William Dale Lauderbaugh
At boot camp, some persnickety sailors gave Kent resident William Dale Lauderbaugh the nickname “Lou” for being long, lean and lewd. The name stuck and his wicked sense of humor endeared him to friends and family, even through his last hours before losing a short battle with lung cancer June 10, 2006.
His family will celebrate his life with an open house Saturday, June 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. at their home.
Lauderbaugh was born Feb. 16, 1940, to Dale M. and Virginia C. (Kelly) Lauderbaugh, in Sewickley, Penn. As a young man, he was a paperboy and played first base on his high school baseball team. He loved cars and motorcycles, and once rode from California to Pennsylvania on his Triumph Bonneville; he promptly fell off as soon as he reached his parents’ yard in exhaustion.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1958 and traveled around the world as an electronics technician. He was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer E-9 and stayed with the service for 22 years. He was stationed in Millington, Tenn., San Diego and Lemoore, Calif., and Virginia Beach, Va., but NAS Whidbey was his favorite. He served with Atkron 128, VAQ 135 and Attack Squadron 135.
On Dec. 31, 1967, he married Joy J. Stevens in Everett. The couple enjoyed camping, fishing and spending time with their three children. The Lauderbaughs lived in Oak Harbor for eight years.
He worked as an electronics technician for Boeing on top-secret projects for 15 years. He said security was so tight, only his supervisor and a senator knew about the job. Curious for years, Lauderbaugh’s family only learned about his work on the B-2 bomber after he retired in 1996.
Faced with a two-and-a-half-acre lawn, he spent most of his retirement jubilantly working in the yard with his beloved cocker spaniel, Sugar. He was an avid genealogist and Mariners fan, and could have written the book on the art of E-bay sniping.
Lauderbaugh’s favorite pastime was collecting Marx model trains from his childhood. At Christmas, he set up his nicest trains around the tree, and often fixed up engines for his brother. He was an active member of the Train Collectors Association and founded the Yahoo! MarxTrain listserv.
Lauderbaugh’s steadfast loyalty and love for his family was ever-present. He will be deeply missed.
Survivors include his mother of Sewickley, Penn.; wife of Kent; daughters Jana Lauderbaugh of Ballard, and Julie Lauderbaugh of Portland, Ore.; son Barry Lauderbaugh of Auburn; and brother George Lauderbaugh of Jacksonville, Ala.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society or a charity of choice. Edline-Yahn of Covington is handling arrangements.
