John Allen Bolding

John Allen Bolding, born March 17, 1939, and passed away on December 28, 2024.

He was the third born of ten children William Levious Bolding and Lydia Anne Conley Bolding had. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, he hunted squirrels, rabbits and deer with his brothers and sisters to help feed the family. His younger sister, Virginia told me he had the nickname “Hawkeye” because his shot was dead-on accurate.

He attended the local public school in a time that didn’t encourage fair treatment, and in the 8th grade he dropped out and took a job working at a neighboring farm. After some time, his mother let him fill out the paperwork and joined the Army at 17. He scored high on the math tests and was assigned to a Regiment in Iceland, where he received personal tutoring from the other specialists stationed there. Educating him in what field they were experts in was how they passed their time and how he was able to pass the test and earn his GED.

Upon returning to the U.S., he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. The day came when the U.S.O. was hosting a dance, he met the love of his life, Ruth A. Friedman. They were married on April 22, 1961 and started their 56 years together as husband and wife.

Before moving to Washington, they lived in Oregon, where they were blessed with the first three of their six children. Linda, John (Aaron) and Barbara. He served in the National Guard; he worked for a local surveyor company and as a Volunteer Police Officer. They moved the family to Washington and were blessed with the last three of their six children. Ann, James and Robert. He was hired by the City of Seattle as a Civil Engineer and worked on many projects. He retired from the city but then got a job working for F.E.M.A. aiding in recovery efforts after natural disasters.

John joined the Fraternal Order of Masonry through the Greenwood Lodge #253 on January 12, 1977. He raised to the level of Master Mason on March 30, 1977, and served as Worshipful Master from January thru December, 1984. He was awarded the Greenwood Hiram Award in 1999 and the Grand Master Achievement Award in 2015.

John was a natural-born mathematician, a skill he carried and developed throughout his life. He was raised in a spiritual, Christian family and was instrumental in showing grace to those less fortunate. A trait he had a natural ability to do.

His greatest loves were his wife, his family, his rare and amazing ability to understand all levels of math and sharing family stories and their history.

John was preceded in death by his siblings Dixie, Tommy, Billy and James. His grandson Christopher, his daughter Barbara, son John, and his wife Ruth. He is survived by his children, Linda, Ann, James and Robert. His 14 grandchildren, Jessi, Stephanie, Kimi, Elicia, Matt, Sarah, Kathryn, Emily, Andrew, Preston, Lauren, Chris, Jarrod, William, and his 6 great-grandchildren, Danny, Saria, Malcolm, Nora, Michael and Jackie.

John will be warmly remembered by all who knew him for his willingness to have conversation and help anyone in need. He truly was one of the greatest men you’d want to know.