Jim Allen Rambo

Chief Jimmy Allen Rambo Olympia Fire Department, Retired Jim Rambo was born September 26, 1936, in Charleston, Arkansas, to Fay Augustus Rambo and Mary D. (Heathcock) Rambo. Jim completed his life on October 19, 2013, in Olympia, Washington. When Jim was a child, his family moved to California where he was raised mostly in Fresno. At age 16, Jim enlisted in the Army and served in Korea then later was stationed at Fort Lewis. He met Dottee while at Ft. Lewis and they married and moved to Fresno in 1956. After Jim’s employer, North American Aviation, was sold and closed, his mother-in-law learned of an opening at the Olympia Fire Department. The young family headed north. Jim was hired and went to work for the Department on July 15, 1957. Jim rose through the ranks of the Fire Department, from firefighter to lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and chief. He served for 37 years, the last 17 as chief. He loved the OFD and was very proud of having been a firefighter. Before becoming a chief officer, he also worked at many jobs on his days off, mostly delivering furniture for Goldberg’s. In addition, he worked for Washington State Fire Service Training, teaching at volunteer fire departments across the state. Jim also spent a couple of weeks in Chile where he had been invited to observe and teach fire department operations. After retirement, Jim volunteered with the American Red Cross. He helped local people after misfortunes such as house fires and floods, went to Oregon to assist in relief from a wildfire, to New York City after the 9-11 tragedy, and to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Jim loved to travel and had been to every state in the U.S. plus Korea, Japan, Australia, Austria, Ireland and England. He was always active, a strong and capable man. He was good at figuring out how to build or fix things – almost anything. He built a home with very little outside help where the family lived for 40 years. He later updated the kitchen cabinets, built two beds and two china closets and numerous other woodworking projects in oak – always in oak — all his own design. He loved golf, and went to the Los Angeles area twice a year to visit and play golf with his brother Joe. He also played locally, mainly with his friend Dan Doles at the golf course in Yelm. He got two holes-in-one, the first at Capital City Golf Course and the second at Yelm. What fun! In later years he enjoyed researching his family tree. Jim is survived by his beloved family: wife Dottee Elsie Laura (Martin), daughter Laura Faye Rambo (Larry Severtson), son Timothy Jay (Ann), granddaughter Chelsea Diana Rambo, and brother Harvey Gene. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Joseph Edward, and sister Dorothy Lee Jacobson. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society, the First Baptist Church of Olympia (PO Box 533, Olympia 98507) or any charitable organization of your choice. Visitation and slide show: 10:00 a.m., October 26, 2013, First Baptist Church of Olympia, 904 Washington Street (parking in the rear). Funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Please leave memories of Jim or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.