John Batt's Obituary
John David Batt 1922 - 2012 Loved and respected by all who had the good fortune to know him, John David Batt passed away on 27 September 2012 after a lifetime devoted to others.
Born on Christmas Day, 1922, in Laurel, Montana, John was still a baby when his family moved to Tacoma. During his high school years at Stadium John played clarinet in the school band and, in 1939, he was catcher on Stadium's City Championship baseball team.
John enlisted in the Navy and served his country with distinction in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. After the war John worked as a truck driver before embarking upon a career in banking. Over the years John resided in Tacoma, Chehalis, Fircrest, Seattle, and Mill Creek.
He was a member of the Fircrest Golf Club and had the opportunity to play on many renowned courses across the country. John was a Noble in the Nile Shrine and served as a greeter, his warm smile welcoming all to join him in the joy of charitable work. John was also active in the community, serving on the Fircrest Planning Commission, presiding as President of the Fircrest Community Club Board, and coaching youth sports. John worked for the National Bank of Washington and its successors for three decades, specializing in installment lending. For many years he was a faculty member of the American Bankers Association National Installment Credit School. John was a pioneer in student loan financing. He was appointed by Governor Evans to the Washington State Higher Education Assistance Authority and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Northwest Education Loan Association. As a high school graduate, John was particularly gratified to have been able to make higher education feasible for many young Washingtonians.
John's wife, Jean Carol Batt, preceded him in death. John is survived by his brother Sam Batt of Columbus, Wisconsin; his three children, Maryann Reinert of Puyallup, Mark Batt of Los Angeles, and Marjorie Quackenbush of Lynnwood; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his life partner and dearest friend, Katherine Lonsbery.
Interment services were private. Donations in John's memory may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
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