My name is W. Dean Gettig and these are my last thoughts on my life and times. I was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1933. We moved a lot because my father, a life insurance agent, liked interacting with his clients so he didn’t want a supervisor position which would have been more stable. I was the third of five boys, so right in the middle, you know what that’s like.

I graduated from high school (not with flying colors), hitchhiked from Pennsylvania to Florida and also to California while still in my teens. I then decided to join the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS St. Paul during the Korean War. During this time I meet my first wife, married in 1953 and had a daughter in 1954. Upon leaving the Navy, we moved back to Iowa.

Work there was scarce, California was booming (and I liked the weather better) so I went west to work, with wife and child to follow. But … marriage annulled. Did meet and marry again in 1956, having two daughters, one in 1957 and one in 1958. That marriage lasted until 1961.

I met Lynda Fay in August 1963 and married her in November of 1968 (the first weekend after deer season closed! “Now honey, what’s more important?”) Well, third time was the charm and we’re still together. We hunted, fished, traveled, loved and fought together for 43 years and they went too fast. We lived a life that many would envy.

In 1979, I designed our home and in 1980 we built it together with our own hands deep in the Whidbey Island woods that we loved. In 1982 we opened “At Your Service Flowers and Gifts” on Ault Field Road, never operating in the red and by golly, the ink got blacker and blacker! Thanks to all our wonderful customers, we still miss you.

We sold out and “retired” in 1997, only to joyfully work for friends painting roads and airfields during the summer and snow-birding to Yuma in the winter. The best of both worlds! We have met so many wonderful new friends along the way.

I am writing this on a sunny 80 degree day from Yuma, where my story ends, Oct. 28, 2011. I leave behind my wife Lynda, our very special “daughter” Laura Link, my last brother Jay and his wife Carol in Florida, sisters-in-law Corey Gettig, Fla., and Mary Lynn Gettig in Hummelstown, Penn. I leave this life holding hands with my loving wife of 43 years knowing we will meet again to continue our journey together.

People are encouraged to share memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.