WALTER WILLIAM BLADE

February 25, 1936 - April 22, 2017

Walter William (Bill) Blade, Jr. died peacefully on April 22, 2017 in Indio, California at the age of 81.

Bill was born on February 25, 1936. He was raised in Mount Vernon, Washington where he graduated from Mount Vernon High School. He served in the US Army prior to attending and graduating from the University of Washington, with a degree in Business Administration.

Bill lived many years in the Spokane and North Idaho areas where he owned and operated several automobile dealerships and served the communities through various civic organizations. He moved to Mount Vernon to steward Blade Chevrolet in 1982 until his retirement in 2002.

He loved to golf, hunt, fish and play cards with his buddies at the Hayden Lake (Idaho) Country Club where he served as president in 1980-81. He spent many summer months enjoying fishing trips with friends and family in Sitka, Alaska during his retirement years.

Bill is survived by his wife Sylvia of Palm Desert, California; son Mike Blade and his wife Vicki of Mount Vernon, Washington, their sons and daughters-in-law Alex and Jenna, and Cooper and Debbie; son Scott Blade and his wife JoAnn of Sedro Woolley, Washington, their children Dalan, Brannigan, Tyler and Chelsea. He is also survived by brother Karl Blade and his wife Alice of Joplin, Missouri and their daughters Becky and Brandi; sister Tina Blade and her husband Marc Hoffman of Duvall, Washington. In addition, the family would like to thank his very special caregiver, Juan Rivera.

Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Josephine (Moody) Blade; his father, Walter Blade; his wife of 30 years, Rita Blade; his former wife and mother of his sons, Linda Blade; grandson, Nolan; and sister Karen Blade.

The memorial service will be 3pm, Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E Hayden Ave, Hayden, Idaho. A reception will follow at the Hayden Lake Country Club.

The family prefers memorials to the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation, online at http://www .skagitregionalhealth. org/hospital-foundation/ gifts-to-the-foundation or by mail to PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.