George R. Quimby

George R. Quimby

George R. (Bob) Quimby, a Shelton resident for 47 years, passed away on November 13, 2009 in Issaquah, Washington surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 5, 1924 to Marlen and Maud Quimby in Pilot Rock, Oregon and graduated from Pendleton High School in Pendleton, Oregon in 1942.
During World War II, Bob joined the Army Air Force and qualified as a navigator. In 1946, he married Rose Ford Howe in Bremerton, Washington and then enrolled as a member of the first class at Olympic Junior College. Bob graduated from the University of Washington in 1950 with a B.S. Degree in Chemistry. He then worked for three years as a radio chemist for General Electric Company at Hanford, near Richland, Washington.
From 1953 until his retirement in 1984, he was a research chemist for the Olympic Research Laboratory of ITT Rayonier in Shelton. During his career at Rayonier, he established a radio chemistry laboratory as a research tool for the Rayonier Marine Laboratory at Hoodsport. The radio chemistry laboratory was subsequently used for wood chemistry. He and his co-workers published numerous scientific papers in technical journals and obtained several patents on processes for the utilization of pulping waste. He retired as a senior research scientist after 32 years of service. After retirement, Bob and Rose enjoyed traveling in California during the winter months, eventually purchasing a winter home in Indio.
Bob was a member of the American Chemical Society and Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. While in Shelton, he was active in the Shelton Rotary Club, St. David's Episcopal Church, and Bayshore Golf Club. Bob and Rose were avid bridge players and helped form the Shelton Duplicate Bridge Club where Bob was the director for many years. He was also active in the AFS and Rotary student exchange programs.
He had very happy memories of Shelton, living on Hammersley Inlet, boating, camping, family reunions and motor home trips while raising his four children. In 2000, Bob and Rose relocated to Sammamish, Washington to be near their children and grandchildren.
Bob is survived by his wife, Rose, of Sammamish; daughter, Joan Branch of Anchorage and Yakima; daughter, Beth VanBlaricom of Sammamish; daughter and son-in-law Ann and Bob Christensen of Sammamish ; and sister, Beverly Baldwin of Bremerton. He was affectionately known as "Big Daddy" to his eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his son Robert Quimby in 1998; daughter-in-law, Doreen Quimby in 1997; and his brothers , Philip Quimby and John Quimby.
A family memorial service is planned at Tahoma National Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society or Providence Hospice, 425 Pontius Avenue North, Suite 300; Seattle WA 98109.