview Hospital in Seattle, from injuries she received on Thanksgiving Day
when her wheelchair took a wrong turn. Ironically, Thanksgiving week of 2013
was when she suffered a stroke during brain surgery and was then confined to
that wheelchair.
Her family moved to Port Townsend in the spring of 1949,
and she graduated high school in 1961. Peninsula Jr. College opened that year
and Ruth attended with several of her classmates. The adventures she had in
that one year were discussed and laughed over for the rest of her life. She
went to work at the PT Medical Clinic on Water Street when there were only four
doctors in residence. Plut, Schaill, Bridges, and Crist. She loved that job and
stayed there for 22 years. She took a break for 8 years and then went to work
as a unit secretary in Jefferson General Hospital’s ER for another 15 years.
She had one son, John Kvinsland, from her marriage to Lonnie, which ended in
divorce.
The notation under Ruth’s picture in the high school
annual said: Chuck full of fun and neat as a pin. And she was full of fun too!
She was active in the high school alumni association and often hosted her own
class at their yearly get togethers at her home. Ruth loved gardening,
collecting beach glass, and dancing to rock and roll. Her favorite movie was
‘Gone with the Wind’ and the apples of her eye were her grandchildren, Robert
and Sissy. She followed their sports achievements avidly and attended every
game she could.
She is survived by her son, John and his wife, Jodi;
grandchildren Robert and Jolene; her brother, Richard, and his wife, Helena.
Nephew Rich Stapf, Jr and his wife, Bev; and niece, Tiffany Ryan. Her parents,
Fred and Violette Stapf, preceded her in death. Services are to be held at
Grace Lutheran Church, 1120 Walker St, Port Townsend, WA on January 19, at 2
p.m.
Philip Canfield Raymond
January 10, 1920 - October 17, 2019
Philip Canfield Raymond of Lacey, Washington formerly of
Port Townsend, WA passed away peacefully at his home on Oct 17, 2019 at the age
of 99. Phil was born Jan 10, 1920 in Bellingham, WA.
Phil was a graduate of Tacoma’s Stadium High School
before attending The College of Puget Sound where he met Anita Mae Sherman also
of Tacoma. He married Anita at the CPS Chapel on Aug 25, 1943. Phil enlisted in
the US Navy and attended Midshipmen’s School in Chicago, IL. He became the
navigator on the USS Kankakee.
Returning stateside, Phil completed his bachelor’s degree
and completed studies to become a high school teacher
The Raymonds moved to Port Townsend in 1946 where they
began their teaching careers with the Port Townsend Public Schools. He retired
from the Navy Reserve with the rank of Lt Commander with 20 yrs service
They had two children; Michael Raymond (b 1955) and
Annette Raymond (b 1956). The family resided on Morgan Hill in Port Townsend.
Phil served the PT Schools in many capacities best known
for his assignment teaching Contemporary World Problems. Phil was Senior Class
Advisor. He also coordinated United Nations Day. Mr. Raymond also taught
Spanish, psychology, and sociology. He retired in 1979.
Anita and Phil took several trips to the American
Southwest and to the United Kingdom during their retirement.
Phil and Anita moved to Olympia in 1996 to be nearer to
family. While Anita passed away in 2013, Phil continued at Colonial Inn with
the generous support of friends and family.
Phil unfortunately lost most of his eyesight to macular
degeneration, yet always found ways to visit with friends and get out for
special meals. He attended a large family reunion at Ft Nisqually in the summer
of 2019.
After visits to the hospital, Phil took up residence at
Joshua House Adult Family Home where he lived in a wonderful, caring
environment until his passing.
Philip Raymond is survived by his son, Michael Raymond of
Port Ludlow, and his grand-daughters Erin Ficker of McKinney TX, Maegan Alvarez
of Port Townsend, WA, Tali Motzer and Lia Case, both of Maple Valley, WA. Phil
and Anita enjoyed eight great-grandchildren. Phil was preceded in death by his
wife, Anita, and his daughter Annette. A Celebration of Life service will be
held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Bay Club Auditorium in Port Ludlow
from noon to 3 PM.
