OCEAN PARK – Walter E. Tebay, 76, died Nov. 1, 2005, at his Ocean Park residence. Born Feb. 28, 1929, in Wondrooz, Wis., he was the son of Robert “Ted” and Gertda (Myhrvold) Tebay. The family lived in Belgrade, Minn., where his father farmed. They later moved to Puyallup.

Mr. Tebay attended Stadium High School in Tacoma, but went to work for Boeing Aircraft at the age of 16 during WW II. He was employed with Boeing for the next 40 years and retired as supervisor of aircraft assembly in 1985. On Aug. 28, 1968, he married Mary Tromblay and they made their first home in Renton. The couple later moved to Camino Island, and lived there until making Ocean Park their permanent retirement home in 1994.

He was a member of the Ocean Park Lutheran Church and the Ocean Park Eagles Aerie. He loved to play the guitar and in past years he performed with a band and cut several records. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, clamming and playing golf until his health no longer permitted those activities.

He and his wife enjoyed walking the local boardwalk and traveling in their several motor homes. They had made numerous trips to Minnesota and Kansas to visit family members and trips to their property in the Nevada desert. He especially liked trips to Oregon where he could view the elk herds. He enjoyed time with his wife and family. Some of his favorite times were during gatherings of family and friends when he could provide the musical entertainment.

Preceded in death by his wife, Mary in 2004 and his sister Sharon, he is survived by five stepchildren: stepsons, Dennis Downing and wife Dolores of Auburn, Allen Downing of Lake Stevens and Jay Downing of Renton; stepdaughters Patricia Kishazi and husband Tom of Gig Harbor, and Rhonda Wright and husband Jeff of Seaview; sister Colleen Thrift and husband Ron of Ocean Park; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a niece Denise Haney of Bonner, Mont., and two nephews, Dennis Haney and Bob Thrift both of Puyallup.

A funeral service was held Nov. 5, at Ocean Park Lutheran Church with Pastor Linda Smith officiating. Concluding graveside services and committal followed at Ocean Park Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Harbor Home Health and Hospice, in care of Penttila’s Chapel by The Sea, P.O. Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631.