John Milton Allgire, 1915-2011, of Oak Harbor, filled his life with love, adventure, community, friends and service.
Born February 20th, 1915 in Brawley, California, John was the second son of Harold and Lydia Allgire, a farming family.
A good student who loved being a Boy Scout, John's childhood was filled with adventure. When he wasn't camping or exploring the Brawley area, he worked part-time jobs to help his family through the Great Depression. John graduated in 1932 from Brawley High School.
In 1933, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. One of the first of two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington, was the first of many ships John sailed on through the '30s and '40's. He served in World War II, in 50 cities and dozens of countries, cooking for thousands of troops, was a commissary man, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. He served in China, Manila, Hawaii, Iceland, New York, New Zealand, Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal), Whidbey Island, and in the occupation of Japan in the early 1950's. Hundreds of his stories of Navy life fill his 2006 book, "Allgire's Story".
In 1943, John was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. Two months later, he met Myrtle Peterson, of Bow, Washington, at a Valentine's Day dance. He was instantly smitten with Myrtle, a very nice, smart, pretty girl with bright red hair. Just four months later, they were married, sharing 67 happy years together, living in New York, Virginia, Japan, and making their home in Oak Harbor in the '50's.
John retired from the Navy after 20 years, working in NAS civil service for another 20 years in the transportation department and calibration lab.
John & Myrtle have two children, Steve and Jill. In 1963, they co-founded The Casual House, a women's clothing store on Oak Harbor's Pioneer Way, which, 48 years later, is still in business and now operated by their daughter, Jill.
John spent decades as a volunteer with Boy Scouts, in coaching Little Leagues, in the Methodist Church, the YMCA, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Gideons. He served on several boards. John found many opportunities to give back to community organizations and in 2007 he and Myrtle were recognized for a lifetime of achievement by the City of Oak Harbor. With many good friends across the city, he was known for great jokes and great story-telling.
John passed away, surrounded by family, on June 21th, 2011, at 96 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lydia Allgire, of Brawley, California, and brothers, David and Harrold.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, of Oak Harbor; sister, Marilyn Dempsey (Jack); brother, Robert Allgire (Tess); son, Steven Allgire (Sandy); daughter, Jill Schacht; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services for John Allgire will be held on Tuesday, June 28. 2011 at 10:00am at Maple Leaf Cemetery, with full military honors. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor David Johnson officiating. Arrangements entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor, WA.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on June 28, 2011
Born February 20th, 1915 in Brawley, California, John was the second son of Harold and Lydia Allgire, a farming family.
A good student who loved being a Boy Scout, John's childhood was filled with adventure. When he wasn't camping or exploring the Brawley area, he worked part-time jobs to help his family through the Great Depression. John graduated in 1932 from Brawley High School.
In 1933, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. One of the first of two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington, was the first of many ships John sailed on through the '30s and '40's. He served in World War II, in 50 cities and dozens of countries, cooking for thousands of troops, was a commissary man, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. He served in China, Manila, Hawaii, Iceland, New York, New Zealand, Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal), Whidbey Island, and in the occupation of Japan in the early 1950's. Hundreds of his stories of Navy life fill his 2006 book, "Allgire's Story".
In 1943, John was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. Two months later, he met Myrtle Peterson, of Bow, Washington, at a Valentine's Day dance. He was instantly smitten with Myrtle, a very nice, smart, pretty girl with bright red hair. Just four months later, they were married, sharing 67 happy years together, living in New York, Virginia, Japan, and making their home in Oak Harbor in the '50's.
John retired from the Navy after 20 years, working in NAS civil service for another 20 years in the transportation department and calibration lab.
John & Myrtle have two children, Steve and Jill. In 1963, they co-founded The Casual House, a women's clothing store on Oak Harbor's Pioneer Way, which, 48 years later, is still in business and now operated by their daughter, Jill.
John spent decades as a volunteer with Boy Scouts, in coaching Little Leagues, in the Methodist Church, the YMCA, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Gideons. He served on several boards. John found many opportunities to give back to community organizations and in 2007 he and Myrtle were recognized for a lifetime of achievement by the City of Oak Harbor. With many good friends across the city, he was known for great jokes and great story-telling.
John passed away, surrounded by family, on June 21th, 2011, at 96 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lydia Allgire, of Brawley, California, and brothers, David and Harrold.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, of Oak Harbor; sister, Marilyn Dempsey (Jack); brother, Robert Allgire (Tess); son, Steven Allgire (Sandy); daughter, Jill Schacht; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services for John Allgire will be held on Tuesday, June 28. 2011 at 10:00am at Maple Leaf Cemetery, with full military honors. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor David Johnson officiating. Arrangements entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor, WA.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on June 28, 2011
John Milton Allgire, 1915-2011, of Oak Harbor, filled his life with love, adventure, community, friends and service.
