Darrell D. Westover

Darrell Duane Westover, age 86, of Maple Valley, Washington, passed away peacefully in his sleep March 16, 2018 at the VA Hospital in Seattle. He was born April 9, 1931 in Bradley, South Dakota. He was the son of Charles and Marie Westover. At the age of 13 the family moved to Orchard Heights, Washington. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy and served during the Korean War. Darrell was a member of the VFW for 66 years.

In 1953 Darrell enrolled at Washington State College and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. He worked in the field for more than 40 years with the same company alongside classmates and lifelong friends.  His job took him all over the world: Saudi Arabia; Venezuela; Kuwait; many parts of the USA; and, for 6 years he and his family lived on Kwajalein Island, Marshall Islands in the South Pacific.

Darrell and Adele met in 1955 while working at Wallowa Lake Resort in Eastern Oregon. When they met, he courted her through music and dancing. They married in 1957 in Neche, North Dakota. In 1974 they settled in Maple Valley, Washington where they lived on their farm for the next 43 years. They raised their three children there, all of whom still reside nearby.

Darrell was a true entrepreneurial spirit and worked hard all of his life. The farm became the center of many endeavors and all family members were involved: Apple cider; Kettle Corn; Hydroponic fruits and vegetables, which were sold at Farmers’ Markets until 2014; and most importantly, growing and selling Christmas trees through 2017 after which the farm was sold.

He was actively involved in many organizations, many times as a Board member: The VFW, the Christmas Tree Association, King-Pierce Farm Bureau, and several Tractor clubs.

Darrell became a collector of things: John Deere tractors, both farm-sized and toy-sized; hats, hats and more hats; antique glass milk jugs, glass electrical insulators and shoe lasts; rocks and artifacts; stamps; and books. He was also a collector of friends. If he met you once, you were a friend. He may not have remembered your name the next time he saw you, but he remembered your story. He was always good for a hug, or two, and a great big smile.

Darrell will be remembered for his kind spirit and his love of his family.

He is preceded in death by a son, Robert; his sister, Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Adele Westover; their three children Charles (Valerie) Westover, Bill (Leslie) Westover and Karen (Eric) Bernard; their four grandchildren (Allison, Nicole, Kyle and Tyler) and four Great-grandchildren (Chloe, Molly, Annabelle, and JC); and sisters Caroline Gerneglia and Blanche Brice.

Services will be held April 9, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Barbara’s Church in Black Diamond. A reception will follow. There will be a service at Tahoma National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

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