Kenneth Howard Passe

1919 - 2013

Kenneth Howard Passe

Kenneth Howard Passe;, 94, passed into Heaven on December 27, 2013. He was born in Seattle on November 26, 1919, to Carl and Inez Passe;.

Ken married Mary Jeanne Anderson on May 18, 1945, a marriage which spanned nearly 66 years, until Mary's passing in 2011. Ken and Mary raised three children in the area that is now Shoreline: Ken Jr (Ann) Passe;, Nancy Jeanne Passe; and Beverly Anne Passe;. He was the proud grandfather of Keith (Lisa) Passe;, Kyle (Emma) Passe; and Chandra Passe;, and adored great-grandfather of Avery, Thomas, Molly and Kaleb. He was also a loved uncle to several nieces and nephews in Washington, California and Arizona. Ken was pre-deceased by his brother Charles William Passe; and is survived by his sister, Phyllis Stringer.

Ken grew up in Ballard, where he played in the Seattle Times Youth Band and worked as a bicycle messenger for Western Union. A 1937 graduate of Ballard High School, he enjoyed Golden Beaver class reunions. Ken joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937 and worked for a year in the foothills of Mt Rainier. After being drafted into the Army in August 1941, he later spent exactly 3 years in the South Pacific as an anti-aircraft gunner, returning in April 1945 and being discharged in June 1945. He was a proud WWII veteran and holder of a Purple Heart award.

After the War, Ken worked as a salesman/driver for American Linen Supply for 6 years, then worked for US Customs Service for thirty years, retiring as the Supervisory Inspector at SeaTac Airport in 1983. Always Husky football fans, Ken and Mary held season tickets for many years and attended two of the UW Rose Bowl games. They were both avid salmon fisherman. Together they enjoyed travel and had the opportunity to visit many countries in the world through Ken's work and personal travel. Ken and Mary particularly loved vacationing in Hawaii.

Ken was a life member of both the Richmond Masonic Lodge and Nile Temple Shrine, where he was a longtime member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. Ken and Mary were members of Ronald United Methodist Church for more than 60 years.

At Ken's request, there will be no service. Interment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery. Dad's strength, love and devotion to family will always be missed.