Robert Clifford Whittle

Robert “Skip” Whittle was the consummate teacher and deadpan jokester. Skip cared very deeply for his job and the students he taught, and that care was reciprocated. Skip taught fourth graders from the same classroom at Mountain View Elementary for nearly 40 years. Of his retirement assembly, he tells the story of how surprised he was by more than 250 attendees, students ranging in age from 9 to 40, and proudly told us that he remembered the name of every single person in the room.

Skip grew up on an old country farm along Yelm Highway. He spent much of his time on fishing trips with his dog, sometimes all night long. He enjoyed climbing trees with his younger sister Carol, who also recently passed away six months prior. They were very close. The two competed in pairs roller skating and even went on to nationals. Skip also would take weekly rock hunting trips to the Deschutes river and beyond. This activity was a mainstay with his sister Carol and Ron Hulbert’s family, and became a favorite annual field trip for his students.

Space study, excitement over meteor showers, reading of Oz and Freddie books, and making up silly nonsense rhymes were favorite past times for Skip. This carried through to the classroom, and he became known for his in-depth readings of the Tolkien series, Lord of the Rings, complete with wall sized maps, dimmed lights and music. Even as late as this past Christmas, Skip still told funny stories of his classes and kids from his teaching days.

He served with the National Guard, played college baseball, coached track, and spent countless hours studying potential Seahawks draft picks with his nephew Steve. Skip loved dogs, especially Akitas, and animals of all types. He enjoyed gardening, dancing and was a loyal friend. He met many folks while ballroom and round dancing at the Lac-A-Do Hall in Boston Harbor and elsewhere, including his very dear friend and dance partner Lacinda.

Skip Whittle is survived by his loving niece and nephew, Holly Jensen and Steve Hulbert, his Grand-nephews Silas and Orland Jensen (who call Popsicles “Sop-Pickles” thanks to Uncle Skip), and his half-sister Robin Jackson. We so greatly appreciate all the responses to his passing and the wonderful memories shared, confirming what we already suspected that he was a man much loved and who made a significant difference in the lives of many.

We could not have had a better uncle!