Victor VanValin Obituary

Victor VAN VALIN Victor Van Valin ~ loving husband, father, grandfather, author and patriot passed away January 2, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona due to complications arising from surgery. The family held a memorial service January 8th in their Carefree, AZ home celebrating this cheerful, warm-hearted man they were so blessed to have as their loving mentor and friend. Victor was born November 6th, 1936 in Denver, Colorado to Barbara (Stolle) and C.F. Van Valin. He spent most of his growing up years in Snohomish Washington, where he graduated from high school. In 1959 he graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts and went on to study at Harvard University, then went on to earn his law degree from the University of Washington. Victor was called from the reserves to active duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Pueblo Crisis in 1968. He practiced law in Seattle and in Bellevue until his retirement in 2005, at which time he devoted himself to finishing and publishing his non-fiction work entitled 'Casting Out Fear' which endeavored to illuminate a way to find what Victor called our 'authentic self.' He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, and his children Vanessa (husband Paul and children Kazia and Tasman), Jonathan, Jeffrey and John (wife Rachel and son Isaiah). He was predeceased by his younger sister Virginia Foster. From early youth, he loved the outdoors - fly fishing, hiking and camping. His love of the earth also spurred him to become an orchardist. Memorial contributions can be made to the Central Asia Institute at: PO Box 7209 Bozeman MT, 59771 or the Williams College Alumni Fund at: 75 Park Street, Williamstown, MA 01267.

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Published by The Seattle Times from Feb. 5 to Feb. 6, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Victor VanValin

5 Entries

wendy lamson

February 10, 2011

i was very sad to hear of victors passing.. i grew up with the van valins in my life, good friends of my parents annette and royal lamson.. they were the other family to me.. loved van and barbara so much... my book on fudiciary for me to read for my parents passing, it was co written by victor and that brought back so many memories of growing up .. i will never forget his pigeons... great thoughts and love to his family at this time.
wendy lamson

Steve Kager

February 8, 2011

February 07, 2011

Dear Elizabeth and Family,

It is with sadness that I learned of Victor’s death. Decades have passed since he and I interacted, yet I still have very fond memories of Victor and the times I spent in his presence.
The Van Valins were neighbors of ours in Snohomish, sharing the alley which ran between our homes. As you will understand, the Van Valins were well known and respected in our community. Van Valin Frozen Foods was a steadfast employer of many Snohomish youth, including myself, who sought summer employment. I remember too Victor’s sister Virginia whose charm, beauty and intelligence were easily recognized by all who knew her. But it is Victor of whom I have the clearest and most meaningful memories.
Though Victor was seven years my elder, on many occasion he was willing to put up with an admiring tag-along companion who shared his love of the outdoors. Many were the days that I spent trying to keep up with him as we hiked, fished and camped in the nearby mountains and backwoods of the Snohomish River Valley. More often than not our day trips were made by bicycle and always in the companionship of his dog Brownie. He taught me and my older brother Gary how to set a trap line for muskrat and the art of drying and stretching raccoon pelts. He wrote articles for Boys’ Life Magazine on the techniques of trail hiking. He kept a coop of homing pigeons in his backyard. After he had acquired his driver’s license, we would get up early on weekends to transport his pigeons into the countryside and then race them home. He recognized each pigeon in flight and would not be satisfied until every bird had returned.
Victor’s love of the offerings of his outdoor surroundings made him a devoted Naturalist, though I doubt he saw himself as such at the time. To me he was a good friend and teacher, and my life was made richer because of his willingness to share his passion for the environment with a younger neighborhood kid.
From reading Victor’s obituary in The Seattle Times, it is clear to me that he maintained his love of the outdoors and his willingness to share that affection with those who were close to him. I am sorry for your loss, and I am thankful for the time I was able to share with Victor, a truly remarkable person.

Cordially,

Steve Kager

Morrie Shore

February 7, 2011

Dear Liz & Family. We just learned of Vic's passing by the obit in the Seattle Times. Sorry for your loss. Even though Vic and I were not real close, we had a special relationship since our days at law school, then dealing with each other as attorneys, then talking about pear orchards in Ellensburg. Morrie Shore (Yakima)

sonja & jeff hallstrom

February 6, 2011

Dear Liz and family. We are so very sorry to learn of Victors death. Pls know you are in our thoughts and prayers

Love Sonja & Jeff

Liz Van Valin

February 5, 2011

To the light of my life -- I miss your wonderful, happy nature and being able to talk to you whenever I felt like it. Love you forever ---- Your wife, Liz

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