He graduated in 1939 from Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. After high school he eventually relocated to Seattle to live near his two older brothers. While Felix was in Seattle, he worked in the shipyards until he was drafted into the Army from 1943 to 1946. While in the Army he traveled on an ammo ship to India.
The ammo ship could only travel at 10 knots, which is slow. The ammo ship traveled solo to India by going far south, to avoid submarine activity. They went to Tasmania where they restocked their food and fuel and then headed around the south side of Australia and back up to India. They went up the Hooghly River to Calcutta, India; a 52 day trip.
Felix’s ship had 13 army personnel and 11 Chinese pilots who lived in huts built on top of the ship. The pilots were trained in the US and were returning to China to fight in the war. From Calcutta, India, Felix was flown over the hump (Himalayan Mountains) into Kunming, China. That is where the Flying Tigers were stationed. Felix ended up spending 2 years in China. After the war ended, Felix was flown back to Calcutta, where he got on a much bigger troop ship to go back home.
Once in Seattle, Felix got a job with the US Postal Service in downtown Seattle. He bought a house in White Center invited his mother to share his house, as his brothers both had large families; so it was easier for him to care for her. Felix and his mom were prolific gardeners. They took clippings from trees and flowers and then grew them in their large yard. They loved the flowery bushes and plants the most, but also grew raspberries, strawberries and several fruit trees.
Felix never did get married. He worked for the Post Office for 20 years until he retired to take care of his mom. Felix enjoyed his 27 nephews and nieces; he even helped some of them get jobs at the post office after they finished high school. Felix enjoyed the high school sports that his nephews and nieces participated in and later his grandnephews and grandnieces played in. If the sport was at Evergreen High School, which was close to his house, he would walk over to watch the cross country meets or swim meets.
Anna Rice, Felix’s mother, died on December 15, 1989. He continued to live in his house until he moved into the Wesley Health Care Center on June 12, 2013 at the young age of 93. He adjusted from his life of solitude and enjoyed the company of many of his fellow residents and Wesley personnel.
On November 28, 2018 Felix peacefully passed away while he was surrounded by family.
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