Harold John Willard Dodeward

Hal left this earth to join many family members and friends waiting for him on October 4, 2022. He was born October 22, 1931, to Lunetta and Steve Dodeward in Rock Valley, Iowa. The second of two children.

Alongside his parents and his brother George, the Dodeward Family moved a couple times while following his father’s work before settling in Port Orchard, WA.

Hal had many accomplishments throughout his life. He graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1950. His senior year he was top scorer and rebounder for the basketball team. They went on to win State Championship and Hal was chosen to play in the State All-Star Tournament. That same year he pitched for the baseball team and was selected as an alternate for a New York organization instead. He went on to play for the Cleveland Indians Farm League from 1950-1957.

During the off season, he attended Jr College in Bremerton, except for 1953-1955 school years, when he was in the Army. In which time he pitched for the Fort Ord, CA team.

In 1958 Hal was given the opportunity to work at Seattle University to be an assistant varsity baseball coach for which he received financial aid. While working there he played semi-pro baseball with the Cheney Studs.

In June of 1960 he graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Seattle U and moved to Yakima, WA to become the Varsity Basketball and Baseball coach at Marquette High School. Marquette later consolidated with Carroll High School. His overall Marquette-Carroll regular season record ended with wins-230 & losses-68. Tallying up 8-League Championships, 2nd in State in 1973 & 1974 and 1st in State n 1975. Adding to that, in 1975 he and his team got 1st in State in baseball as well. It was quite a year.

Hal was not only a coach as he taught a Typing class. Accounting, Business, Math and Health.

Eventually his career took him to Davis High School where he taught Physical Education, coached JV Basketball for 3 years and even girls’ softball.

Family was so important to him, but friends and students were at the top of the list too. He loved what he did for a career and those around him felt it. He enjoyed partaking in his PE classes alongside his students. Mixing up the typical PE with activities such as dance lessons and bowling at the Eagles. Kids even snuck into his class to learn the dances.

Amid all he was accomplishing, Hal came across his most important accomplishment. He saw a woman at a dance whom he fancied and asked her to dance. She politely declined. As you can tell, Hal was a bit competitive so that didn’t stop him. Joy Dunham fell for him, and they went on to get married August 17, 1963, and had five children. He adored her more than anything and she took on being the coach-wife, mother, and biggest fan. She handled their five children all while supporting his career.

So many friends throughout the years supported Hal during his career by keeping stats, running clocks, traveling near and far, and making sure Joy was at any events she was able to make.

Hal was contacted several times by the Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Assoc. for detailed information on his career. He was a humble man and kept putting it off, so Joy worked with a good friend of his, Gene Evens. Together with Hal’s input, they compiled the details and submitted it to the WIBCA. Hal was chosen and inducted into the Washington State Coaches Hall of fame in 1988.

He was not raised on a farm but together Hal & Joy enjoyed farming, traveling with friends and family and of course watching sports either at games or on TV. Pretty sure it’s safe to say if he didn’t have a new game to watch on TV, he would watch a re-run if Joy let him.

Hal was preceded in death by his mother Lunetta, father Steve, brother George, grandson Jorden Dodeward and son Guy Hall.

Hal is survived by his loving wife Joy, his children, Lori Smith, Pam Temple (Pat), Lance Dodeward (Renee), Christina Aunko (Derek), and grandchildren Wesley, David, Nathan (Elizabeth), Michael, Jennifer, Del (Lacey), Mandi (Jeremy), Brett (Jordan), Blake, Lexi (Mathew) and 13 great-grandchildren.

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life Friday, October 28, 2022, 1:00 pm at the Yakima Country Club. We look forward to cheering to a great Son, Uncle, Father, Grandfather, and all-around man.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to LaSalle High School in honor of Harold Dodeward.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Dodeward family.