John W. Wold, longtime Oak Harbor resident, died Oct. 4, 2011, at Harbor Care Regency, Oak Harbor, at the age of 89. John was born in Seattle on Sept. 21, 1922 to John I. and Gertrude Wold. John was raised on the Carnation Farm, where his father was the head chef. As he began high school, the Wold family moved to Seattle and John attended Broadway High School. Following graduation, he went to the University of Washington.
John joined the Army in 1942 and was involved in combat in the Rhineland and Central Europe, including France, Germany and Austria. He was discharged in 1946.
Following his military service, John returned to civilian life and returned to the U.W. He went on to receive his bachelor of arts in business and economics and then graduated from the University of Washington, Law School, receiving his Juris Doctorate. On Aug. 31, 1949, John Wold was admitted to the Washington State Bar. John was married to his first wife Pat in December, 1948.
John began private practice as an attorney in Elma and Montesano. In 1953, John and Pat and their family moved to Oak Harbor, where he opened his own practice. He was also hired by the city of Oak Harbor, as the city attorney, a position he held for over 25 years. John was married to Mickey Hirai Coyle on March 6, 1976. John retired as an attorney after more than 30 years of service, so he and Mickey could travel more.
John was a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Island County Bar Association, American Legion, George Morris Post 129 of Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor Elks Lodge 2362, and Delta Upsilon. He was also a lifetime member of the Oak Harbor Navy League.
John had a lifelong love of boating and has been a member of the Seattle Yacht Club, the International Star Boat Racing Association and the Oak Harbor Yacht Club.
John and Mickey loved to travel, visiting Europe, Asia, Bali, Greece, Italy, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Nepal and China. He also was an avid fisherman. He and Mickey enjoyed traveling in their RV, dancing, playing bridge, walking and enjoying the outdoors. For many years, John and Mickey spent their winters in Tucson, Ariz.
Survivors include his wife Mickey; four children, Kristi Wold and husband Bernard Fineberg of Kennewick, Bob Wold of Seattle, Edwin Wold and wife Nancy of Simi Valley, Calif., and Jeffrey Wold of Oak Harbor; 6 grandchildren, Eric and Shannon Wold, Kendra Parish, Melissa Cadby, Lindsay Wold and Joel Sack; and eight great grandchildren, Mackenzie (Mack) Sack; Abbigail (Abby) Sack, Jaelynn, Olivia, Emerson and Milo Parish, and Jackson and Abigail Cadby.
He is also survived by stepdaughter Patti Gronewald, her husband Tom, and two grandchildren Geoffrey Gronewald and Julie Hobart. John was preceded in death by son Bruce Wold and grandson Stephen Sack.
A memorial service for John will be held next summer. Cremation will be held with burial to follow in Grandview Cemetery, Anacortes. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor.
