Bill Brumsickle

April 25, 1935 - November 27, 2024

Centralia, Washington - We are heartbroken at the loss of Bill T. Brumsickle, who died November 27th in Centralia at the age of 89. Born in 1935 in White Salmon, Bill grew up in Camas, studied at Centralia and Clark junior colleges and Western Washington College of Education. He worked in education and public service for the rest of his life. He married Mary Ann Bailey in 1958 and they had four sons: Bill, Dave, Steve and Dan. After Mary Ann's death in 2007, Bill married Doris Wood in 2014.

A tireless proponent of education excellence in the state of Washington, Bill taught for many years beginning in Montesano, then Tumwater. He completed 30 years in public education by serving in the administration of the Centralia school district as principal and assistant superintendent. He represented Lewis County in the Washington State House of Representatives for four terms and served as chairman of the House Education Committee.

To everyone who knew Bill, he was kind, principled, devoted, and unforgettable. Bill had a marvelous sense of humor and a quick wit, always able to find the humor in a situation and lift spirits. Bill was open to everyone and did not know a stranger.

Full obituary at https://www.afterall.com/obituaries/d-18811613

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Published by The Olympian from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Bill Brumsickle

Sponsored by Funeral Alternatives of Washington - Tumwater South Sound Manor - Tumwater.

4 Entries

Peter Hendrickson

December 10, 2024

It was Bill who greeted us summer of 1980(?) when I interviewed for an admin job. The kids were climbing the trees outside the Middle School just across the street -- and that was just fine. He was a steady, understanding and forgiving voice for all the years I knew him. I was reminded that he grew up in a paper mill town as did my Mom and Dad (Maine, not Washington). He never lost track of the lives of most of the folks who make our towns and cities go--and he gave selflessly to their success, whatever his role, wherever he sat. RIP, Bill.

Kathy

December 8, 2024

Mr. Brumsickle must have been a Saint. 10th grade Geometry ... I asked, "why do I need Geometry?" He spent hours after school trying to explain the principles...never did he waver in his calm demeanor or in his genuine interest helping me achieve my goal of passing his class. He attended our 50th class reunion and he still remembered me...I was pleasantly shocked. Mr. B truly loved education. RIP

Dana Anderson

December 5, 2024

It was such a gift to have Bill on our board at ESD 113. He was a visionary leader, a gentle soul, and an influence on the direction of our organization.

He had statewide impact in his role of governmental leadership. Community impact in his role on boards and the regional service center. And direct access on lives all around him as a loving husband, father, and friend.

Dan Godat

December 4, 2024

What a wonderful memory I still have today of when I was a freshman at Tumwater and Bill and Bob Shaner were our freshman coaches that we played both of their old high school freshman teams we won both games and I´ll never forget Bill, jumping out onto the field, jumping up and down, kind of doing swinging his arms around and everything that we´d beat ELMA he made school a fun place to come to, and he treated everyone fairly, and I always said that he was the only guy that ever flunked me in anything, but that was after the football season. It was funny at the time I thought while shocks I´ll just keep passing, but after season was over, he told me I had to get to work through the years I kept track of him and he kept track of me. What a wonderful guy I was with him even when I thought it was great that another guy from Tumwater moved down to Lewis County and it was Bill was in charge of athletics for I think the Thurston County schools and we ask if he would mind if a B school joined their soccer program. Bill thought it was a great idea. I couldn´t believe it but anyway we can all kind of feel responsible for having soccer in those programs now and that was because of Bill Bruick. I´ll always miss him Dan Godat.

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