L. Thomas Bollinger

. Thomas (Tom) Bollinger, 76 Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream---merrily, merrily, merrily---life is but a dream. Tom's life adventure began in Mobridge, S.D. on December 17, 1934. His parents, since deceased, were Carl and Isabel (Belle) Bollinger. Tom left this earth on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, following treatment for cancer. Tom spent his early childhood in Spokane. In 1944, the family moved to Chelan Falls, WA where Tom and his brother, Roger spent an idyllic childhood. They had a five square mile playground to explore and they used it all. Following Tom's junior year at Chelan high School, the family moved back to Spokane, where Tom graduated from North Central High School in 1953. Tom worked many part and full time jobs to finance his college education. In 1958, Tom and Clare were married on March 22, and following his graduation from the University of Washington, they lived in Germany, where he served in the U.S. Army. They traveled extensively throughout Europe in their trusty 1951 VW and had a great experience while soaking up the culture. In 1960, after completing his Army service, they returned to Seattle, where their three boys, Jeff, Brad and Curt, were born in 1962, 1963 and 1964 respectively. Tom joined Texaco in the Seattle Sales Department. In 1967, he was transferred to the Texaco Spokane District Office, where he became District Sales Manager. He resigned from the corporate life in 1975 to buy and apple orchard in Quincy, Washington. The move provided an opportunity for the family to work together for a common cause. Clare and their sons played a major role in the orchard operation. Tom was active in the community as well as farming organizations. He took part as Master of Ceremony for Quincy's Junior Miss Program, as well as assisting on the board and as President of the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce. He served as President of the Community Center Board and was President and a Paul Harris member of the Quincy Rotary Club. Tom also served as a board member of the Washington State Horticultural Association and President of the Community Center Board and President of the Columbia Basin Horticultural Society. Tom served as member and President of Wenatchee Experimental Aircraft Association #424 and as Chairman of the Board of Chief Wenatchee Grower's Co-op and participated in a number of advisory committees. Tom, Clare and family spent as much time as possible at their condo in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. They also made many family trips around the U.S. in their camper. Tom and their three sons also took part in a number of shop projects, one of which was rebuilding a classic 1952 MG sports car that was used in parades and was mostly driven by his sons. Another shop project was building an all-metal two-seat airplane which flew successfully for 1 ½ years before an accident upon takeoff in July, 2003 resulted in an injury to Clare. While her recovery has been remarkable, she still has some limiting disabilities. Tom and Clare recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. Besides his wife Clare, Tom is survived by their sons, Jeff and his wife, Anna and boys, Ben and Alex - Cheney, WA; Brad and Connie - Kona, Hawaii; Curt and his wife, Paula and daughters, Cassidy, Makenna and Jordyn - Sioux Center, Iowa; brothers, Roger Bollinger and his wife, Dee - Camano Island; Dan Bollinger - Seattle; sister, Susan Bollinger and her wife, Dr. Natalie Skemonsky - Palm Desert, California. A Family Gathering will be held at a later date. You are invited to leave a memory for the family online by visiting his tribute online at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com . Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

L. Thomas Bollinger

December 17, 1934 - May 30, 2011