WALTER SYDNEY FUNK

1920 - 2009

Walter Sydney Funk, oldest son of the late Ray and Hattie Funk, returned to his Heavenly Father in the early hours of December 28, 2009.

Born February 23, 1920, he grew up in the Pinehurst area of Everett with his siblings Adabelle Mattot (Kirkland), Floyd and Arlene Funk ( Lake Stevens) and Ray(Judy) Funk of Oregon and California.

With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Walt enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, seeing extensive action in the South Pacific. He was a part of the battle of Midway Island. He carried vivid memories of this time until he passed away.

While home on leave, he married Elayne Bond, a fellow Marine and Everett resident. This marriage endured 65 years and produced two daughters, Hannah Johnson (Camano Island) and Marla Ries (husband Steve, of Mt. Vernon).

At discharge, he worked for Simpson Lee Paper Company on the management team. He was active in the First Baptist Church in Everett where he established lifelong friendships, joined the Masonic Lodge, volunteered in many service groups, established the Carousel Dance Club with Elayne, and enjoyed fishing and camping. Memorable was the night his fish smoking house caught on fire, burning to a crisp his fish as well as that of his boss. Our small family was saturated with water from the garden hose as Dad bravely fought the blaze.

Walt was later transferred to the Ripon, California plant, where he presided over the Chamber of Commerce for 8 ½ years, again became active in church life, and expanded his skill at photography.

Retirement brought a move to the Central Coast of California where Walt's storage sheds quickly filled with wood blocks of varied species as he had discovered a real talent for fine wood carving. Delighting in RV travel, Mom and Dad's favorite trip was one on which their RV ("The Wienie" for the Airstream shape) was loaded onto a flat-bed train car for a trip through the Copper Canyon of Mexico with old Everett friends. International travel was also a part of their life.

Their final move was to Stanwood, Washington, much to the joy of their daughters. Most gardens in the condo complex in which they lived were very manicured. Dad's radiated with the glow of sunflowers of all varieties.
So ends the life of a warrior, father and husband, artist, cookie baker, magician, worm digger and a man who loved to make people smile.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for 11 AM at Camano Senior and Community Center, January 2, 2009.