Henry Tunes of Clinton, WA passed away on Whidbey Island January 31, 2025 at the age of 94. He was born in Kearny, N.J. the eldest of four children. Henry leaves behind his wife of 67 years, Barbara Tunes, their daughter Marina Tunes-Nichols/Kent Nichols, his sister Carol Balla/Steve, sister-in-law Jean Tunes and their families. He was predeceased by his parents Simon William and Mabel Tunes, son David Thor Tunes, sister Marie and brother Bill Tunes.

Henry served in the Army Reserves for 8 years and part of the time was stationed in Puerto Rico where he learned that he had an aptitude for languages, then was able to use the GI Bill to help get his education. He was later stationed at the Firing Center in Yakima where he met his future wife, Barbara, and they were married in 1957. He earned a teaching degree from Central Washington University in Ellensburg and a Master’s degree from Stanford University. As a high school teacher in Bellevue at Sammamish High School, he taught Spanish and French for 26 years before retiring in 1985.

Henry enjoyed a lot of international travel. He studied in Spain and Argentina, took several groups of students to Mexico and was instrumental in helping bring foreign exchange students to the US. He hosted a visiting professor from India for one school year who, along with his entire family, became life-long friends. Henry was able to visit relatives in Norway, plus made trips to visit India, China, Singapore, Turkey, and almost every US state.

Henry and Barbara moved to Redmond and lived on Union Hill for 20 years before he broke his leg on a rocky beach on Whidbey Island and decided that the island was where he wanted to retire and build their home. Henry treasured his time at home, working in his garden, enjoying his dogs and the wild birds which he fed for over three decades. He loved to garden and was a very hard working and prolific gardener and landscaper who created a beautiful park-like oasis which was part of the Whidbey Island Garden Tour in 1999. Henry also served as the manager of the Tilth Market for two years while Barbara sold her pies.

He loved to cook and was very adventurous, always experimenting with new recipes, often finding them online. He enjoyed entertaining friends, generously sharing meals, flowers and veggies from his garden. Both also volunteered at the Fort Casey lighthouse, enjoyed going to WICA, and to Sherman’s pumpkin farm each fall, and he loved Island life. Henry enjoyed playing cards with friends and was a fierce player right up until the end. He also loved real Christmas trees, making beautiful wreaths, and he still colored Easter eggs every spring, along with the hope that spring garden planning provides.

He was currently a member of a memoir writing group and over the past several years has written over 150 brief stories about his life. Henry loved going to garage sales, antiquing, anything about trains, and he especially liked to read about Abraham Lincoln whom he greatly admired and had read all the books he could get his hands on from his local library. Along with his daughter Marina, they explored Civil War battlefields in the South where a highlight for him was meeting President Jimmy Carter at his church in Plains, Georgia.

Henry was part of a group of friends who were called the Romeos (retired old men eating out) where they all shared their big fish stories and lots of laughs.He made many friends and was revered as an elder and mentor in his Program community, helping many people through their journey of sobriety, and we are so proud of him. He was a character, but he always made time when anyone needed to talk and was encouraging, funny, humble and kind. Henry was the model for “The Legacy”, a bronze statue grouping created by Georgia Gerber and located at the Marysville Library where we can still visit him. He was always curious, interested in people and always learning. He had a good life, many friends and family on Whidbey Island and all over the world. He was very loved and will be deeply missed. As was written in one of the many cards received after his passing: HE WAS A GOOD MAN!

Henry never liked to have his picture taken, and never wanted a funeral nor even an obituary, but he can be remembered through a contribution to the American Heart Association or to your local food bank.