Today’s obituary notices:
- Helen L. (Woodard) Craig
- Milton C. Campbell, Jr.
- Richard O. Smith
- Chester (Chet) Lorin Taylor
Helen L. (Woodard) Craig was born in Hernando, Mississippi on July 8, 1928, Helen passed away in Tacoma on July 12, 2013 after a brief illness. She lived in Sledge, Mississippi, graduating from Sledge High School. While there she played on the women’s basketball team as a forward. After graduating, she moved to Tacoma where she married Bob Craig on Sept. 13, 1947. She was a homemaker all of her life, raising her four children.
Helen was preceded in death by husband, Bob; parents, Thomas and Annie Woodard; one sister; five brothers; son, George; daughter, Patsey; sister, Ora Cates; and five brothers, Thomas, Jim Henry, Bob, Chuck, and Leroy.
She is survived by daughters, Barbara Craig, Kathy Pemberton, and Wanda (Dave) Polosky; daughter-in-law, Janet Craig; sister, Catherine Kelly; brother, Albert Earl Woodard, grandchildren, Jenny Cardin, Tammi (Rick) Ruckman, Lisa Polosky (Tony Yolken), Amy Nyman, Mary Polosky, Brianne (David) Pickett, Robby (Shannon) Craig, Elizabeth Polosky, and Melissa Craig; great grandchildren, Sea J. Palmer, Rachel Polosky, Zack Palmer, Brittany Nyman, Brandon Cardin, Damen Yo0lken, Skarrlett Polosky, and Liam Pickett; sisters-in-law, Rita Woodard of University Place, June Rickard of Georgia, Luella Hallberg, Carol Hoey, and Reta Craig of Tacoma; brother-in-law, Paul (Carol) Craig; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen loved bowling; being on many teams since the early 1970’s and had done different crafts over the years; cake decorating, embroidering, embroidery painting, making plastic canvas crafts and spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed and will forever be in our hearts.
There will be a graveside service on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 11:00 am at New Tacoma Cemetery with a Memorial Service at 1:00 pm at Portland Ave. Evangelical Free Church, 6402 Portland Ave E, Tacoma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Milton C. Campbell, Jr, age 88, passed away peacefully at home July 11, 2013. He was a long and faithful servant of the Lord. He was born in Tacoma, WA April 23, 1925 and lived his life there. After his junior year in high school he was drafted into the United States Army. After serving in WW II, Milt returned to Lincoln High school and graduated. That was when he met Dolores Haggie and they married April 22, 1949, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1999.
Milton enjoyed the outdoors. He and Dolores flew model airplanes and also started setting up HO scale trains which continued thru the years. Milton also loved to go fishing. Around 1954 he built a boat with an outboard motor and his family enjoyed many years of fishing.
Milton and Dolores started a food bank at Asbury Methodist Church in South Tacoma and it continued to grow for many years. Over the years, whenever people requested prayer, Milton was always available for spiritual ministry. Milton was a very generous man and will always be remembered for his community outreach and church work. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dolores. Milton is survived by daughter, Virginia (George) Taylor, Patricia (Wade) Clemetson; son, Milton E. Campbell; grandsons, Scott and Troy Taylor; granddaughter, Stephanie Owens; and great grandsons, Justin and Nick Taylor.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 22, 2013 at New Tacoma Cemetery in University Place.
Richard O. Smith (7/9/1925-7/11/2013), husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, friend, and extra ordinary man passed away on July 11, 2013. Mr. Smith was born in Desmet, SD and was raised as a strong Christian.
Richard attended South Dakota State College and graduated with a major in Electrical Engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and survived invasions of Marianas, Saipan, and Tinian. He served in Palou Islands, Philippines, Buckner Bay, Okinawa, Yokosuka, Japan, the Yellow and East China Seas, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, and Tokyo where he witnessed the signing of the surrender on the U.S.S. Missouri.
He was a member of Sertoma International (service to mankind), Int’l Order of Elkdom, Int’l Order of Eagles, Int’l Brotherhood of Magicians, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lumberman’s, and a member of the Dick Smith Club with his trade name being “Dealin’ Dick Smith”. Dick was a member of the First Congregation Church with 70 years of continued faith. He was a sales manager for Flintkote Company for 28 years from which he retired.
In his spare time he was a magician, enjoyed playing golf, reading, and also building new homes as well as remodeling older ones. He especially enjoyed keeping up with his wife, Shirley.
Richard married Laura L. Burbidge in April of 1949. This marriage produced three sons, two daughters, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.
Richard is survived by his wife, Shirley (married 49 years); sons, Grant (Karen), Mark (Diane), and Brad (Sheila); daughters, Sandy (Pete), and Susan (Frank); grandchildren (spouses) and great grandchildren.
Richard, a handsome, self-effacing man with a one-of-a-kind sense of humor, leaves a wonderful family of 56 members as his legacy to society. He loved his family in a “Big Way”. As he would say, “Say goodnight, Dick, and think of me now and then!”
Per his request, there will be no service or memorial. Visit www.newtacoma.com to sign the guestbook.
Chester (Chet) Lorin Taylor of Scottsdale, AZ and previously of Tacoma, WA, passed away July 3, 2013. Born December 14, 1925, he grew up in Corvallis, OR. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and was honorably discharged at the end of WWII when the Army Air Corps was dismantled.
Since he had previous experience working in his Dad’s store, the grocery business was for him. He started as a district wholesale sales representative for Golden West Coffee in Portland, OR where he met the love of his life, June. They were married in 1949 and eventually made a home in Tacoma, WA where they resided for over 50 years. After Golden West Coffee was acquired by McCormick/Schilling Spice Company, Chet continued his 35-year career as a loyal employee until his retirement in 1987. Golf was a lifelong pursuit of his, including 13 holes-in-one and 2 division club championships at Highlands Golf Course.
Chet is survived by his daughter, Margaret and her husband, Steve; grandchildren, Heather and Taylor; and brother, Roger. Chet also had many friends at Westgate Green in Tacoma and Sierra Pointe Assisted Care in Scottsdale, AZ. He will be remembered as a good-natured gentleman, a caring father, a faithful husband, and a kind friend.
Private services were held at New Tacoma Cemetery; please visit www.newtacoma.com to sign the guestbook.