Robert (Bob) Franklin Blaurock
May 16, 1942 - November 12, 2019
“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but
I know we’ll meet again some sunny day” - Parker & Charles 1939
Bob was born in Port Townsend on May 16, 1942 to Art and
Ethel Blaurock and became “little brother” to Bill and Evelyn Blaurock and
Bill’s wife, Donna. Growing up and attending school in Port Townsend, Bob often
remarked on how fortunate he was not only to have such a loving family, but
also to be surrounded by both the physical beauty of his hometown and the
extraordinary love and joy in that community.
Bob never tired of talking to fellow PTHS alumni about
his Port Townsend memories – of classmates, people from his neighborhood, and
all the happy times they shared. Bob started playing music as a child and was
active in chorus and the school band. During high school Bob also played for
dances and concerts, and played his first “professional” job in 1960 with Gene
Petersen’s mother at the Whistling Oyster. He and Gene were original members of
the Brothers Band formed in 1959, which was the first rock and roll dance band
on the Olympic Peninsula. After retirement they regularly played at a number of
local events, including the Alumni Banquet with John O’Donnell, Mike Lundgren,
and Randy Johnson. John, Mike, and Bob played on the road during the early ‘70s
in Washington, Canada, and Alaska. Over the years Bob played with a number of
groups primarily in Washington, except for a year when he played on ships of
the American Hawaii Cruise Lines.
Majoring in music, Bob began attending Western Washington
in 1961, as a vocal major and it was at this time he became focused on playing
electric bass. In 1965 Bob was inducted into the Army and sent to basic
training at Fort Ord, CA. During his second week of training, he was summoned
to the day room. Terrified that something had happened at home, he was relieved
to find one of his PTHS alumni, George Cadero, waiting for him. George obtained
an audition for him with the Army Band and shortly thereafter Bob received
orders to Fort Amador, in the Panama Canal Zone, assigned to the 79th Army Band
to play trumpet. While in the Army Band, Bob traveled all over South and
Central America, playing for numerous dignitaries at state receptions, and
playing bass in a quartet at the Officers Club. During this time Bob made close
friends with several of his fellow Band members and has treasured those
friendships to this day, emailing, and getting together for reunions.
In addition to being an accomplished musician and
vocalist, Bob also owned a commercial fishing boat, worked at Port Townsend
Paper, and co-owned an antique/second hand store in Hadlock. Bob loved all of
his life experiences and never tired of meeting new people, in spite of
suffering a major stroke in 2002 during throat cancer treatment. Bob worked
diligently on his recovery, relearning to communicate, walking 2 miles a day,
joining a bowling league, and playing music regularly.
He and Jeanie Gatlin met at a dance in Port Angeles in
1962 and married in 1969 after what they described as a long distance romance.
Always making new friends, they lived in Bellingham, Port Angeles, Port Ludlow,
and Sedro Woolley, primarily following Jeanie’s career, and finally settled in
Sequim in 1986. Fortunately they moved into a community with so many wonderful
neighbors, they never felt the need to move on. However, they did travel the
world and enjoyed many cruises with family and friends, often making new
friends along the way. One of the highlights of these travels was their visit
to Cuba to hear the music and see the vintage cars. Bob also enjoyed the many
tours in their vintage cars all over the northwest United States, and the
friendships they made in the Sequim Valley Car Club.
Bob passed away at the age of 77 after a year long
determined effort to recover from complicated surgery. We would like to thank
Olympic Medical Home Health and Risa Denenberg, ARNP, for their encouragement
and care, and everyone at Virginia Mason Hospital Compassionate Care Center.
Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeanie,
sister-in-law Donna Blaurock and her children Patty Moody (John), Bill Blaurock
(Karyn), David Blaurock (Arloa), and Loreen Kniep (Dave); Bob’s sister Evelyn
Coyne, her husband Jack, and their children, Mike Coyne, Joan McDonald (Bruce),
and Lisa Wheeler (Fred). Bob is also survived by Jeanie’s brother, Don Gatlin,
(Janet) and their children Daniel Gatlin (Marci), and Dionne Borden.
No memorial is planned at this time, however, a
celebration of Bob’s life will be held in the spring of 2020.
I thought Bob's obit was especially well written.
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