Ted Newton

Obituary of Ted Newton

We lost a hero…a true hero, a Purple Heart recipient who was drafted out of high school to drive a tank through occupied France, seeing all the horrors of war, scared deeply, yet coming home to marry and love his sweetheart, Rose Mary Newton (née Zanassi) till her dying day in 2020 at the age of 95. And along the way, he loved, raised, and nurtured four lucky kids (Nancy (Bob) Plotts, Ted R (Debi) Newton, Lynne (Ron) Whitney, and Jan Newton (Dan Hannafious)) who got to learn how to appreciate so much about life from him. This included all that Pacific Northwest summers offer on both fresh and salt water, as well as the wonders of celebrating Christmas with the best imitation on tape of Santa, complete with ashy boot tracks on the hearth.

Ted William Newton grew up in Seattle near Green Lake, in the loving home of William Henry and Anne (Engler) Newton. His childhood with four siblings included harassing lower Woodland Park staff by commandeering the sprinklers. Ted worked at a small appliance repair shop before landing a long career at Boeing. All with a GED and the can-do attitude of the greatest generation.

Ted loved football, baseball, gardening, laughter, and most of all, his family who cherish so many fond memories. He taught his kids by example how to love deeply, how to laugh, and how to fully appreciate living. He built the house where he and Rose Mary spent all their days in Twin Lakes since 1991.

Christmases and birthdays were full of celebrations by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, friends, and neighbors. As life took its tolls on a body, he was lovingly care-taken by Flo and her daughter Purity Wanjiru, to whom the family are greatly indebted.

Ted died on 9 December 2022 at 97.5 years old, just short of his goal of 100. With breaking hearts but so much gratitude, all who knew Ted shout: Well done!!!

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