Russell Schumacher's Obituary
Russell James Schumacher
“Jim, Big Schu, Dad, Boppa”
Age 89, passed on Friday, June 6, 2014 in Tacoma, WA surrounded by his family. He was born in Tacoma on Dec 20, 1924, the only son of Russell Sr. and Laura (Maupin).
After Jim’s mother passed away when he was 14-years-old, he and his father moved to Puyallup, where he attended Puyallup High School and played varsity football. As a senior, at age 17, he dropped out of school to join the Navy where he was trained as an electrician’s mate and was assigned to the USS Salamaua escort carrier early in 1944. He and his shipmates survived 2 yrs of war, a kamikaze strike and were in the honor flotilla in Tokyo Bay for Japan’s surrender.
After the war he worked for Western Electric Phone Co. He met the love of his life, Dorothy, in Roseburg, OR, where she worked as a telephone operator. They were married in 1948 and later moved to Tacoma where Jim joined the IBEW Local 76 apprenticeship program and was in the first graduating class after the war (WWII).
He worked for several yrs. as a journeyman wireman before going to work as an electrical inspector for WA State in the early 1950’s. He spent 21 yrs. as a 3rd-year apprenticeship instructor for IBEW Local 76 where he inspired and touched the careers of many wireman. He was very proud of his 63 yrs. in Local 76.
Jim spent 31 yrs. at Tacoma City Light as an electrical inspector, a job he truly loved. He was a long time member of IBEW #483 and after retiring he spent 12 yrs. as a field inspector for Electrical Testing Laboratories.
He was a member of the VFW, Easter Star, Masonic order, Scottish Rite and the Afifi Shrine.
He loved retreats to his Ocean Shores property to dig clams and spend time w/grandchildren. He enjoyed his RV where he and his wife were snowbirds for years. Jim loved to work in his garden, loved his dog “Shasha”, hot fudge milk shakes, not to mention the Mariners and Seahawks.
Jim is survived by his wife of 66 yrs. Dorothy, sons Bob (Sigrid), Greg (Karen) and Doug (Amy). He had 6 grandchildren Aron, Nick, Matt, Jessica, David and Kevin. 7 great grandchildren Tyler, Madeline, Carson, Phoenix, Aspen, Annabelle and Nora.
Services will be held 2:00 pm Monday, June 16 in the Aspen Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home.
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