Eugene Earl Sabotta

Eugene Earl Sabotta

Eugene Earl Sabotta, 84, former project manager for Dept. of Social & Health Services in Olympia, died Thursday morning, February 10, 2011 at his property in McCleary, WA.
Eugene was born on October 30, 1926 in International Falls, Minnesota to Vincent and Marie (Ulick) Sabotta. He grew up there and attended 2 years at the University of Chicago before joining the US Army in 1944. He served in the Pacific Theater, helping in the Liberation of the Philippines. His unit was to be one of the first to invade Japan, but instead helped in the occupation of Japan following their surrender. He then went to Korea until he had enough points to be discharged. Upon his Honorable Discharge in 1946, Corporal Eugene Sabotta moved to Seattle where he did his graduate and undergraduate work at the University of Washington where he graduated with a Masters of Sociology in 1950.
On August 20, 1954, Eugene married Geraldine Marie Standert at St. Anthony Chapel in Kent, Washington. She died on September 17, 1998.
They moved to Tumwater in 1963 and then to Olympia in 1965. He worked for the Dept. of Social & Health Services from 1953 to his retirement in 1986.
Eugene was a member of the Olympia Elks Lodge and St. George Byzantine Church. Eugene loved to be outdoors, gardening and enjoyed cutting wood on his property in McCleary. Eugene also built a home in Seattle and designed and built a cabin in Westport. He also remodeled their home on Puget Sound. Eugene volunteered twice a week at St. George Byzantine Catholic Church and at Holy Pheophany Monastery a few blocks away. He also liked to travel and spent 2 to 3 months in Alaska fishing one time.
Eugene is survived by a son John Sabotta of Seattle, a daughter Carla Sabotta and her husband Bryan Laubscher of Los Alamos, NM and a step grandson: Jason Laubscher of Albuquerque, NM. Eugene was preceded in death by a brother Vern Sabotta.
There will be a Panachida or Byzantine Wake on Friday, February 18th starting at 7:00 p.m. and continuing all night at St. George Byzantine Church, 9730 Yelm Hwy, Olympia. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 19th at 10:00 a.m. in St. George Byzantine Church. Burial will follow with Military Honors at Calvary Cemetery, Tumwater, WA.
Online condolences or a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Funeral arrangements are through Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, WA.
360-532-0220