Joseph William Glidden

Joseph William Glidden February 3, 1933 – December 25, 2013 Joseph William Glidden was born to Joseph & Helene Glidden in Everett, WA on February 3, 1933. He had three older sisters; June, Jo-Ann & Marilyn. He is survived by his sister Jo-Ann in California and his three sons Rick (Karen) of Yelm, Ken (Teresa) of Olympia and Gary (Cyndy) of Tacoma as well as 8 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe served in the United States Air Force from 1951-54, stationed at Lowry AFB, Colorado where he served as Turret System Mechanic & Airbase Firefighter. He was recipient of the National Service Medal. In 1957 he married Kathryn Faye Jones. They had three sons; Rick (Yelm) Kenneth (Olympia) and Gary (Tacoma). They were happily married for 53 years until Kathy's death in Nov. 2010. Joe enjoyed a career of over 30 years as a Land Surveyor and Civil Engineer throughout the northwest. He began his career surveying for the Great Northern and Union Pacific Railroads travelling from Oregon and Washington to Montana. In 1965 he joined the Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources where he became Party Chief Land Surveyor. Joe and his crews surveyed all across Washington State lands, often hiking deep into rugged forests and upon steep mountain terrain. In 1982 Joe transferred to the Dept. of Transportation where he became Chief of Parties, overseeing all survey teams who worked on the long term re-construction of the Tumwater-Olympia-Lacey Freeway Interchange Project. He completed his stellar career working for Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Upon retiring, Joe started Joseph Glidden Surveying where he collaborated with friend and colleague Bill Day as well as sons Rick and Gary. Joe also had great passions for photography, skiing and mountain hiking early in life. He enjoyed numerous hikes with his Dad throughout the Oregon Cascades and also hiked with sons Ken and Gary, from the Dosewallips campground to Lake Quinault (28 miles) through the Olympic Mountains. Another hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, began at Chinook Pass and ended at White Pass through the Cascade Mountains. In 2007, Joe traveled with his three sons to San Luis Obispo, California for a family reunion with his sister Jo-Ann, and some of his many nieces and nephews. In 2010, Joe and 30 family members made a sojourn to Patos Island where his grandfather Edward Durgan was Lighthouse Keeper from 1905-13. Edward raised 13 children, including Joe’s mother Helene, on the island. Helene Glidden later wrote ‘Light On the Island', an adventure-filled memoir of her childhood as a daughter of the lighthouse keeper of Patos Island. Joe died peacefully at the home of his youngest son Gary on Christmas Day. His last words were 'Merry Christmas! Tell everyone that I love them!' Upon his death Gary and his wife Cyndy read his favorite poem; 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' by Robert Frost: Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.