Walter Richard Oelwein, 81, of Bellevue, Washington, died at Overlake Hospital on October 5, 2017. Walter was born September 16, 1936, in Pocatello, ID, to Walter James David Oelwein and Alva Holmberg Oelwein. He grew up in Pocatello with his three older sisters, Helen, Alice and Anne. He earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Idaho. While serving as a night watchman at Camp Miniwanca in Michigan, Walter met his wife, Patricia Logan, and they were married in 1961 in New Jersey. In 1962, Walter and Patricia moved to Seattle Washington, where they had two children, Alison Anne and Walter Charles. They moved to their longtime family home in Bellevue in 1976. After a distinguished career in which he worked for RCA, Boeing and the Federal Government in a variety of engineering roles, Walter retired in 1996. In retirement, Walter volunteered for the Seattle Audubon Society for 20 years.
Walter was a deeply caring and thoughtful man, always looking out for people's safety and comfort. He always liked to research how best to do things and he fastidiously maintained his family home and cabin throughout his life.
Walter enjoyed making people laugh. He had a winking, obtuse sense of humor, where he would make ironic comments and orthogonal observations that would later become family catch phrases, such as, "Kevin is a nice name."
Walter traveled the world. He honeymooned in Europe, worked in Greenland, journeyed with Patricia and family to a variety of locations, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, Korea and Columbia.
Walter's interests included gardening, cinema, swimming, birding, tennis, sailing, and scuba diving. In recent years, Walter regularly would go to the Bellevue YMCA, where he walked the track, lifted weights, swam and charmed people.
Walter is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Logan Oelwein, his children Alison Weinberg and Walter Charles Oelwein, and their spouses, Tom Weinberg and April Oelwein, his grandson Ace Oelwein, his sister, Alice McDonald and her husband Donald McDonald, and his brother-in-law Edgar Neal.
He was preceded in death by his sisters Helen Kinneberg and Anne Neal.
His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made the Seattle Audubon Society.
A memorial service is being planned, and details will be posted on this site.