Wm. Keith Bledsoe, 94, a resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2008 at the Clayton House Adult Family Home, surrounded by his family.
Keith was born on March 15, 1914 in Ellensburg, Washington, the third of six children of Howard & Vera DeWeese Bledsoe. He was raised in Ellensburg until 1922 when the family moved to Seattle where he attended Bagley grade school in the Green Lake area and then graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1932.
Keith worked at his father’s tire store until 1935 when he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the CV4 USS Ranger until his discharge in 1939. In 1940, he enrolled at the University of Washington, attending classes there until re-enlisting in the Navy in 1942, serving on the mine sweeps USS Frigate Bird and the YMS 147 in the Pacific until his discharge in 1946. Upon returning home he again enrolled at the UW and earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
On July 12, 1947 he was united in marriage to Alice May ‘Jackie’ Jackman and they made their home in Seattle.
In 1948 Keith was hired by Boeing, where he began a long career as an electrical engineer. While there he developed and patented the windshield heating elements that are used in commercial and military aircraft, still used to this day. He was also involved in the Bomarc & Minuteman missile programs. He retired in 1979.
Keith was quite the Renaissance man with many interests. He spoke numerous languages fluently, his favorite since the 1930’s was Esperanto; enjoyed reading, literally everything; enjoyed art, reading and writing poetry, classical music, and loved analyzing the mathematics of music. He made parts and tools on his metal lathe and designed and made the sails for his sailboat that he enjoyed sailing and racing in Lake Washington. Camano Island was the destination of choice for most weekends and summers as Keith & Jackie owned property there since 1955 then selling it in 1995. In 1978 he started a new phase of his life, that of a Grandfather. He delighted in all the accomplishments of all his grandchildren.
He was a member of the I.E.E.E. Union and the Esperanto League for North America and the Universala Esperanto-Asocio.
Keith is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie & Roger Monroe of Clear Lake, WA. Four grandchildren, Benjamin K. Holm of Sedro-Woolley, Tessa A.R. Holm of Phoenix, AZ, Moira S. Monroe and Murray J. Monroe, both of Clear Lake. A brother, Howard F. Bledsoe of Edmonds, WA and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Alice in 1992; a granddaughter, Margaret Rose Monroe in 1993; two sisters, Esther Phillips and Helen Nelson and two brothers, Charles Wesley Bledsoe and Clarence Paul Bledsoe.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph’s Indian School, PO Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325 or the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Share memories of Keith and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com