K.R. "Rusty" Nolan

K.R. "Rusty" Nolan, 82 years old, Dec. 3, 1923 to April 2, 2006.

I started my life's adventures in Vader, born to Josiah and Ethel Nolan, one of five children. Vader was a small town and perfect for a mischievous boy to grow up in. Growing up the sea always fascinated me and in 1941 I joined the Navy but due to an injury was given a medical discharge. I worked in the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard for a while, but the sea called me back. I joined the Army Transport Service in 1943 and served during World War II. Storms in the Northern Pacific and the ship being torpedoed didn't change my love for the sea. Throughout my life I was an avid saltwater fisherman. After the military I worked in western Washington for Weyerhauser as a logger and in my spare time took flying lessons. Flying was also a lifelong hobby. In 1947, I met and married Betty Dale, my wife for 58 years, who sadly preceded me in death on Feb. 17, 2006. I moved the family to Montana and worked for the Forest Service for a few years. Montana allowed me to employ another hobby, hunting. Returning to western Washington, I worked as a construction carpenter and went to barber school, receiving a diploma in 1950. In 1958 Betty and I bought the Basin Nursing Home in Soap Lake. Community involvement was a way of life for us. I served on the city council and assisted in planning many community events, such as the Suds and Sun Festival, the Great Canoe Race and the Fourth of July firework displays. I was an active member in the Volunteer Fire Department and served as fire chief for a number of years. Recognizing a need for a local ambulance service, several of us volunteers pooled resources and purchased the first ambulance in Soap Lake, which we considered better than transporting accident victims in the back of a pickup. Local physicians assisted in supplying us with medical equipment. After selling the nursing home in 1973 I returned to work as a union carpenter-welder and worked on several of the local dams and did commercial construction and remodeling. After retirement, my woodworking shop was my hobby. I took great pleasure and pride in building furniture for my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Throughout my life I have been blessed with many great friends, hunting and fishing buddies and pards. But at 82 years old I decided to hang up my tool belt, pass my favorite hammer to the next generation and join my beloved wife.

Rusty is survived by daughters Nickie (and Chuck) Williams of Longview, Sheryl (and Del) Parrott of Soap Lake and Karen Dillon and (Roy Merdanian) of Coulee City; 11 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren (with two more due this summer) and one great-great-grandchild also due this summer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, his parents and four siblings.

Graveside services will be held at a later date.