Andrew T. Hyde Jr.

Andrew Thomas “Tom” Hyde Jr. died at his home in Coupeville Feb. 19, 2015, at the age of 84. He was born in Stites, Idaho, May 29, 1930, to Andrew and Nellie Hood Hyde. The Hyde family moved frequently, following Andrew’s work, and Tom lived in many towns across Washington and Oregon.

Tom was living in Redondo, Wash., and attending Federal Way High School, when he left school and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic and was stationed in Okinawa and Guam.

Tom left the service and attended the University of Washington on the GI Bill. He met a fellow student at UW, and on May 15, 1954, he and Georgina Kovich were married at Trinity Episcopal Church. Georgina was the only girl in a family of five boys. Her brothers were very possessive of their sister and looked Tom over very carefully before giving their approval to marry their sister.

Receiving his degree, Tom was hired by Boeing and began a 30-year career in management with Boeing. Tom also had a love of flying and received his private pilot’s license after leaving the Air Force. He retired from Boeing as an upper-level manager. During his career with Boeing, he was never out of work, working through the downturns in the economy and the labor strikes.

Tom and Georgina visited Whidbey on several occasions and eventually purchased a cabin on the beach. As retirement approached, they remodeled and rebuilt the cabin into their retirement home on the beach.

Tom was a life member of the University Masonic Lodge #141, F&AM of Seattle and the Central Whidbey Sportsmen’s Association. Tom was a true Civil War buff, and Georgina was very skilled at genealogy, and together they visited every battlefield and cemetery of the Civil War, identifying family members who fought for the North and those who fought for the South. They had found a great area of common interest.

Tom was an extremely social person, making friends where ever he was. He was a politically conservative Republican and proud of it.

Georgina preceded Tom in death in 2012, and his world changed forever. He is survived by four children and their spouses, Diane (David) Butler, of Tigard, Ore., Marilee Hyde, of Coupeville; Andrew T. “Tim” Hyde III of Cle Elum, Wash., and Warren (Chen Xiaohong) Hyde, of Wenzhou, China; two granddaughters, Kirstin Humason and Olivia Hyde; sisters Mary Lu McDaniels, of Lynnwood, and Helen Lais, of Renton.

Graveside funeral services for Tom Hyde were held Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Sunnyside Cemetery with Gary Wallin, certified life celebrant, officiating and the Skykomish Lodge #259 F&AM providing Masonic Rites. Military honors were provided under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC. To share condolences, please visit Tom’s Book of Memories page on the funeral home website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com