Glen Coordes Rinker passed on to Heaven, March 5, 2011 at the age of 94.

Glen went peacefully, in his sleep at Harbor Care, an “advanced assisted living home,” in Oak Harbor, attended to his last by his oldest son Richard and his wife Sheryl.

Glen was born in “wheat country,” in his family’s Homestead Ranch House, in Douglas, Wash., on May 21, 1916, to Oliver (O.C.) and Amy Rinker, the eldest of seven children.

In his elementary school years he attended a one-room school house in Douglas, graduating in 1935 from Waterville High School, four miles from Douglas. In 1940 Glen married a Wenatchee girl, Desire Phillippi, and they began their life together by making their home in Seattle during the war years. Both of their biological children, Richard Leon and Trudy Fay, were born in Seattle; however upon the World War’s completion, in 1945, they moved back to Waterville to raise their children. In 1950 they added Richard Lapthorn to their family.

After the children’s raising, in l961 they moved back to Seattle where Glen spent the next 20 years working as a mechanic in the heavy equipment industry, specializing in Caterpillar and John Deere. When Glen retired in 1981 he had risen to the position of shop foreman with 15 mechanics under his charge. At retirement, Glen and Desire moved back to Douglas County and purchased their final home in East Wenatchee. Together they enjoyed their home until, after 67 years of marriage, Desire passed away in the summer of 2007. Glen then spent the remainder of his time here on the earth, enjoying assisted living homes in the communities of Moses Lake and Oak Harbor, Wash. He spent, by his choice, his last two years, at Regency on Whidbey / Harbor Care, Oak Harbor, near his oldest son Richard. Glen’s legacy: He loved his family and friends, many of them lifelong, his roots in Douglas County and bowling, which he enjoyed for 56 years. A special tribute: Glen’s lifetime of sacrificial, unconditional loving of his family will forever be cherished and remembered by all of us that have had the pleasure of knowing him. He was and still is, truly one of a kind.

Glen was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and sisters, Ethel, Elizabeth, Johnny, Douglas and Juanita, an infant baby girl and several cherished in-laws.

He is survived by his children, remaining youngest brother, Arvene and his wife Gwen, and other remaining cherished in-laws.

A memorial graveside service honoring Glen will be held at the Waterville Cemetery, Saturday, May 21, at 1 p.m., followed by fellowship and refreshments at the United Lutheran Church, Waterville. Arrangements are in care of Heritage Memorial Chapel of East Wenatchee.

Local arrangements are in the care of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service.