John Hull, 57, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2024, at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, due to complications from a cardiac arrest that occurred while he was playing tennis on December 31, 2023. John was born in Watsonville, California, and moved to Sedro-Woolley, Washington when he was in the 8th grade. He married Bonnie (Jones) Hull on August 10, 1996. In 1999, twins, Samuel Nelson Hull and Sarah Jean Hull were born.
John is a proud alumnus of the Sedro-Woolley High School Class of 1984. He completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1989 at Washington State University, in Pullman, WA. He worked as an Aerospace Engineer for Boeing for seven years. In 1996, he left Boeing to do contract work for NASA, Lockheed Martin, and other companies. He and his brother, Eric eventually started their engineering firm: Resolve Enterprises. While with Resolve Enterprises, John contributed to the development of some of the most successful products of ZF Marine Electronics (formerly Mathers), as the key System Architect and Software Engineer.
John was a very involved father. He coached Sam’s Little League baseball teams and high school tennis teams. He taught Sam how to fix cars as well as other mechanical skills. John always encouraged Sam in whatever activities he pursued. Following his graduation from high school, Sam worked closely with John on all his business ventures, which included managing numerous rental properties.
John also enjoyed spending time with his daughter, Sarah, creating and working on fun projects with her. He attended all her soccer matches as well as numerous band concerts, plays, dance recitals and other extracurricular activities. He recently enjoyed visiting her in Orlando to watch her perform at Walt Disney World.
John loved his wife, Bonnie, and always supported her in various activities. John and Bonnie enjoyed traveling together and spending time with friends. Their partnership was full of laughter and love.
John was a huge supporter of Sedro-Woolley sports and could often be seen at football games and other sporting events. He coached the Sedro-Woolley FIRST Robotics Team from 2012–2020, bringing them to a Regional Championship in 2016 and to a FIRST Robotics national competition in 2018. To ensure high school students had a good foundation in robotics, he secured funding and started robotics programs at numerous elementary schools in the Sedro-Woolley School District.
John’s most recent passion was playing and coaching tennis. Since 2014, he worked with both the boys and girls Sedro-Woolley High School tennis teams in various coaching positions. John was a much-loved coach who was known for teaching important skills while making practice fun. He invested hours of extra time helping players improve their skills. John mentored many kids on the team, always encouraging them to do their best not only in tennis but in all areas of life. He served on the Skagit Valley Tennis Association, promoting tennis throughout the Skagit County area.
John was a loyal friend to many. He was known for his sense of humor, his movie quotes, his quick wit, his ability to fix anything and his obsession with Dr. Pepper. He loved boating, fishing, and spending time with his family. He loved the bi-annual Hull family reunions with cousins from across the country. He loved singing hymns at First Baptist Church of Clear Lake, WA where he was a member for nearly five decades. He loved to make people laugh.
John is survived by his wife, Bonnie (Jones) Hull; twin children, Samuel and Sarah; mother, Eleanor Hull of Sedro-Woolley; four brothers and their wives, Eric and Pamela Hull of Mount Vernon, WA, Steve and Janet Hull of Clear Lake, Tim and Brenda Hull of Sedro-Woolley, Mahlon and Laura Hull of Sedro-Woolley; two sisters and their husbands, Charlene and Pat Dillon of Sedro-Woolley, Pamela and Elliott Jackson of Sedro-Woolley; bonus daughter, Amelita Brown of Bellingham, WA; numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service for John will be held at Inspire Church in Sedro-Woolley at 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 17, 2024, with a reception immediately following. All are welcome to attend. Arrangements are under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share your memories of John and sign the online guest register.
Donations may be made in John’s memory to the John Hull Memorial Tennis Scholarship. Seniors who have played tennis while attending Sedro-Woolley High School will be eligible for consideration. Please send checks to S-W Alumni and Schools Foundation, PO Box 509, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Please write “John Hull – Tennis” on the memo line. Additionally, a fund will be started at a future date in John’s memory to be used towards building new tennis courts at Sedro-Woolley High School.
John and his family, Bonnie, Sarah, and Sam, were dear friends of mine and my late daughter, Grace. We attended Clear Lake Baptist Church together in Clear Lake, Washington, and spent many evenings in each other’s homes in Sedro-Woolley. John and his family were a pillar of support for Grace when she lost her mother at the tender age of 13. Their guidance helped keep her faith strong and focused on God.
I am deeply saddened by John’s passing, and I know Grace shares my grief. The Hull family was a blessing in our lives, and John was a true father figure to my daughter. Though I cannot be there in person, my thoughts and prayers are with the family
Our love and hugs to you, may your many many great memories be your comfort going into the future. Knowing John and his wonderful way he handles kids was so very special. May the lord keep you in his arms.
so young, I am sad for the family. thankful we will all be together in heaven 💝
I only knew John for a short time but every moment I remember has been incredible. He truly is a remarkable man who one could only aspire to be like. It’s a great sorrow to me that I won’t get to know him in person any further, though I know his legacy will live on in his family.
He was a very generous man who always made sure I was taken care of when I’d come see him. And I was deeply grateful for the ways he checked in on me when he knew I was going through a rough time, even though I lived miles and miles away. His sense of humor was always a welcome relief and made every minute with him enjoyable.
I have fond memories of him acting as a tour guide. When I’d come and visit the lovely town of Sedro-Woolley, he would always be eager to tell me his many remarkable stories, and show me the many landmarks and provide histories of them all. I truly felt honored to have him guide me through the town. In a lot of ways I felt like I saw myself in him and I can now only hope to continue to resemble his character as I grow older.
I will choose remember the movie nights we would have when he would show me some of cinemas greatest classics, his great advice for life, computers, theme parks, and more, his active life style that always made trips to see him more dynamic, his wonderful singing of hymns in church, his generosity, and his humor. He will be missed by many and I am happy to have known him.