Gary John Ohlinger

Gary was a dedicated member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Before his death, he was present and grateful to receive the Sacraments of Last Rites, a profound mercy, blessing, and comfort.

Gary had many passions in his well- orchestrated life. He had a deep and abiding love for his family and was a loving father to the children who became part of his life. He is survived by his wife Sandy, his daughter Katrina Griffin and his Grandchildren Sterling Laraas, Hope Griffin, and Christina Wakefield.

His many passions included music, travel, dancing, skiing, flying, instructing, creating, designing and building anything he wanted or needed. Gary was a loyal and helpful friend who was up for anything. He said yes to all of life. He loved his friends and his home on Lake St. Clair. And he and Sandy loved the company of their basset hounds Claire and Bonnie.

Gary received his Bachelor of Arts at Washington State University and his Masters in Business and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Puget Sound. He also completed the Computer Programming Courses at UPS.

Gary served as a pilot and Navigator during the Vietnam War and later worked at Boeing as an engineer. Flying remained a part of Gary’s life, and he enjoyed piloting family and friends in his small plane and being a flight instructor in small planes and gliders.

He created and owned Red Top Ladder in Tacoma for 33 years. He wrote computer programs for home and business. He researched and drew detailed architectural plans for his many projects; he measured everything and always had the plan.

Gary will be remembered for his brilliance and the interesting life he created. He was accomplished in arts, music, architecture, history, science and math. He was also a skilled pilot and an avid skier.

He loved the many trips to France, especially Paris with Sandy, enjoying opera, jazz, art museums, walks in the parks, great food, French champagne and a frequent Heineken. He watched the Notre-Dame Cathedral burn and then was blessed by an Archbishop when it reopened on Easter in 2025.