John Mitchell McEwen

John Mitchell McEwen

John Mitchell McEwen, 94, died March 18, 2012 in Redmond, WA. He was a resident of the Emerald Heights retirement community. John was born in Homer, IL on May 4, 1917 to Rev. John A. and Helen Mitchell McEwen.
He graduated in chemical engineering from Ohio State University in 1939. As an army reserve officer, he was called to active duty before Pearl Harbor and served almost five years as lieutenant, captain, and major in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After the war, he completed a Ph.D. in pulp and paper science at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, WI.
In 1947, John joined the Weyerhaeuser Company. He did technical work for the Weyerhaeuser pulp division in Longview, WA and Everett, WA and later managed pulp and paper mills and served as Area Manager in both Everett and Springfield, OR. He then served as Weyerhaeuser International Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, living in Brussels, Belgium. After returning to the USA, he served as Regional Vice President for Southwest Washington with headquarters in Longview. After 30 years with Weyerhaeuser, he retired in 1977.
John was active in TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) and served as president of this international organization in 1965 and 1966. He served on the boards of a number of non-profit organizations in Everett, Springfield and Longview. When he retired, he helped start Community Home Health and Hospice in Longview and served as President until he moved to Redmond in 1992.
He married Isabel Ruble in 1942 and she shared his life for 64 years until her death in 2006. He is survived by daughters, Irene McEwen and Marie McEwen of Redmond, WA, and Judy Richardson of Scottsdale, AZ. He also is survived by a granddaughter, Marcy J. Harrington and her husband, Ed of Seattle, WA, and their daughters, Madeline and Heidi.
A memorial service will be held at Emerald Heights, 10901 176th Circle NE, Redmond, WA 98052, at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2012. His ashes will be placed in the columbarium at the First Presbyterian Church of Everett, WA.
Memorials may be sent to the Emerald Heights Benevolence Fund or to the charity of the giver's choice.