May 2008

In Memoriam

This In Memoriam section contains brief obituaries of WSBA members. The list is not complete and contains only those notices that the WSBA has learned of through newspapers, magazine articles, trade publications, and correspondence. Additional notices will appear in subsequent issues of Bar News. Please e-mail notices or personal remembrances to inmemoriam@wsba.org.

Anderson, Ronald Evan

Ronald Anderson was born in Bremerton in 1946. He served in the United States Army before going on to receive his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1976. He started his law practice in Kingston, Washington, in 1979 before relocating to Bremerton in 1983, where he was hired by and became partners with Merrill Wallace. He was an active outdoorsman, camper, hiker, and explorer. He enjoyed his other hobbies of painting and car restoration. He had preserved and maintained the family heirloom, a 1958 Ford Edsel Bermuda Wagon, for many years. Anderson was especially known and admired for his dedication to Law Day, a successful annual Kitsap County event. He died March 26, 2008, aged 61.

Ertischek, Mark

Originally from New York, Mark Ertischek received his law degree from Georgetown University as well as a master’s degree in biomedical ethics from the University of Washington. He married his high school sweetheart and settled in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was an attorney for the State of Alaska’s Attorney General’s Office, Human Rights Commission, and the Municipality of Anchorage. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking with his faithful companion, Quincy. He died June 9, 2007, at age 60.

Davenport, William

William Davenport was born and raised in Montana. He graduated from Georgetown School of Law, and practiced law for six years until World War II, when he volunteered in the Naval Reserves and served as a lieutenant on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. He moved to Spokane and became a partner with Witherspoon Kelley Davenport and Toole, and retired in 1996. He was 96 when he died on March 2, 2008.

Diana, Carl

Carl Diana was born in Longview in 1925, reportedly the first baby boy born in the then newly formed logging town. During World War II, he served in the Navy Air Corps, and met his wife while in training. Carl received his law degree from Gonzaga School of Law and relocated to Spokane with his family, where he spent the rest of his life. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time in the family cabin in Idaho. He was 83 years old when he died on February 23, 2008.

Doces, Gust (Konstans)

Gust Doces (born Konstans) grew up in Chicago and moved with his family to Seattle in 1949. He attended Roosevelt High School and played for the Roughriders. He received his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law, where he graduated in the top of his class. His focus was on helping his clients regardless of their ability to pay, and he was known to give hours of free counsel or accept payment in jars of homemade pickles. He was a judge pro tem, taught law courses at Seattle community colleges, and had a passion for photography. He died January 27, 2008, aged 69.

Griffin, Robert Glaye

Robert Griffin was born in Victory, Wisconsin. During World War II, he served in the Army, and received these decorations: American Theatre, Good Conduct, EAME Ribbon Battle Stars, the Victory Medal, and the Prisoner of War Medal. He received his law degree from the University of Washington. He was a founder of the Tacoma Legal Aid Society, and often served as judge pro tem for Pierce County. He died January 8, 2008, aged 83.

Harvey, Glenn Leroy

Glenn Harvey was an Olympia attorney  who practiced personnel law. He was an avid fan of his children’s school competitions, raised bumper tomato crops and aquarium fish, and rooted for the Lakers. He enjoyed camping, hunting, poker, swimming, and racquet ball. He died October 8, 2007, aged 55.

Johannsen, Linda

Linda Johannsen was born in Aurora, Colorado, and moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon, in 1963. She received a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Lewis & Clark College. She was an attorney for K&L Gates, and had lived in Portland since 1987. She died March 15, 2008, aged 57.

Langston, Van Curtis

Van Curtis Langston was born in Seattle in 1952. He was admitted to the WSBA in 1982 and was a member of the Loren Miller Bar Association. He died on January 29, 2008, aged 56.

Lombard, John Cutler

John “Jack” Lombard was born October 9, 1918, in Berkeley, California. He settled in the Northwest in 1949, and provided a stability for his children that he had not known after his own family lost much of its wealth in the Great Depression. He served in the Army during World War II in the 63rd Bombardment Squadron of the 43rd Bombardment Group. He and his squadron developed and refined the highly risky but highly effective technique of low-altitude “skip bombing” to attack enemy transport and supply ships. He received his law degree from Northwestern Law School in 1949 and practiced in Seattle for more than 50 years. He died February 8, 2008, aged 89.

Luce, Charles F.

Charles Luce was born in Platteville, Wisconsin. He earned a law degree and then a graduate fellowship in law at Yale, where he met his wife, Helen. After moving to Vancouver, Washington, he found steady and fulfilling work as a lawyer for the Umatilla Tribe. President Kennedy appointed him to head the Bonneville Power Administration, which he led from 1967 to 1982. Luce later served as undersecretary of the Interior. He died January 26, 2008, aged 90.

Masters, Arlie G.

Arlie Masters was born in 1913 in Burley, Idaho, and graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. He was a Pierce County deputy prosecuting attorney, a Family Court commissioner, and in private practice for more than 50 years. His motto was: “You don’t practice law to make money, but to help people.” He died January 10, 2008, aged 94.

Mathewson, Dion David

Originally from California, Dion Mathewson received his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and his law degree from Georgetown University. He had worked as an attorney for Microsoft since 2004, and previously worked as an associate with Cairncross & Hempelmann. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and two children, taking walks through the neighborhood park or at the beach. He died January 29, 2008, aged 41.

