Harold Raymond Van Valin, 91, of Bothell, Washington died on 05/28/2024. Harold was born August, 20th, 1932 to Howard Waldo Van Valin and Pearl Nancy (Wells) Van Valin in McClellandtown, Pennsylvania. Harold was the youngest of three brothers.
Harold started earning money as a young teen doing door-to-door sales. He learned the value of a dollar and it was important to him to save money. He knew the value of hard work and honesty. Harold attended Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. He hitchhiked across the country to attend the University of Washington to pursue his electrical and mechanical engineering degrees. He was a Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer, and a Licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer. He later went to Pacific Lutheran University and received his MBA.
Harold was visiting his cousin, Annette, at Seattle Pacific College and saw a pretty student named Kathy. Harold asked his cousin, Annette, to introduce him to her. Harold and Kathy started dating and they soon fell in love. They got engaged around the same time as Kathy’s sister, Nancy. On June 18, 1955 they had a double wedding in Walla Walla, Washington.
After Harold and Kathy were married, they toured the eastern United States for one year, lived in the San Francisco Bay area for three years, Seattle for eighteen years, Montana for three years, then Kirkland, Washington. Harold worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation; he was employed as head of the Department of Engineering at Seattle Pacific College, and he was a Professor of Physics; he worked for Puget Power and Light, and he was a consultant for Montana Power.
After Harold retired, he was a substitute bus driver for Northshore School District for 20 years. He was an usher for the Seahawks and the Mariners. He drove a bus for Gray Line Tours as well as a shuttle bus for Overlake Christian Church. Harold was a lifelong member of First Free Methodist Church in Seattle. He also attended Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, and Canyon Hills Community Church in Bothell.
Harold was a runner most of his life. When he could not run later in life, he walked two miles each day on the Burke-Gillman Trail. He enjoyed going to 24-hour Fitness every day until he turned 90, then he went every other day. Harold’s other hobbies were fishing, hunting, hiking and skiing.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Pearl; his grandson, Colin Alexander Chelini; his wife, Kathleen Joy (Filan) Van Valin; and his brothers, Forrest W. Van Valin and H. Frank Van Valin.
Harold is survived by his three children, son Philip Van Valin; daughter Karma Chelini (Steve); son Brian Van Valin (Sofia). He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Vernon Van Valin; Aaron Van Valin (Renee); Heidi Paulson (Matt); Brock Chelini (Rhiannon); Miles Chelini (Shelby); Cody Chelini (Holly); Linda Naomi Van Valin; and Kaleb Van Valin. He is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, Gavin, Chloe, Lenora, Dawson, Chevelle, Ireland, Kellen, Mitchell, Christian, and Levi; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
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