Wally passed away on July 7, 2017, he was 94 years old. He was born in Spokane, Feb. 9, 1923. He lived in Eastern Washington throughout his childhood. The family moved to Hoquiam as he entered high school, graduating from Hoquiam High School in 1941. He joined the Marines on June 9, 1943, and was discharged on June 17, 1946.
He married Victoria “Lorraine” Beardemphl Nov. 28, 1943, in Oklahoma City. They lived in the South for 5 years before moving to Tacoma and starting a family. They had four children, Karen Dowling, Ronald Leeck, Rebecca Werner and Nancy Robyn Leeck. He had ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Wally worked as a welder in the shipyards in Seattle before joining the Marines. He was a welder at the Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill in Cosmopolis for over 30 years. Later, he worked as a flagger on road construction into his late 80’s.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, clam digging and travelling. Trips to Montana and Idaho to hunt, fish, pick berries and visit friends were annual events for many years. He traveled to many places in the U.S. and Europe. As a young man he played basketball in the Spokane area and was recruited to play at Gonzaga Prep, but the family moved to Hoquiam. His hobbies included collecting model trains he setup in the attic and remote control cars, which he enjoyed operating.
He attended the First Christian Church in Hoquiam and later the United Christian Church in Aberdeen. He had a beautiful tenor voice and began singing as a young man and later enjoyed singing with the congregation.
He is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Lucie and wife Lorraine.
The family would like to thank Providence Mother Joseph Care Center for their caring and thoughtful help in his final days.
In lieu of flowers a donation could be made to the United Christian Church or Providence St. Peters Foundation for the care center.
Memorial service Sunday, July 23, 2017, 1 p.m. at United Christian Church, 300 W First St., Aberdeen, WA 98520.
See mccombwagner.com for more information regarding services.
