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Obituaries

David Marlow Calman

August 22, 1932 - December 23, 2019

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David Marlow Calman, aka Bud or Green Pete, age 87, passed away peacefully December 23, 2019.  He was born August 22, 1932 in Seattle,WA to David & Maye Calman. 

He retired from driving log truck for Ensley Bros. 23 years ago.  He served in the U.S. Air Force in the Strategic Air Command as a B36 “peace maker” airplane engine mechanic crew chief from 1952-1956.  He especially enjoyed sharing about his adventures in both careers. In the days just prior to his death he was still telling his stories to anyone who had an ear to listen. 

 He especially enjoyed camping and traveling with his wife, Maxine.  Favorite locales were the Pacific Ocean beaches, Hood Canal, and Howard Miller Steelhead Park.  He often went on walk-a-bout while camping to visit with every other camper.  At home he especially enjoyed mini trips to Fred Meyers on his scooter where he would visit with his granddaughter Jodi and several associates who worked there.  He loved to talk to people.

 He married Maxine (Thompson) on December 31, 1963 and was married for 51 years.  He is survived by his daughter Linda (Tom) Fladebo, brother Garry (Judy) Calman, grandson Garlend (Velvet) Tyacke and their children, granddaughter Jodi (Troy) Jones and their children, great granddaughter Jessica Dubuque and many nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Maxine, parents David & Maye Calman, sister Jane Green, daughters Barbara Dubuque, Mary Dolph and granddaughter Cindy Dolph.

 A celebration of life was held at Citipoint Church, 3302 Cedardale Rd. D100, Mount Vernon, Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1pm.

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David Marlow Calman, born in Seattle, Washington August 22, 1932 to David & Maye Calman, lived life to the fullest and experienced it in ways that might surprise many of you that knew him.

At a young age he joined the Airforce and in a few short years became a Staff Sergeant in the Strategic Air Command based out of California.  He was a bomber plane engine mechanic and crew chief for the peace-keeper, the B36.  While serving he visited England where he shared, "they called us yanks, I don't think they really liked us".  Guam was his least favorite place ,"it was too hot and humid".  A true north westerner, huh?

He was never called to Korea nor to drop a nuclear bomb on an enemy country, thank God!  But, he saw many a large bomb loaded onto the planes he served and crewed on.

The bomber was huge, but had no amenities that we are accustomed to on jet airliners.  It was cold, uncomfortable and had little seating.  Dad would often tell stories of crawling through the fuselage to get from one area to another. Sitting at the navigator position learning what he could from the navigator.  He also saw many things like an electric discharge that would run down the length of the plane.  Did I mention that he survived a bomb dropping from the plane onto the tarmac? 

He was never afraid to do the right thing and even told a captain what he thought of a decision he made that resulted in several hundred gallons of jet fuel sprayed out onto ground crew and plane.  I don't think the Colonel was too pleased with Dad,  the captain was reassigned a few days later.

After the military dad worked several jobs including the Continental Can Company in Tacoma/Seattle are.  There he stacked empty cans onto train cars.  Oh, boy, the stories for that time I cannot repeat, just know that while a conductor switched cars, a slight bump would knock all the cans everywhere.  A few choice words ensued and stacking recommenced.  Cans were loaded using a special type of fork and was labor intensive.

Not too long after, Dad was hired on through an agency in the Seattle/Tacoma area to work in the woods.  He worked in a logging camp that was accessed through British Columbia, Canada.  Everything but work clothing, was provided by the company, lodging, food and oh so much work!  It didn't take long and he was promoted to a crew supervisor.  He was a fast worker, learned rapidly and had natural leadership abilities.  He once mentioned to me, "the food was the best!".

Border patrolmen became dad's friend.  They never questioned why he carried so many cartons of cigarettes and other goodies with him every time he crossed the border.  Did I mention that he was en entrepreneur?

After this stint he worked as a truck driver for a few other local companies.  He drove log truck for a few companies and once again, so many stories to tell.  Just three though I will share;  hit by a train demolishing his truck, ran off the road into the Skagit River, assumed missing as rescue crews were dredging and diver's searching for him, all the while he was at the hospital having been picked up by a passerby.  Knocked off a load of logs, logs rolled over him breaking his leg.  That's just a few.  He had a lot to say about 'dumb' driver's who just didn't get log truck drivers and their needs.

He married my mother, Maxine, December 31, 1963, and became an instant Dad to Barbara, Mary and me, Linda.  Not an easy task, especially as Barb was 14, do I need to explain further?  And, we instantly had new grandparents, David & Maye Calman and uncles, aunts and cousins.

