Wallace Kendall Quintus

Wallace Kendall “Wally” Quintus October 24, 1922 – September 8, 2012 Wallace Quintus, 89, passed away at his home in Tumwater, Washington, on September 8, 2012. Wally was born to Marinus John and Lucy Braun Quintus in Edwall, Washington on October 22, 1922. He graduated from Prosser High School in 1940 and took engineering classes at Washington State College. In 1942, he went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers on the ALCAN Highway in the Yukon Territory. A year later, he returned to Grandview and met the love of his life, Alice Virginia Goemmer. They were married November 14, 1943 in Yakima, Washington; they would have celebrated 69 years together this November. They were blessed with three children, Virginia Kay, born 1944; Jerald Kendall, born 1947; and Carol Elaine, born 1949. Wally joined the Navy in 1944 and spent a year as a hospital corpsman in Oakland before returning to the Yakima Valley to purchase land and work the family farm. He and his family cleared the land of sagebrush and rocks. He developed a system for irrigation. He grew sugar beets, mint, asparagus, wheat, rye, apples and grapes. Grapes remained his favorite produce and dominated his farming effort. He helped organize the “Yakima Valley Grape Growers,” a cooperative that gave local farmers more influence in the marketplace. He helped design a grape harvester specifically for concord grapes, and designed a trellis for the grape rows that would work with the harvester. He formed a corporation with two other friends. They picked grapes for many of the farmers in the Yakima Valley, eliminating the need for large crews and completing the harvest within days. Wally and Alice Quintus were active members of the American Legion Post 57 and the Methodist Church. Wally helped build the new church in Grandview, as well as the recreational hall. He also helped with the landscaping, building and repairs of the Tumwater church. For many years, Wally and Alice vacationed on Lake Kachess, which began a lifelong love affair with boating and fishing. Then he built a cabin at Ocean Shores with his dad and son. When he and Alice retired, they spent their winters in Arizona square dancing and socializing with family and friends. After his father passed away, Wally brought his mother to live with them and cared for her until she required skilled nursing care that he and Alice could not provide at home. The lure of boating brought them to Anacortes, Washington, where he built a house near Skyline Marina and docked his first big boat. Wally, Alice and friends enjoyed boating throughout the San Juan Islands on Cold Duck and had numerous adventures. Some of his friends loved to sail, so he bought a sailboat, and shared more adventures with family and friends on Li’l Beppin. Their final move was to Eagles Landing in Tumwater in 1993 to be closer to family. Both Wally and Alice enjoyed the annual gatherings with extended family and camping trips to Baker Lake with the grandchildren. Holidays were spent surrounded by family playing games like Mexican Train or Hand-and-Foot. In recent years, he greatly enjoyed sharing his grandsons’ and great grandson’s fascination with his functioning model train display and matchbox car collection. He was an excellent woodworker and created many beautiful projects from hope chests to step stools and coat racks that he gifted to family and friends. Wally was a man with quiet humor, great compassion and dedication to family that has influenced his entire family. He was a man of great honor and integrity. He was a man who carried great strength, and will be greatly missed. When you needed a hand, he was there, for family, friends, and neighbors. Wally is survived by his wife, Alice; his daughters, Vicki Jocelyn, Carol Bevandich (Mike); daughter-in- law, Patsy Quintus (Jerry); and his sister, Maxine Lowe. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Greg Eddie, Kim Richmond, Michelle Jocelyn, Tony Quintus, Kelly Gage, Tracy Quintus, Bob Bevandich, and Tina Matheny; 14 great grandchildren, Matt Eddie, Jenni Crabtree, Kelsie Crabtree, Payton Gage, Austin Quintus, Cody Quintus, Jeremy Matheny, Emily Matheny, Josh Matheny, Mariah Bevandich, Haley Bevandich, James Bevandich, Jade Bevandich, and Jasmine Bevandich; two great- great grandchildren, McKinley Matheny and Elias Matheny. He was preceded in death by his parents M.J. and Lucy Quintu, and his son Gerald. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered by his family and many friends. Please leave memories of Wally or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.