Alvin and Rhea Kline

Alvin and Rhea Kline

Alvin Leroy Kline was born in Stowe, Ohio on September 4, 1925. One of 14 children, he left school early to work and joined the Navy at 17, where he fought in WWII in the Pacific. In 1946 he went on a blind date with Rhea Elinor Lyons, and a year later the two were married. Rhea, also an Ohio native, was born May 27, 1928 in Akron. In 1960 the pair moved their four children to Washington State for a better life. They settled in Kirkland, where Al coached Little League baseball. Rhea took a job with General Telephone, where she started as an operator. She worked for GTE until her retirement. Al, a carpenter, contributed to construction projects all around Puget Sound. Al and Rhea loved to travel in their motor home, always taking the road less traveled. After retirement they moved to Shelton, spending winters in Yuma, AZ, where Al built a house at the age of 75. Rhea kept up correspondence with friends and family all over the country, never forgetting a birthday or anniversary. In their last years they moved to Bothell to be closer to their family. Rhea lost her short battle with lung cancer on November 19, 2012 and Alvin joined her on April 7, 2013. They were a shining example of true love until the very end; dedicated, faithful and caring, and their legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew them.

The family would like to thank the people of Foundation House in Bothell, Brightstar of Bellevue and Evergreen Hospice for their loving care and compassion. Al and Rhea are survived by their children, Michael, Ron, Susan and Sally, 11 grandchildren and soon to be 8 great grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of their lives at noon on May 5 at the home of their eldest son, Michael, 11109 NE 147th St, Kirkland.