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William Cruikshank Obituary
William Hugh Cruikshank, age 93.
Born December 16, 1922; passed January 21, 2016 in from a brief illness.
William, known lovingly by all as Bill, was born in Hood River, Oregon to Alexander and Carolina Cruikshank. Bill's father Alexander worked for the forest service, surveying Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This allowed him to spend many summers in the outdoors, where he gained appreciation and respect for nature.
He graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1941 and attended college at Oregon State University.
Bill left OSU in 1944 to join the Naval Air Force. He attended Flight Training School in Corpus Christie, Texas. He was training to fly Hellcat airplanes, but his naval career ended with the end of the war.
As was his father, he was a surveyor, and worked on the Hood Canal Bridge construction.
Bill and Lucille were married in 1947 at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. They raised three wonderful children. He was a great dad, strict when necessary, but always loving and supportive. He was a favorite with the neighborhood as the children grew up in Fauntleroy.
Bill enjoyed life to the very end. He played cards every Sunday afternoon, and more often than not, he won. He went for walks, especially when the salmon were running in the rivers. He was a voracious reader, trading books with all. He was an artist, and he practiced his art by painting pictures of family and of nature. He constantly took art classes at South Seattle Community College to improve his technique.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Lucille. He leaves behind children Scott (Mary) Rebecca (Henry) and Ross; grandchildren Andy, Katie (Steve), Alex, Christian (Cindy) and Matt; great granddaughter Ava.
Perhaps the most telling of the significance and influence that Bill had on people's lives comes not only from the love shown by his immediate family, but from the outpouring of love shown by his extended family - a family of everyone he touched in life.
He will be missed very much by all who knew him.
Memorial information:
[email protected]
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Cruikshank
Sponsored by The Family.
Gema Baldwin
January 19, 2023
I was one of the students in the art classes at South Seattle College and we all loved Bill. We still reminisce, thinking of him often. RIP
March 19, 2016
I met Bill in Art Class and so appreciated his work and fun sense of joy. I will miss him.
Andrea Macaione
March 19, 2016
Hello Bill's family. I just want you to know how much I cared for Bill. I sat next to him in our art class at SSC for many years. He always asked me about my father (who cared for his hand after an accident back in the 50s). He was such a great person, wonderful friend...we all in the class will miss him so. He was able to come to a baby shower honoring our teacher's daughter maybe 8 months ago at my home...he looked wonderful and he was so happy to be with all his 'art friends' as he wasn't able to drive to class any longer. I really cared for him, and will miss him so. I wish I could have attended his memorial but I didn't know he has passed until just now. Best regards. Nancy Salmon Elliott
March 12, 2016
Dear Becky and Family sorry we took so long in responding to your loss but unfortunately we didn't know your last name.We really enjoyed your Dad and Mom.We were fortunate to belong to a dinner group with them and enjoyed our many fun times together.Sorry we couldn't attend the service but we did get to see him on his 90th birthdayHe had a good sense of humor and was really a gentle man. Fran & Chuck Shannon
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Judy & Tom Pullen
February 6, 2016
Bill was a very dear man and he will be greatly missed by friends and family.
January 26, 2016
Bill was a sweet guy. I remember him coming to the rescue a few times in 1968 when we had car trouble. Lucille was a lovely lady also. They were a cute couple.
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