Ultimately he started his final career with Ensley Bros. Logging and worked for them for several years.  He worked in western and eastern Washington. Some time making two trips over the North Cascade pass to deliver logs to Everett or Sedro Woolley.  Long days.  He drove a green International for years and then
Ensley's got a brand new green Peterbuilt that he absolutely enjoyed driving.  His radio handle was 'green pete'.

From time-to-time he would allow family to join him at work for the day.  Those mountain roads are harrowing, full of sharp turns, drops offs, ruts, and mud.  Just how do you turn a 40-50 foot truck around on a gravel/dirt road? So scary.  My mom always enjoyed telling us about her adventure with him.  Remember I mentioned his thoughts about other drivers?  Mom recounted that he was so upset with a driver that he began to tailgate.  He got so close that you couldn't see the vehicle.  It was after all a VW bug.  Mom had her feet on the dashboard of the truck and dare I say, had some choice words of her own.

While he worked hard Monday through Friday, the weekend was family time.  Every once in a while he would do maintenance on his truck on a Saturday, but Sunday was always our day to take a drive. What we called day trips.  Mom would pack a lunch and the five of us would cram ourselves into our pickup; dad at the wheel, mom next, me on her lap, then Mary and Barb wedged into the door. Now, our day trips could be anything from 2 hours to 10 hours long.  He thought nothing of driving east on HWY 20 only to return West on HWY 2.  On one trip we went to Coulee dam.  I was so excited to see "Kool-aid" dam.  Ice cream was always a staple during our drives. 

There are many memories of Dad driving us to Darrington to visit his sister, Jane and kids, Debbie, Steve, Paula and Elizabeth Ann. 

The family never got to vacation during the nice summer months as they were the prime working days for the logging industry.  We always vacationed in the winter.  Washington Pacific Ocean beaches were our place of choice.  We thought nothing of tenting in September or October, even as late as November.  Lot's a great memories digging for razor clams.  Mom and us girls spotted, dad dug.  They ate them, not me.

Dad loved to get together with the extended family and always helped BBQ.  You will see many pictures of him with his father-in-law Wendell Thompson sharing this duty.

Another favorite was to visit dear friends, Fred & Dorothy Wendler and Jimmie & Gail Whalen at Hood Canal.  Sitting around the campfire pit was the ultimate pleasure for Him.  Digging and eating steamer clams too.

As the family grew a bit older and larger, he fell in love with his grand kids, Garlend, Jodi and Cindy.  But I will say that he truly became besotted with his great grandchild, Jessica.  She could do no wrong and she had him wrapped around her little finger (lovingly so).

After dad retired we spent a lot of time each August at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport.   The whole family would bring their trailers or tents and spend a week.  Or, there was Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, so much fun watching the ferry and ships.  Even saw a submarine once in a while.

Mom and Dad travelled each year.  "Have trailer will travel" was their motto.  I think they covered every inch of Washington State.  Maryhill State Park along the great Columbia River, and Grayland State Park just south of Westport were two of their favorites.  Dad was a talker, and would often take off while camping just to see what other campers were doing, where they were from and from time-to-time help park their vehicles... if he didn't think they were doing it right.

He was active in his retirement, helped Jodi build her house, helped Tom and I build our house in Ocean Shores and Burlington.  He was a worker!

Dad ended up with a bad back due to his many injuries and being bounced around in his truck without hydraulic seating.  Broken leg (twice), hip replacement, three back surgeries left him slightly crippled with a limp.  It never slowed him down until his later years. 

After Mom passed away in 2014 he was a lost man.  Losing his wife of 51 years left him feeling alone.  He never truly recovered from losing her. 

He made attempts to stay busy and even travelled with Tom and I to Ocean Shores for a weekend.  Spent time with niece Deanne and her husband John at their place on Hood Canal. But, he was lonely, missing his wife so much.

He began to age, but remained at home under the care of his Granddaughter Jessica.  She took such good care of him and did whatever was necessary.  He spoke to me several times, "how much he appreciated and loved her for taking care of papa".

At the age of 87 on December 23rd around 2 in the morning he decided it was enough and he passed peacefully in his sleep.  What better way to leave into his life of eternity?

At his death an entire generation of my family is now gone.  We who are left will carry on the family traditions and live life to the fullest, just as he showed us through his life.

Linda


 

FUNERAL INFORMATION

 A celebration of life was held Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1pm at:

Citipoint Church
3302 Cedardale Rd. D100
Mount Vernon, WA

See the map below.

 

 

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