Richard Wesley Ohlson

Richard Wesley Ohlson January 4, 1932 April 29, 2011 After a very brief illness, Rick passed away on April 29, 2011 at the age of 79 as a result of a recently discovered brain tumor. Rick was born in Tacoma on January 4, 1932 to Wesley S. and Dorothy Ohlson. Rick graduated from Stadium High School in 1950 and from Stanford University in 1954. While at Stanford Rick was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, where he was fondly given the nickname "Lightning," and was part of the Crew team. He then served 2 years in the Army, followed by a return to his hometown where he began working for Coast Sash and Door (later Coastcraft), rising to President. While at Coastcraft, Rick served on the Board of Directors of the Architectural Woodwork Institute, a national trade organization, becoming board President in 1981. In his youth Rick was an active skier at Mt. Baker, White Pass and Crystal Mountain. At Crystal, Rick and a group of friends got together and built Sitzmark Ski Lodge. He was also an avid golfer. Rick and his golfing buddies played in many tournaments around the area, including the long running Jolly Boys tournament in Lake Chelan that has been an annual trek for many years. A lifelong member of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, he served on the Board of Directors in 1989. In 1973 Rick served as President of the Metropolitan YMCA of Tacoma. He was pre-deceased by his wife and high school sweetheart, Carolyn to whom he was married 45 years. He is survived by two daughters: Camille Ohlson (Rick Smith), and Alexandra Page (Tom), and a son, Wesley Ohlson (Kimberly). Six grandchildren: Gretchen, Julia, and Spencer (Page); Nick, Jake (James), and Gracie (Ohlson); his sisters, Barbara Bordeaux, Janice Smith, and Christine Strand; numerous nieces and nephews, and his companion of the past three years, Diane Lynch, of Tacoma. Before he became ill, Rick took a trip to Palm Desert in March. He enjoyed visiting with his daughters, son, Diane, and his three sisters as well as playing golf with some of his friends in the area. After spending time with many of those closest to him, unknown to us all, the trip turned out to be a fitting send off to a wonderful, full life. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., May 20 in the Valley Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, followed by a reception at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. Donations strongly suggested to Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood in his name.