Remembering those who died in 2008

DEAN KAHN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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The start of a new year is always a good time to pause and remember noteworthy local people who died the past year.

BARNEY GOLTZ

Died: Dec. 25 at the age of 84. His life: A former Democratic state senator and House member, Goltz was much-loved by mem-bers of the community, regardless of political persuasion. An administrator at Western Washington University, Goltz won election to the House in 1972, and to the Senate two years later. He served three terms in the Senate, becoming president pro tem before his retirement in 1986. During his many busy years serving on various boards, commissions and other civic bodies, Goltz remained known and appreciated for his humor, his gentle wit, and his positive, constructive ap-proach to dealing with community issues.

• Carl Batchelor: A longtime Whatcom County planner and land-use consultant, Batchelor helped create programs to protect local farmland and the Lake Whatcom watershed. He also served many years as a member and board officer of Whatcom Land Trust. Batchelor died May 16. He was 62.

• Tripo Costello: A fisherman and pile driver, Costello was best known for playing Santa Claus on Christmas Ship voyages through the San Juan Islands for 38 years. He also was widely known for his extensive collection of postcards and stamps. Costello died Jan. 15 at the age of 84.

• Herbert Ennen: After World War II, the Bellingham native joined his father, Herman, and brother, Del, in the grocery business. They opened a Thriftway store on Holly Street and later opened Mark-n-Pak stores in Bellingham and Lynden. The business grew and became Ennen Foods, with stores in Wenatchee and Oak Harbor. He died April 10 at the age of 90.

• Ed Griemsmann: The first and only director of Bellingham�s Municipal Transit Agency, Griemsmann later served a short term as a Bellingham port commissioner. During his tenure as transit director, Griemsmann was the driving force behind creation of the first downtown bus terminal. He died Aug. 25 at the age of 82.

• Charles Lancaster: The owner and operator of A-1 Messenger and Transfer Co., Lancaster served on the Bellingham City Council from 1971 to 1979. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1979 and for the council in 1995. Lancaster died Aug. 24 at the age of 90.

• Violet Malone: A professor and department head in The Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University for 13 years, Malone was a widely published author and speaker. A specialist in adult and continuing education, she was past president of the Adult Education Association of the USA, and chairperson of the National Coalition for Literacy. She died Feb. 2 at the age of 72.

• Kathleen Marshall: Once director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Whatcom County, Marshall returned to Bellingham in 1996 from Alaska to become executive director of Whatcom County Crisis Services, now called Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services. As director, she helped establish the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence, worked to improve hospital emergency-room support for sexual assault victims, and lobbied to provide crime-scene advocacy for victims of domestic violence. She died July 3 at the age of 62.

• Alvin Postma: A longtime driver for Lynden Transport Inc., Postma was one of 11 men who founded the Puget Sound Antique Tractor & Threshing Club in 1970. He and his brothers, Chuck and Leslie, were well known for the many old tractors they bought and restored. Postma died May 18 at the age of 77.

• Fred Veroske: A longtime funeral home operator, Veroske served on the Lynden City Council from 1961 to 1965, in the state House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970, and on the Bellingham City Council from 1972 to 1978. He died May 7 at the age of 79.

• Arie Van Weerdhuizen: The operator of a popular meat market in Lynden and an auctioneer, Van Weerdhuizen was known as �The Voice of the Northwest Washington Fair� for more than three decades as the public announcer at grandstand shows. He also served as an auctioneer and emcee at many charitable and community events. Van Weerdhuizen died Sept. 30. He was 60.

DOROTHY HAGGEN

Died: Oct. 5 at the age of 99. Her life: Haggen helped her husband, Ben, launch the downtown grocery that became the Haggen Inc. supermarket company. She helped people in ways both large and small. For many years, Haggen set up shop inside the Barkley Village Haggen store twice a week and sold candy to benefit St. Paul�s Episcopal Church. And in 2000, Haggen and her family received an award from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives as the state�s outstanding philanthropic family.

TOM HUNTER

Died: June 20 at the age of 61. His life: A beloved Bellingham pastor and musician, Hunter was known for his 19-year run of Christmas Eve musical shows, which continued through 2005. He also shared his music with chil-dren in Whatcom County public schools for decades. Described as a modern-day minstrel, Hunter sang and wrote songs for more than 30 years. A part-time pastor in the 1980s at Lummi Island Community Church, he became pastor of Bellingham�s First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, a few months before his death.

LOU PARBERRY

Died: Jan. 17 at the age of 90. His life: Known as Old Town�s �Mayor Lou,� the scrap metal king was a behind-the-scenes sup-porter of community programs for young people and for folks down on their luck. Parberry helped start the local Boys and Girls Club in the 1960s, and donated $100,000 for the club�s new home on Kentucky Street. Parberry supported sports teams for kids, college-age players, and American Legion and semi-pro clubs, and supported needy people by generously donating food, money and gifts to local charities.

CLAIRE VG THOMAS

Died: Oct. 13 at the age of 91. Her life: A Lynden native, Thomas spent the early part of her music career as the audition piano accompanist for Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein. She returned to Lynden in 1972 and soon became a magnetic force in the community. Thomas chaired Lynden�s U.S. bicentennial celebration and the city�s own centennial celebration, and she helped start Lynden Pioneer Museum and a community orchestra that evolved into What-com Symphony Orchestra. She also rallied the community to create Lynden Performing Arts Guild and to keep the Dutch Village Mall theater open. The theater was later renamed in her honor.

Contact Dean Kahn at dean.kahn@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2291. Read his Now and Then blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/history.