Tim English, born in Malin, Oregon to Timothy and Lillie Eleanor Tabor English September 11, 1939, passed from this life August 1, 2012 at his home in Oak Harbor, after many battles with cancer.
He loved life and the loves of his life; his wife of fifty years, Peggy, his children Timothy F. English, Jr. of Anacortes, Cheri Y. English, and Anthony “Tony” English, both of Oak Harbor; his grandchildren Morgan and Zachary English of Oak Harbor and Jessica English of Kalispell, Montana.
He is also survived by sisters Andrea Heim of Portland, Nadynne Lewis of La Pine, and brother Fred of Canby, Oregon.
Tim was a member of a barbershop quartet called “The Temperamental Four”, an apt name for this future Republican. He graduated from Molalla, Oregon Union High School in 1957. He was the State wrestling champion from 1955 to 1957; he attended Portland State University on a wrestling scholarship prior to enlisting in the US Navy in 1958.
Tim served in Vietnam and was awarded several citations. He attained the rate of Chief Petty Officer before retiring in 1980. On December 25, 1960 while stationed in Maryland, he met Peggy Anne Morgan at a dance; they were married May 18, 1962 and traveled to Tennessee, Hawaii, Guam and California in his naval career before settling in Oak Harbor in 1974. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary.
After retiring Tim earned his Associates degree from Skagit Valley College and Bachelors of Science from City University in Seattle. He worked in sales for EMSCO and was a financial advisor for IDS American Express; he worked in home improvement sales in Seattle, then for ENA for 7 years before retiring again.
Tim traveled to Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, and the Philippines; in 2008 he and Peggy drove across the country seeing every state except Alaska. He loved his garden and enjoyed neighbors stopping by to pick raspberries or to compare stories about outsmarting the deer. He was known for his homemade applesauce, pickled beets, blackberry jam and making wine with his grandchildren. His Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel-Shiraz, and Amarone have become family favorites.
Family came first with Tim. The weekly family dinner was not an option; family was expected to be there. He was an extraordinary man who lived life to the fullest and will be deeply missed.
A memorial service for Tim will be held Tuesday, September 11th at 7:00 PM at Burley Funeral Chapel. Scattering at sea will be done by the US Navy. The family suggests bringing food items or monetary donations to the service to be forwarded to Help House in his name or suggests donations to Hospice or the MAC Clinic in Coupeville.
