Virgil L. Hartley
Nov. 17, 1951 - May 6, 2007
Former Moses Lake resident, Virgil Lee Hartley, father, grandfather and brother extraordinaire, passed away at the age of 55, at his Port Angeles Wash., home on Sunday, May 6, 2007. Diagnosed with late stage Iung cancer July 21, 2005, Virgil returned to Port Angeles and teamed up with his sister Paula Walz to wage war against the disease. Virgil rarely complained about the inevitable fate that so unexpectedly thrust itself upon him. Instead, he saw the sun even on a rainy day, the silver lining in every cloud and always said there was someone suffering more than he.
Not willing to give up on life, he faced the disease bravely and boldly, a battle he was fully aware he would not win in the end, he was determined to get the best out of life before it got him. His positive outlook, along with his courage to face another day gave it a run that amazed all and allowed him quality of life far beyond the three to four months he originally expected to survive. His strength astonishing right to the end, he left this earth an example any of us will find difficult to measure up to.
Virgil was born to Bernice Adelle Massey Hartley Nov. 17,1951, in Morton Wash., two months after his father, Larmer Lee Hartley, had been lost in a drowning accident.
In 1956, Bernice married Clarence Walz. Clarence soon become the father Virgil looked up to and loved the rest of his life. The family settled in the Eastern Washington Columbia Basin area and before long included a little sister, Paula, for Virgil to watch over. Completing Virgil's family were the additions of brothers, Roger in 1958 and Ronald in 1959.
As soon as he was old enouqh to be more help than hindrance, Virgil learned the value of hard work, regularly helping on his grandparents', Joe and Pauline Massey's farm in Quincy.
From 1969 to 1973 Virgil served his country in the United States Navy, completing active tours in Vietnam and the Philippines aboard the USS Coral Sea as well as other stations.
In 1975, Virgil married Anna Lischke, settling in Centralia Wash., and was blessed with two sons, Joseph in 1975 and Jacob in 1976. Virgil and Anna later divorced, triggering Virgil's relocation to the Quincy/Moses Lake area of Eastern Washington. Virgil eventually moved to Goldendale, Wash., taking employment at an aluminum plant, and where for a short time he was married to Kelly Freer. Virgil moved to Port Angeles in 1991 and worked as a chef at Birney's Restaurant until it burned down. He returned to Moses Lake in 1992 due to a shortage of prospective employment opportunities on the Olympic Peninsula.
Virgil returned to Port Angeles in July 2005 when diagnosed with cancer. Residing and tag-teaming with his sister, Paula M. Walz, the two planned and initiated an all-out war against the disease focused on retaining the best possible quality of life first and quantity secondary for his remaining days.
Survivors include his Clarence Walz, "Dad" of Carlsborg, Wash., sister Paula Walz and brother-in-law Dan Russell of Port Angeles, brother Roger Walz and sister-in-law Cindy Walz of Port Angeles, brother Ronald Walz and sister-in-law Margie Walz of West Richland, Wash., son Joseph Hartley of Post Falls, Idaho, daughters-in-law Kathy Hartley of Spokane and Allayne Hartley of Post Falls, Idaho; Stepsons Jerry Wilson of Post Falls, Idaho and John Lischke of Tacoma, Wash., grandsons Joseph Hartley and Austin Hartley of Spokane and step-grandson, Riley of Post Falls, Idaho.
Virgil's mother, Bernice Walz, his natural father, Larmer Hartley and his son Jacob Hartley, preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held May 19 at 11 a.m. at the Eagles Lodge, 1517 W. Broadway, in Moses Lake. Linde Family Funeral Service of Sequim, Wash., is in charge of cremation services. Intertment will take place later at the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Kent, Wash.
Memorials in his name can be submitted to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, PO Box 2014 Port Angeles, WA 98362 and should include Virgil's address of PO Box 489 Port Angeles, WA 98362.