Mucklestone, Patricia Shanahan

Patricia Mucklestone was raised in West Seattle, and received her bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Washington. She and her husband, John Mucklestone, established the firm of Mucklestone and Mucklestone. She also served as a judge pro tem for Seattle Municipal Court. She practiced law for more than 50 years. She enjoyed traveling, dancing, skiing, and the outdoors. She died January 24, 2008, aged 82.

Preston, Castromo Lamond Jr.

Castromo Preston was born in Tucson, Arizona, and attended Seattle University with an athletic scholarship. He graduated from Seattle University School of Law and went on to become an in-house attorney for Safeco. He built a home for his family and loved music, golf, basketball, and soccer. He died January 20, 2008, aged 38.

Reed, Richard C.

Richard Reed served during World War II in both the FBI and the Army. He received political science and law degrees from the University of Chicago. He was a senior partner and chairman of the board of Reed McClure, from which he retired in 1989 to become a law office management consultant for various firms. He enjoyed skiing, Dixieland jazz, and travel, visiting more than 50 countries on six continents with his wife. He died January 7, 2008, at age 86.

Schultheis, Richard

Dick Schultheis, a longtime lawyer for Kitsap and Grant counties, was born in Bremerton in 1929. He received his law degree from the UW School of Law, practiced in Port Orchard, and was president of the Kitsap County Bar Association. He practiced law for 54 years, and was involved in his community, striving to build a hospital for south Kitsap County. He enjoyed collecting Native American art, mountain climbing, skiing, and hunting. He died March 18, 2008, aged 78.

Skellenger, David Peer

A remembrance from the lawyers and staff of Skellenger Bender.
David joined our law firm as a partner in 1978 after previously serving as of counsel for several years. He was a valued colleague until his well-deserved retirement in 1995 and remained a friend to many of us since. We will miss him. David was of the generation of attorneys whose lives and values were shaped by the Great Depression and World War II. David had a great deal to teach us about the daily struggles of many Americans and citizens of the rest of the world just to survive. He encouraged us to recognize the value, contributions, and abilities of others — whatever their economic circumstances, race, or religious beliefs. Throughout his life, David’s values informed him, and as a friend and mentor, helped inform us.

David taught numerous of our younger attorneys to be forceful advocates for the interests of our clients, while at the same time preserving civility and dignity in all of their dealings with whomever they might encounter. In any dialogue, David reminded us of the respect owed to all people. If a client was in need of service, but could not afford it, David was always willing to offer his services on a pro bono basis. He was very proud of the pro bono and community service interests of our growing cadre of younger attorneys, especially when he saw a willingness to help those who otherwise would not have access to justice in our legal system.

These are important times for all of us to remember the lessons of the Great Depression and the consequences of global conflict. We will miss our valued colleague who lived and understood these lessons and made these lessons a part of the fabric of our firm. Thank you, David.

David Skellenger died January 28, 2008, aged 79.

Storz, Edwin N.

Edwin Storz was a member of the Oregon Bar since 1976 and the Washington State Bar since 1984. He was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and after growing up in both Vietnam and the Philippines, his family moved to Oregon. He served as a medic during the Vietnam War. He graduated from Willamette University School of Law in 1976. He practiced in Hermiston, Oregon, as a sole practitioner. Storz was a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, an avid skier, scuba diver, and hiker. He died on May 20, 2007, aged 57.

Weight, Michael

Bothell City Attorney Michael Weight joined the city in 2001 as Bothell’s first legal in-house counsel and built the department over the years to include a prosecuting attorney, paralegal, and office specialist. “Michael never ceased to amaze us on how much energy he possessed. The city is eternally grateful for the joy and knowledge Michael brought to the city of Bothell personally and professionally,” said City Manager Bob Stowe. He is survived by a wife and daughter. He died on December 20, 2007.

Warner, John F.

A Seattle native, John Warner was born in Seattle, graduated from Bellevue High School and Seattle University, and received his law degree from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. He practiced law in Seattle and Kent. He enjoyed classic cars, model trains, and collecting maps. John and his wife fostered cats through Persians Plus Rescue, and adopted some into their own home. He died February 8, 2008, aged 59.

West, William F.

William West was born in Water Valley, Mississippi. He met his wife while serving in the Army, and they moved to the Pacific Northwest to raise a family. After working in the King County Prosecutor’s Office, he spent most of his career as a sole practitioner in Kenmore and Bothell. He loved his family, liked boating, and enjoyed collecting arcane and obscure historical facts. He died October 10, 2007, aged 77.

Williams, William L.

William Williams was born in Tacoma. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II and received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Washington. He met his wife while handling her divorce case. With his son Kinnon, he built the firm of Williams & Williams. His less affluent clients sometimes paid in chickens, pots, and pans, and, once, dozens of cymbal-clanging mechanical monkeys. He was 82 when he died January 15, 2008.

Bar News has also been advised of the death of Theodore Deaton on March 16, 2007; George A. Cooney Jr. on June 30, 2007; Sandra Victoria on July 31, 2007; and the Honorable Alan A. McDonald, who died on July 26, 2007.