Gerald "Jerry" Franklin Newton

Age 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 17, 2012, at his Seattle home with family by his side. He was born and raised in Tukwila, Washington, on September 12, 1919, to Dana A. and Lois (Cathy) Newton, the fourth of seven children.

Jerry attended Foster High School where he ran varsity track and cross-country, and won state in cross country. He excelled academically, enjoying all subjects, especially math. He taught himself to swim in the Duwamish River, delivered newspapers, and caddied at the local golf course.

Jerry was drafted into the Army during WWII, was inducted on April 2, 1942, and served in the European and North African theaters. He was a Sergeant when he was honorably discharged on October 18, 1945, from Fort Lewis, Washington.

Eager to advance in higher education, Jerry used his GI Bill to attend Seattle Pacific College. There, he found the love of his life and best friend, Clara Ella Campbell. They met in a class when Jerry sat behind Clara and admired her “beautiful dark pageboy.” While still undergrads, they married on June 15, 1947, at the Free Methodist Church near their college.

Jerry, with great enthusiasm, raised funds for the campus newspaper and sang in A Cappella Choir. He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in psychology and soon returned to earn a master’s in education.

He quickly rose through the ranks from teacher to elementary school principal and served at West Queen Anne, Magnolia, Decatur, and John Rogers. At Decatur he developed and administered a program in gifted education. He also supervised student teachers at SPC at one time and taught as an adjunct for the Education Dept.

Jerry loved God with all his heart and was active in church, where he played soprano sax in the church orchestra, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school. He also sang in the “Light and Life Hour” radio choir. He shared his faith with others whenever he could.

Jerry and Clara and their two daughters, Joann Carolyn and Jane Elizabeth, settled on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, where Jerry and Clara lived for 50 years. He deeply loved his family, teaching his daughters to sing harmony as he played piano, bait hooks with worms, camp, hike, and analyze theology, politics, and math problems at the dinner table. He loved fishing, working his ham radio (call letters K7CHT), golfing, traveling, and hiking. He climbed Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams and, at age 68, climbed to base camp on Mt. Everest. After retirement from the Seattle School District, he volunteered at Group Health Hospital for many years.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents and his older siblings Rod, David and Althea. After nearly 64 years of marriage, he is survived by his beloved wife, Clara. He leaves behind his two daughters, Jane Newton and Joann Congdon; son-in-law Robert Congdon; four grandchildren, Darinda Congdon, Rebecca (Congdon) Nelson, Caewyn (Congdon) Barnett, and Melissa Newton-Mora; grandsons-in-law; Steven Barnett and Isaac Nelson; siblings, Huby Newton, Florence (Newton) Arms, and Gordon Newton.

A memorial service to celebrate Jerry’s life will be held later in June. Please check back for updated service details.

In lieu of flowers, Jerry would want donations made to The Gideons International.

Jerry will be missed by all the lives he touched….

…THAT MAN IS A SUCCESS . . . Who has lived well,

laughed often and loved much

Who has gained the respect of

intelligent men and the love of children

Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task

Who leaves the world better than he found

it-whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem

or a rescued soul. Who never lacked appreciation

of earth's beauty or failed to express it

Who looked for the best in others and

gave the best that he had.

~ A. J. Stavely ~

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