Obituary: Sloan, John Henry “Jack”
Age 91
If that is true, we chose exceedingly well.
Our beloved patriarch—father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather, great-uncle, war hero, friend, leader, businessman and community servant has ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.’
He most assuredly is now enjoying a glorious reunion with his wife, brothers, parents, and grandson.
Jack was born in Spokane, Washington on October 16, 1923 to John H. Sloan and Emma Matilda Spilker Schultz Sloan.
He was the youngest of five boys.
His father passed away when Jack was just three years old.
Despite his humble beginnings and the challenges his mother faced with raising five energetic boys by herself, Jack and his brothers grew to be very successful men.
In school, Jack skipped a couple of grades so that he graduated from North Central High School early.
He was hired as a junior clerk for the Old National Bank (ONB) in 1942 and thus began a lifelong career in banking.
That career was interrupted for a few years when Jack joined the Army during World War II.
He served in Germany and then in Japan.
In Germany, his unit liberated the concentration camp at Flossenburg on April 23, 1945.
After the war ended Jack attended college at University of Wyoming and Washington State University.
He then returned to Spokane and ONB where he met and fell in love with his lifelong partner, Muriel Doris Hillmer.
They married in September of 1947 and began a journey of over sixty years together.
Jack’s banking career took him throughout Eastern Washington from Spokane to Sunnyside, Grandview, Prosser, and Walla Walla before he returned to Spokane in 1969.
He also was a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.
Throughout his career, Jack was steadily promoted from Assistant Manager, to Manager, to Vice President at ONB and then President of First National Bank in Spokane.
Jack also contributed generously to each community in which he lived and worked.
In the Lower Yakima Valley he was President of the Junior Fair, a member of the Lions Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.
In Walla Walla, he served on the board for the American Red Cross and was a member of the Rotary Club, Chamber, and United Good Neighbors.
In Spokane, Jack served as President of the Spokane Symphony Society, of the Spokane Country Club, and of Rotary where he was the recipient of the Club’s ‘Special Award’ for outstanding contributions to community service.
Jack was also a Board member of the Greater Spokane Community Foundation and Jensen-Byrd.
He was very active in the Boy Scouts of America with leadership roles on the Fort Simcoe Council in Yakima and the Blue Mountain Council in Walla Walla.
Jack served two terms as President of the Inland Empire Council.
He received the Silver Beaver award, scouting’s highest award for volunteer service for those who have contributed to youth.
Jack was also deeply involved in Spokane’s World’s Fair—Expo ‘74.
Although he had many professional and civic accomplishments, Jack will be most remembered as a kind, fair, honest, and humorous man who was well loved by the multitude of family and friends who surrounded him.
There were countless vacations (which usually involved golf) with loved ones.
Some of the most memorable ones were at Seaside, Oregon where Jack would delight everyone with his superb homemade French bread.
A particularly fond trip of Jack and Muriel’s was a golfing trip to Scotland with their close friends.
Hawaii later became a favorite vacation destination for them.
In addition to golf, Jack’s other favorite avocation was pheasant hunting with his dearly loved Springer Spaniels.
Jack leaves a rich legacy of how to lead a life of distinction and honor.
He led by example.
Despite not having a father to grow up with, Jack was a model of what a good father is.
He was deeply loved and admired.
He will be missed beyond words.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Muriel (Miracle), his brothers, Harold H. Schultz, Henry Schultz, Eugene Sloan, Todd Sloan and his grandson, David Sloan Biggs.
Jack is survived by his children, Lynn Sloan Biggs (Ray) of Selah, John H. Sloan (Chris) of Seven Bays, and Beth Sloan Mitchell of Yakima.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Tina Clark (Joe) of Wenatchee, Teresa Scrupps (Tom) of Cheney, Lindsay Jones (Joshua) of Spokane, Christopher Biggs (Megan) of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Lesley Rodrigues (Louis) of Auburn; eight great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and by his Spilker cousins.
Special thanks to those who made Jack’s last few years easier: staff at Rockwood Retirement Communities, Dr. Ward Chow, and friend extraordinaire, Jim Calderhead.
Visitation for Mr. Sloan will be held on Friday, June 19 from 5-7 p.m. at Spokane Cremation & Funeral Service, 2832 N. Ruby St. A memorial celebration of Jack’s life will be held on Saturday, June 20th, at 1 p.m. at the Spokane Country Club, 2010 W. Waikiki Rd.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of American, or the Oxalosis & Hyperoxaluria Foundation (OHF), in care of the Spokane Cremation & Funeral Service, 2832 N. Ruby St., Spokane, WA 99207.