Born February 20th, 1915 in Brawley, California, John was the second son of Harold and Lydia Allgire, a farming family.
A good student who loved being a Boy Scout, John's childhood was filled with adventure. When he wasn't camping or exploring the Brawley area, he worked part-time jobs to help his family through the Great Depression. John graduated in 1932 from Brawley High School.
In 1933, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. One of the first of two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington, was the first of many ships John sailed on through the '30s and '40's. He served in World War II, in 50 cities and dozens of countries, cooking for thousands of troops, was a commissary man, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. He served in China, Manila, Hawaii, Iceland, New York, New Zealand, Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal), Whidbey Island, and in the occupation of Japan in the early 1950's. Hundreds of his stories of Navy life fill his 2006 book, "Allgire's Story".
In 1943, John was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. Two months later, he met Myrtle Peterson, of Bow, Washington, at a Valentine's Day dance. He was instantly smitten with Myrtle, a very nice, smart, pretty girl with bright red hair. Just four months later, they were married, sharing 67 happy years together, living in New York, Virginia, Japan, and making their home in Oak Harbor in the '50's.
John retired from the Navy after 20 years, working in NAS civil service for another 20 years in the transportation department and calibration lab.
John & Myrtle have two children, Steve and Jill. In 1963, they co-founded The Casual House, a women's clothing store on Oak Harbor's Pioneer Way, which, 48 years later, is still in business and now operated by their daughter, Jill.
John spent decades as a volunteer with Boy Scouts, in coaching Little Leagues, in the Methodist Church, the YMCA, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Gideons. He served on several boards. John found many opportunities to give back to community organizations and in 2007 he and Myrtle were recognized for a lifetime of achievement by the City of Oak Harbor. With many good friends across the city, he was known for great jokes and great story-telling.
John passed away, surrounded by family, on June 21th, 2011, at 96 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lydia Allgire, of Brawley, California, and brothers, David and Harrold.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, of Oak Harbor; sister, Marilyn Dempsey (Jack); brother, Robert Allgire (Tess); son, Steven Allgire (Sandy); daughter, Jill Schacht; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services for John Allgire will be held on Tuesday, June 28. 2011 at 10:00am at Maple Leaf Cemetery, with full military honors. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor David Johnson officiating. Arrangements entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor, WA.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on June 28, 2011
Born February 20th, 1915 in Brawley, California, John was the second son of Harold and Lydia Allgire, a farming family.
A good student who loved being a Boy Scout, John's childhood was filled with adventure. When he wasn't camping or exploring the Brawley area, he worked part-time jobs to help his family through the Great Depression. John graduated in 1932 from Brawley High School.
In 1933, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. One of the first of two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington, was the first of many ships John sailed on through the '30s and '40's. He served in World War II, in 50 cities and dozens of countries, cooking for thousands of troops, was a commissary man, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. He served in China, Manila, Hawaii, Iceland, New York, New Zealand, Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal), Whidbey Island, and in the occupation of Japan in the early 1950's. Hundreds of his stories of Navy life fill his 2006 book, "Allgire's Story".
In 1943, John was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. Two months later, he met Myrtle Peterson, of Bow, Washington, at a Valentine's Day dance. He was instantly smitten with Myrtle, a very nice, smart, pretty girl with bright red hair. Just four months later, they were married, sharing 67 happy years together, living in New York, Virginia, Japan, and making their home in Oak Harbor in the '50's.
John retired from the Navy after 20 years, working in NAS civil service for another 20 years in the transportation department and calibration lab.
John & Myrtle have two children, Steve and Jill. In 1963, they co-founded The Casual House, a women's clothing store on Oak Harbor's Pioneer Way, which, 48 years later, is still in business and now operated by their daughter, Jill.
John spent decades as a volunteer with Boy Scouts, in coaching Little Leagues, in the Methodist Church, the YMCA, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Gideons. He served on several boards. John found many opportunities to give back to community organizations and in 2007 he and Myrtle were recognized for a lifetime of achievement by the City of Oak Harbor. With many good friends across the city, he was known for great jokes and great story-telling.
John passed away, surrounded by family, on June 21th, 2011, at 96 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lydia Allgire, of Brawley, California, and brothers, David and Harrold.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, of Oak Harbor; sister, Marilyn Dempsey (Jack); brother, Robert Allgire (Tess); son, Steven Allgire (Sandy); daughter, Jill Schacht; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services for John Allgire will be held on Tuesday, June 28. 2011 at 10:00am at Maple Leaf Cemetery, with full military honors. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor David Johnson officiating. Arrangements entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, Oak Harbor, WA.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on June 28, 2011
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