John William Hilberg passed away on Sept, 17, 2006, at the age of 90, after an extended illness.

John was born on May 26, 1916 in Clinton to Barnhard and Fiina Hilberg. He graduated from Langley High School and then worked as a logger on Whidbey Island before entering the military as a member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.

He was stationed at a training center in Chandler, Arizona, where he learned aircraft mechanics.

Upon his discharge, John was employed by Pan Am Airlines in San Francisco, Calif. where he met his future wife, Mabel. They were married and eventually moved back to Washington where he began his civil service career at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma.

John transferred to Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona in 1960, where he and his family lived for seven years. They returned to Tacoma in 1967, and John again worked at McChord until he retired in 1977. John and Mabel moved to Whidbey Island at that time. Mabel passed away in 1984.

Once retired, John became an avid horseshoe player and competed in many tournaments throughout the state of Washington. He also ran in a local 10K race at the age of 80 and was the oldest person to finish the race. John was an active member of the Bayview Senior Center for many years where he had many friends and loved to call bingo.

John is survived by three children, Nancy, John and Ruth Ann as well as six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Service of Celebration will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 6309 Wilson Place, Clinton, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. A luncheon will follow at noon in the church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in John’s name to either St. Peter’s Lutheran Church or a favorite charity.