WSP Retired Sgt. Earl S. Sandquist passed away at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, WA from pulmonary fibrosis on November 7, 2009. He was 75 years old having been born in Troy, ID to Edward and Esther (Linblad) Sandquist on January 6, 1934. After graduating from Troy High School in 1952, he spent four years in the US Air Force where he enjoyed his travels in the US and overseas, to Africa, England and other countries. He has lived in Shelton for the last 35 years. Earl married Claudia Frost in Burns OR in 1956. That marriage ended with her death eight years later. He then married Marilyn Morgan in Burlington, WA in 1965. They were married for 45 years. Earl joined the Washington State Patrol in 1958. Starting as a radio operator in Walla Walla, he became a commissioned State Patrolman after graduating from the State Patrol Academy in Shelton. His initial assignments were Everett and Mount Vernon, after which he served as an instructor at the academy. After four years at the academy, he became the detachment sergeant in Mason County until retiring in 1984. He has kept in touch with his fellow State patrol graduates for all these years. Earl loved to do woodworking and give it away. He used every opportunity to introduce those he met to his Lord Jesus Christ. He continued to tell his grandchildren to always "stay close to Jesus." Always active in his church, he had a warm and easy-going personality and joyful and spontaneous wit that kept his family and friends laughing. He also loved to play harmonica and belonged to a group that played weekly in two retirement homes in Shelton. Everyone that met Earl will remember him fondly. His love was great, loving first his Lord, then his wife and family and finally his neighbors and friends. We will all miss him tremendously, and his family knows it has been a privilege to have lived with a good and godly man. Earl worshipped 18 years at Evergreen Christian Center of Olympia and for the past 12 years at the First Baptist Church of Shelton. He is survived by
Wife Marilyn Sandquist Shelton, WA
4 Children
4 Grandsons and 8 granddaughters most of whom were with him at death. He also had many cousins living in Idaho who were like brothers and sister to him, as well as two nieces and one nephew whom he dearly loved. Preceding him in death were his parents Edward and Esther Sandquist and two brothers.