George Frederick Laiblin, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend to all, passed away in his home on Lake Tapps, Wash., after a long battle with cancer July 24, 2016.
The former Sitka resident was 74.
George Laiblin
A twin of Grant W. Laiblin, George was born Dec. 5, 1941, in Seattle, Wash., to Annabelle and George Laiblin Sr.
While living most of his life in Washington state, he spent his childhood exploring the great outdoors in and around Sitka, where he filled his free time hunting and fishing the many bays in and around the inland passage.
At age 15 he began spending his summers working on commercial fishing vessels, including the seiner boats the Argus and the Icy Queen.
After graduating from Sitka High School in 1960, his love of Country and the open waters inspired him to enlist in the United States Navy, where he served from 1961 until 1965 throughout the Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Hancock. Before completing his service, he served more than a year in Antarctica, working with a joint allied communication task force.
It was a few short years later, while working as manager of the Sitka Municipal Airport, that he met the love of his life, a flight attendant from Alaska Coastal Airlines. On Nov. 1, 1969, his life changed forever when Carolyn Robertson said yes and became Carolyn Laiblin.
In 1976 George and Carolyn moved their family from Alaska to the Seattle Tacoma area, where for the next 36 years they owned and operated Timco Inc., an industrial hose and hydraulic fittings outfit in the Port of Tacoma. They retired in 2012.
Above all else, George was a loving and hard-working family man. He was an avid fly fisherman and lover of history and good food, and enjoyed a hearty laugh with his friends and family. His great sense of humor, gift of gab and his ability to deliver an entertaining story will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of friends and family.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn; his two daughters, Gloria Bradbury and Jodi Laiblin-Carrara; his grandchildren Brooklynn and Brayton; his brothers Grant W. Laiblin and Gordon G. Laiblin; and sister Agnes Countryman. His sister Esther Carter, preceded him in death.
“He will be sorely missed by his friends and family but we take comfort in knowing that heaven has certainly gained an angel and look forward to seeing him again one day,” his family wrote. “We are all eternally grateful to God for having loved him.”
A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Sumner United Methodist Church, 901 Wood Ave., Sumner, WA 98391.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that a donation be made on his behalf to either Sumner United Methodist Church or to the Seattle Branch of Basket of Hope (www.basketofhope.org).
