Funeral services for Arthur Eugene Ginnett were held Aug. 9, 2002, at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church with Pastor Laurie Bleakley officiating. Interment preceeded at Grandview Cemetery, Anacortes.

Arthur Eugene “Gene” Ginnett, 75, died at Life Care Center, Mount Vernon, Aug. 6, 2002. He was born Sept. 5, 1926, in Bellingham to George Washington and Amelia Tine (Rusing) Ginnett.

Mr. Ginnett was raised in Anacortes. He began commercial fishing at the age of 16. One of his first experiences with fishing off the Oregon coast was with Bill Lowman, where he was swept overboard in a storm. Bill had the skills to turn and go back and pull Gene from the water after nearly one hour in the ocean.

Mr. Ginnett operated an Atlantic Richfield service station in Anacortes for a time. In 1953 he was married to Mary Jane Campano. In January of 1955, Gene began a 33- year career with the Navy Exchange at NAS Whidbey Island. In 1956, he and Mary moved to Oak Harbor, settling in the Troxell Road area. Gene worked at the gas station, eventually becoming manager and then transferred to the vending machine department. He retired in October of 1988. Gene also worked for many years as a part-time sales clerk at Soundview Shopper for Bob and Shirley Ronhaar.

Mr. Ginnett enjoyed fishing, travel, camping and humor. He loved his annual trip to Seaside, Ore. He was a member of the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. He also was a life member of the Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 249 of Anacortes with over 60 years of membership.

Gene is survived by two daughters and their spouses: Linda Rhodes and Donald “Dusty” Rhodes and Kathleen (Polubinski) Davis and Gerhard “Jerry” Davis, all of Oak Harbor; and one brother, Clem Schwartz, Jr. of Chico, Calif. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Dawn Rhodes of Mount Vernon, Christine Rhodes of Bellingham, Anthony Polubinski and wife Jamie, and Amber Polubinski, as well as one great-grandson, Kevin Rector Polubinski, all of Oak Harbor. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ginnett, by his parents and by his stepfather Clem Schwartz, Sr.

Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. Arrangements are by Burley Funeral Chapel. This obituary is at http://burley.plan4ever.com.