Obituary: Dusenbery, Earl B.
Age 96
(Age 96) August 5, 1917 - November 3, 2013 Everyone who knew Earl appreciated his outgoing nature and interest in others.
In any gathering he naturally became the leader of the discussion or the master of ceremonies.
He was also a man of deeply held beliefs and of a strong conviction that all of us need to do what we can to make the world a better place.
He will be sorely missed by all of his family and by all of those who knew him.
Earl was born in Roundup, Montana where he lived for eight years before he and his family moved to Portland, Oregon.
He attended Grant High School, and was very active in sports.
One of the highlights of his life at this time was his summer job at a ranch in eastern Oregon.
He lived the life of a cowboy, riding horses, pitching hay and sleeping in the bunkhouse.
After high school he followed two of his brothers, attending Whitman College in Walla Walla.
This decision was very important, because he continued to have a strong affection for and an ongoing relationship with Whitman for his entire life.
He made many lifelong friends during his college career, and was elected President of the Student Body in his senior year.
Earl graduated in 1940, and decided to serve his country in World War II.
He heard that the Army Signal Corps was looking for college graduates to serve in Alaska.
He applied and was sent to Fairbanks and later to the Aleutian Islands.
When the war was ending he married Madge Jordan of Kansas City.
They moved to Spokane where he started his life’s work in the investment business.
They had four children, Tom, Anne, Paul and Jean.
Earl became a scout master, was a local party chairman and was President of the University Club.
Priest Lake became the family’s favorite vacation spot for many years.
In 1962 the family moved to the Seattle area, where Earl continued his career.
After his wife Madge died he married Mignhon McPhail.
Earl worked at UBS Investments until he was 80 years old, and continued to be active in many organizations: he was on the Board of Overseers of Whitman College, and belonged to the Seattle Rotary Club and the College Club.
In Earl’s later years he moved to Covenant Shores Retirement Center on Mercer Island, where he was an active participant in many activities and made many friends.
Mignhon died in 2005, and Earl later married Lois Dambacher.
He and Lois enjoyed travelling and supported many worthwhile organizations.
Earl is survived by his wife Lois Dusenbery of Mercer Island and his children and their spouses: Tom and Vivian Dusenbery of Seattle, Anne and Jon Manos of Seattle, Paul and Michelle Dusenbery of Boulder, CO, and Jean and Rik McAuliffe of Boulder, CO.
He is also survived by his brother, Harris Dusenbery of Vancouver, WA.
and his grandchildren: Marieke, Sean, Nick, Christoph, Malore, Tom, Michael and Kelly; and two great-grandchildren and step-children.
Earl passed away last Sunday surrounded by his loving family.
There will be a celebration of Earl’s life at Covenant Shores on Sunday, November 24th at 2:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall (9107, Fortuna Drive, Mercer Island, WA 98040.)
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his name to either Whitman College or to Wellspring Family Services.