Maxine Carrie Bigelow

Maxine Carrie Bigelow, 91, of Olympia, Washington passed away on Monday July 25th after a brief hospital stay in Encinitas, California. Visitation will be held on Saturday August 6th at El Camino Memorial Park from 3 to 3:30 pm. Immediately following will be the memorial service with Pastor Darin Arntson of San Dieguito United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will take place on Wednesday August 17th at Miramar National Cemetery at 2:00 pm.. Maxine was born in Olympia Washington on September 19th, 1924 to Roscoe Hawkins and Vida Shaw. She graduated from Olympia High School in 1942 and continued on to receive a Nursing degree from the St. Peter’s School of Nursing in Olympia. She also attended Seattle University and completed a management training and development course at the University of Santa Clara. Maxine was an excellent Air Force wife raising her 5 children and “holding down the fort” while her husband served our nation. There were numerous cities to drag the family to including stays in Montana and France among them. She was a nurse for over 40 years and held a number of managerial positions in her long career after returning from Europe with her family. She was director of Nursing Services at Park Alameda Hospital in San Jose starting in 1966. Prior to that she held supervisory positions at Virginia Mason Hospital and Doctor’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington. She retired in 1986. After retirement Maxine was active in her local church and taught Sunday school. She also enjoyed exercising and walked every morning often before the sun was up. Visiting and taking care of her many grandchildren over the years brought her much joy and laughter. Maxine was married to Harold Bigelow on February 16, 1946. They were married for 70 years this year. Maxine is survived by her sister Shirlee Wold, children Doug Bigelow, Mark Bigelow, Susan Julien, Bob Bigelow and Matthew Bigelow. She has 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Harold and her brother Robert. Condolences and memories may be left at www.elcaminomemorial.com/sorrentovalleychapel.