Wallace E. Alder

1936 - 2014

Wallace E. Alder

Wallace Elvin Alder, "Wally," was born on July 23, 1936, in Loda, Illinois. He passed away on August 7, 2014 at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington due to post-operative complications from open-heart surgery. Wally was a wonderful man who will be deeply missed by his family and a vast number of friends who knew and loved him.

Born the last of five children during the Depression, Wally learned the value of hard work and compassion from both his parents. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Orville and Ethel Alder, his brother O. John Alder, and his sister Bettie Turngren.

Wally attended Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington, graduating in 1954. After high school, he attended college briefly before joining the Army. He then worked his way through school at the University of Washington, having missed the GI Bill by 43 days. During college, he met Judith Skytta, and they were married on March 19, 1960. Wally graduated from UW in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in business. Wally and Judy's daughters, Kathy and Linda, were born in the early 1960's.

After completing college, Wally worked briefly at the Acme Sign Company as a cost estimator. Later in 1963 he began a wonderful 36 year career at The Boeing Company. He began at Boeing as a price estimator, and moved through a series of finance and materiel management assignments on military and commercial programs, including 12 years on the 747 program. Wally later served as an assistant corporate controller, director of finance for the Fabrication and Materiel divisions of the Commercial Airplane Company, and as vice president and general manager of Boeing Support Services from 1988 to 1995. He was named vice president of Business Resources for Information and Support Services in 1995, which became Support Services Group in 1997. He retired from Boeing in 1999.

In addition to his work with Boeing, Wally was active in many community groups. He was on the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, was past chairman of the Advisory Board of the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council, a member and past president of the Rainier Golf and Country Club, past president of Westwood Highlands Homeowners Association, a member of the Museum of Flight, and was actively involved in the Boeing Employees Good Neighbor Fund and King County United Way.

Sports were an important part of Wally's life. He participated in high school football, basketball, track & field, and played summer baseball. During football at Lake Washington High School, he met head coach Bill McLaughlin who became instrumental in his life. Bill and his wife, Gwen, welcomed him into their home during a difficult time, providing the foundation he needed to find success in the next phase of his life. Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin and their children, Jock and Jan, became family to Wally and remained so forever.

Other activities throughout his life included golfing, fishing, bowling and dancing. He also loved traveling, gardening, and going to the symphony. A passionate sports enthusiast, he attended events of all kinds and was especially thrilled when the Seattle Seahawks won the 2014 Super Bowl.

In the last several years of his life, Wally thrived on his renewed and active involvement at Newport Presbyterian Church. Following Judy's death in January, 2012, it was at the church that Wally met Helen Nash. Wally and Helen were married in May, 2014 and were still newlyweds at the time of his death. Although their time together was brief, the family is grateful that they were able to spend Wally's last year together travelling and enjoying life.

Wally always remembered his humble beginnings and showed compassion toward those less fortunate. Hard work and dedication were exhibited throughout his life and he was an inspiration to many.

Wally is survived by his wife Helen Nash-Alder, brother and sister-in-law Don and Betty Alder, sister Annabelle Bailey, daughters Kathy Williams and Linda Alder, son-in-law Rusty Williams, grandchildren Erin, Kurtis, Melissa and Sean, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and beloved friends. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 15, 2014 at 11:00am at Newport Presbyterian Church, 4010 120th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98006.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Seattle Children's Hospital (giveto.seattlechildrens.org), Overlake Medical Center Foundation & Auxiliaries (foundation@overlakehospital.org), Prostate Cancer Foundation (pcf.org), or Evergreen Hospice Services (foundation.evergreenhospital.org).